ZACH Merrett has joined Essendon's all-time greats Dick Reynolds and Bill Hutchison with his seventh club best and fairest as he looks set to depart the Bombers this month.

Merrett became a seven-time winner of the Crichton Medal on Thursday night, edging out second-placed Sam Durham and Archie Roberts in third position.

It is the champion midfielder's seventh club best and fairest in the past decade, seeing him equal Reynolds and Hutchison – seen as two of the top three best ever Essendon players – on the feat.

And it comes with the soon-to-be 31-year-old keen to join Hawthorn in this month's trade period, with talks underway between Essendon and the Hawks on a possible deal. 

The Hawks are keen to land the former Bombers captain after last year's failed trade, with Merrett contracted to Essendon for another year. He has now claimed the Bombers' past four best and fairests, showing the void between him and the next batch of Essendon's consistent performers. 

Merrett polled 117 votes ahead of Durham's 106, with Durham finishing second after last year's third place finish.  

Roberts backed up his second place last year with another top-three effort, with Nate Caddy, who kicked a career-best 46 goals this season, finishing in fourth position. 

Jacob Farrow, Sullivan Robey and Dyson Sharp - the Bombers’ trio of top draftees last year - all placed inside the top 10 of voting. 

Crichton Medal leaderboard

1. Zach Merrett - 117 votes
2. Sam Durham - 106
3. Archie Roberts - 77
4. Nate Caddy - 76
5. Peter Wright - 71
6. Zach Reid - 59
7. Dyson Sharp - 52
8. Sullivan Robey - 45
9. Jaxon Prior - 40
10. Jacob Farrow - 39