Despite a challenging year for Essendon, Thursday night’s Crichton Medal count provides a great opportunity to reflect and celebrate significant individual efforts from the Club’s 2025 season.

Alongside crowning the side’s best and fairest player for the year, the night at CENTREPIECE will also acknowledge the side’s AFL-era record 15 debutants from the season and recognise some stellar performers. 

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Essendonfc.com.au looks back at some of the likely vote getters and highlights from the year that was: 

Round two: Merrett everywhere

Although Adelaide’s firepower proved far too strong for the Dons at the MCG in round two, Zach Merrett produced one of the best stat lines of his career.

The 29-year-old racked up 36 touches along with season-highs of 11 inside 50s and four goals, a constant source of attack for his side in a 101-161 loss. 

Merrett would go on to average nearly 28 touches per game across 22 matches in 2025, staking his claim as a serious chance to win a sixth Crichton Medal come Thursday. 

Gather Round: Roberts revels interstate

Coming into 2025 with just four AFL games to his name, Archie Roberts played well beyond his years in a terrific second season.

That all started with a notable performance in a win over Melbourne during Gather Round – a poised presence streaming out of defence, Roberts racked up 28 disposals at 86 per cent efficiency in a big 39-point win.

Eight of those touches came in the final term as the Bombers piled on five late goals to down the Dees on the road. 

One of just four players to feature in every game this season, the 19-year-old Roberts has established himself as a young leader within the four walls at the Bombers and should be expecting to poll high in this year’s count.

Round six: Wright’s rampant return

Essendon survived a big scare against the Eagles on the road in large part thanks to Peter Wright. 

Returning for his first game of the season, Wright was a monstrous presence with six goals, constantly giving his side a forward target on a day where scoreboard pressure was necessary to run down an early deficit. 

The performance gave ’two-metre Peter’ a nice build into the remainder of the season, where he locked in his place as a staple key forward-ruck option - important in a team that was forced to evolve with its injury hurdles all year.

Anzac Day: Durham’s brilliant burst 

In the wet weather and with over 92,000 watching on, Sam Durham had a first half to remember on Anzac Day.

The brutish midfielder helped spark a run of four consecutive goals in as many minutes with two of his own, including a brilliant sliding effort on the run which got the bumper crowd up and about. 

Durham had his share of exciting moments throughout the year, with his stoppage goal and follow-up specky in round nine against Sydney another big highlight.

Coming off a podium finish in the Crichton last year, Durham will be a good chance to poll well again from some of his game-breaking work throughout the year.

Round nine: Reid emerges

Although Zach Reid’s year was halted by an injury setback, the defender’s early season form was the best showcase yet of his immense potential.

Still just 23 years old, Reid tracked through the first half of the campaign nicely and absolutely exploded in the Dons’ hard-fought Marvel win over the Swans. 

27 disposals, eight intercepts, 14 marks and five rebound 50s highlighted everything the 202cm talent does well, with his piercing ball use also cutting up Sydney going the other way. 

Despite the frustrating early conclusion to his year, a run of 10 straight games for the first time in his career is an exciting platform for the youngster to build into for 2026.

Dreamtime: Martin dominates from the outset

The voting for the Yiooken Award was made much easier this year, thanks to Nic Martin. 

His 35 disposals and two goals opened up the game nicely for a Dons outfit that had to work hard to put Richmond away, with his slickness on the outside shining through.

A clever off-the-ground kick to himself on the run was the flashy highlight, but the 24-year-old’s ability to push forward and make himself dangerous in front of goal was even more impressive – prior to his devastating round 18 injury, he’ll be right amongst the votes this season.

Round 12: Caldwell’s monster term

On a night best remembered for Nate Caddy’s crafty overhead goal, it was Jye Caldwell who showed out with one of the best ever quarters by an Essendon player.

As the Bombers mounted a spirited comeback in the third term, Caldwell was industrious in the middle – his 16 disposals in the space of just half an hour helped turn the tide, even slotting an important snap to build hope among the Dons faithful.

Caldwell was limited to just 11 games this season but showed every sign he was on track for a career-best year, established early from his 36-disposal opener against the Hawks and continuing whenever he was on the park. 

Round 23: McGrath leads from the front 

In a spirited effort against the Saints, Andy McGrath produced one of the most inspirational games of his career. 

Beyond just his desperate late tackling efforts, the stand-in Captain was instrumental in keeping his side afloat for large periods of the game – 14 of his equal career-high 35 disposals were contested – and his leadership shone through from the get-go. 

McGrath has ranked consistently high in Crichton counts throughout his nine seasons and this year should be no exception.