A SHOCKED David Zaharakis has taken out Essendon's best and fairest and said the club is focused on not becoming complacent after its improvement in 2011.
In only his third year at AFL level, the 21-year-old polled 332 votes and was presented with the Bombers' Crichton Medal at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre on Friday night.
Consistent midfielder Brent Stanton finished second - the highest placing of his career - with 313 votes, while emerging key position star Michael Hurley captured his first top-three placing with 292 votes.
Captain Jobe Watson finished fourth on 270 votes despite missing six games, while consistent midfielder Heath Hocking rounded out the top five with 248 votes.
Zaharakis said he was surprised at the honour.
"I totally didn’t even expect anything like this tonight," Zaharakis said when presented with the medal.
"I came here and thought I'd have a few quiet beers with the boys, so it's a bit unexpected."
After Essendon chairman David Evans addressed the crowd earlier in the night and stressed the club's aim to get bigger, better and stronger next season, Zaharakis said the players understood they had a long way to go.
"Everyone knows that it is a young group of players but we are now developing and improving with the coaching staff we have," Zaharakis said.
"It's been a great effort by David Evans and Ian Robson to get the coaching staff we do have in line to teach us the way to play footy and it showed last year coming from 14th to eighth.
"But as David Evans said before, there's no complacency at this football club. We want to improve every year and our goal is to win our 17th premiership and that's where the boys are working to get to."
Zaharakis was thrust into a role in the midfield in the middle of the year when the Bombers were struck by injuries and stepped up, averaging 24 disposals in his last 12 matches and finishing the year with 31 goals, a career-best tally.
His speed and awareness, combined with his dynamic ability at stoppages has made him one of the Bombers' most promising prospects.
Coach James Hird praised Zaharakis for his season, in which he played every game.
"David has had an outstanding year this season and has developed into a really important player for the team," Hird said.
"David was able to spend more time through the midfield this year and to his credit, made the most of every opportunity."
"He has an incredible work ethic and an abundance of talent and to have a Crichton Medal to his name after only three seasons at the club is a sign of things to come."
Stewart Crameri was recognised for his outstanding season with the Matthew Lloyd Leading Goalkicker Award and the Most Improved Player Award, while first-year star Dyson Heppell won the Lindsay Griffiths Rising Star Award.
Veteran defender Dustin Fletcher was named as the Best Clubman, and Heath Hocking took out the Striving for Excellence Award. To add to his third-place in the best and fairest, Hurley was named the Adam Ramanauskas Most Courageous Player for the Season.
Callum Twomey covers Essendon news for afl.com.au and essendonfc.com.au. Follow him on Twitter at @Cal_Twomey.
