Every year there seems to be some sort of strange call made regarding the best and fairest winners. For example, this year Brownlow medallist Lachie Neale wasn't awarded the Merrett-Murray Medal, instead, that honour went to Harris Andrews.
Whilst fans may have an opinion on who they deem to be the best and fairest at a club, the award is often the best judge of a player's qualities as it's decided internally.
We've had a crack at ranking all of this year's 18 club's best and fairest winners based on their 2023 seasons alone. Take a look at the list below.
11. Zach Merrett
Essendon's 'Captain Fantastic' once again dominated throughout 2023.
The midfielder was time and time again the best player for his side, recording multiple 30-plus disposal games throughout the year. Although the Bombers once again missed out on a finals series, Merrett did just about everything he could.
A post-game comment at the end of Round 24 established Merrett's desire to 'get past being a mediocre club'. This sentiment, along with his unwavering talent, has primed him for a solid 2024 campaign where hopefully the club can break their finals win drought.
