Zach Merrett’s Brownlow Medal performance saw him join elite company.

The Essendon best and fairest winner polled 19 votes.

Only two players, Gary Ablett Jnr and Nathan Buckley, in the past 20 years have polled more votes in the side that finished last on the ladder.

Four years after the Pies finished last Buckley went on to win the Brownlow Medal and Ablett currently has two Brownlow medals to his name.

The Bombers won three games this season. Merrett was voted best on ground in two of those games and picked up two votes in the final victory of the season against Carlton.

Gold Coast also won three games when Ablett polled 23 votes in 2011 and Buckley’s Magpies won four games in 1999.

Most votes by a player from wooden spoon side (Last 20 years)

2016 – Zach Merrett (Ess) 19

2015 – Marc Murphy (Carl) 12

2014 – Nick Riewoldt (St K) 11

2013 – Jeremy Cameron (GWS) 6

2012 – Jonathan Giles (GWS) 7

2011 – Gary Ablett (GC) 23

2010 – Matt Priddis (WC) 13

2009 – Aaron Dvey (Melb) 6

2008 – Paul Wheatley (Melb) 5

2007 – Matthew Richardson (Rich) 6

2006 – Heath Scotland (Carl) 6

2005 – Nick Stevens (Carl) 11

2004 – Matthew Richardson (Rich) 10

2003 – Luke Darcy (WB) 6

2002 – Justin Murphy/Corey McKernan (Carl) 5

2001 – Peter Bell (Frem) 11

2000 – Stewart Loewe (St K) 7

1999 – Nathan Buckley (Coll) 20

1998 – Michael Voss (Bris) 7

1997 – Todd Viney (Melb) 9

1996 – Martin Pike (Fitz) 6