Zach Merrett and his Essendon team-mates are set for an awkward night at the 2025 Brownlow Medal next week.
Merrett is expected to be present on the Bombers table at the AFL's premier awards night on Monday, September 22 - and also comfortably get the most amount of votes of any Essendon player.
However, tension has risen between Merrett and his team-mates after it emerged the club captain was seeking a trade to Hawthorn for 2026.
Merrett has been criticised publicly by senior team-mates Mason Redman and Nic Martin for how he has conducted himself since the 2025 season ended.
MORE: Zach Merrett meets with Hawthorn as Essendon greats want it 'put to bed'
Redman said: "From my point of view, the initial thought is disappointment (around Merrett exploring his options).
"It’s disappointment that our captain, who is supposed to be leading us through this, is exploring other options."
While Martin commented: "My first reaction was hurt from it, and I was disappointed and a little bit angry about it but then again Zach is my teammate, so I think I have got a job to try to understand his perspective and what he is going through, but I was bitterly hurt from it.
"We are going to have to build the bridge again."
It has also emerged that Merrett will potentially skip Essendon's awards night in early October - an event where he is almost certain to win his sixth Crichton Medal.
All this will make for extremely interesting viewing of the Essendon table on Brownlow night.
Merrett cam, anyone?