ESSENDON midfielder Zach Merrett is amazed Brownlow Medal favourite Tom Mitchell doesn't get tagged every week, describing the Hawthorn star as more than a ball-magnet.

Mitchell is averaging an AFL-high 36 disposals per game but there has been strong debate about how much damage he causes to opposition teams.

A creative distributor who tends to handball more than kick and set up play from the back half of the ground, Mitchell bears a greater likeness to retired Hawthorn namesake Sam Mitchell than modern-day superstars Patrick Dangerfield or Dustin Martin.

That has influenced the decision of several opposition coaches, most notably Collingwood's Nathan Buckley, not to restrict Mitchell with a hard tag.

Whether such a move helps or hinders opponents is difficult to assess.

Mitchell had 50 touches against the Magpies last year in a losing side but backed it up with an AFL-record 54 as the Hawks got their revenge in round one this season.

Essendon faces a similar conundrum when it takes on the Hawks on Saturday in what is effectively an eight-point game for both finals hopefuls.

Merrett, himself no stranger to being tagged, believes it's a no-brainer.

"I sort of laugh when people say he has no influence on games," Merrett said on Wednesday.

"He gets a lot of contested possessions, clearances, he kicks goals. It amazes me that he doesn't get tagged week-in, week-out.

"He's a super player and someone who I think really hurts opposition teams. I think he'll be certainly the one to beat for the Brownlow this year."

The Bombers made a dreadful start to the season, capped by a shock loss to Carlton in round eight which placed intense pressure on the club.

They have since lost just two games, a remarkable turnaround that Merrett attributed to a renewed focus on "ruthless" team defence.

Merrett laughed off suggestions 11th-placed Essendon could be the greatest threat to reigning premier Richmond in September but said the Bombers were playing with freedom.

"Since the Geelong game (in round nine), we've had nothing to lose," Merrett said.

"We've been playing elimination finals for 10 weeks now so every week we go in and try to improve, knowing that we do need to win every game to give ourselves the best chance to play finals."