JACKSON Merrett says playing in a position best suited to his skill-set was the catalyst for his Peel Thunder best and fairest win.
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The Cobden export averaged 22.5 disposals stationed on a wing in his second WAFL season in 2020.
He said the eight-game home-and-away campaign - shortened due to the coronavirus interruption - was "probably my most consistent season".
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Merrett, 27, had a season-high 31 disposals against West Perth and didn't drop below 16 touches in any game.
"I was fortunate enough to get many hands on the ball every game bar a couple and I just worked hard," he told The Standard from Western Australia.
"Playing in a position where I feel I play my best footy for a whole season for the first time in eight or nine years allowed me to showcase what I think I am best at."
Merrett, who played 56 AFL games for Essendon, won the Tuckey Medal from former Carlton defender Josh Bootsma.
Past Peel Thunder best and fairest winners include GWS Giants tagger Matt de Boer, Gold Coast defender Sam Collins and former Port Adelaide and Fremantle 200-gamer Danyle Pearce.
"It's good to get some recognition," Merrett said.
"As a whole it was probably my most consistent season I have ever had."
Peel Thunder is aligned with Fremantle but was without the Dockers' reserves players in 2020 due to coronavirus regulations which ruled AFL clubs out of state league competitions.
The Thunder, which is based in Mandurah, finished winless at the bottom of the WAFL ladder.
"We were competitive in most games. In five of our games we were within nine points at three-quarter-time and then just fell away but it was good for some development for the younger players," Merrett said.
"(But) being able to pass on some of my knowledge to the younger players and assist them and see the growth within them from the start of the season to the end was something I cherish.
"That was quite rewarding and hopefully it holds Peel in good stead as a club into the future to get some development and growth into some of those younger players who wouldn't have necessarily had the opportunity if the season wasn't affected by COVID and we had the Fremantle players."
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Merrett is still weighing up his football future.
"I haven't made a decision as yet. I have been fortunate enough to have a few conversations with different clubs around the place," he said.
"At this stage I am more than likely going to be staying in WA, give it another 12 months and then re-assess at the end of next footy season as to what we're to do."
He said life in Perth had been vastly different to what his native Victoria, which has endured tough lockdown restrictions, was experiencing.
"It's been tough but we have been very fortunate we were able to have a football season over here, run around and enjoy what we love doing," Merrett said.
"And fortunate to have some normality in life on a day-to-day basis, we don't really have any restrictions.
"We're able to go to pubs, play sport and catch up with whoever we want."
Western Australia has a hard border in place meaning those who leave or want to enter must do two weeks quarantine.
"I understand everyone is going through a tough time in Victoria. It would be nice to come back and catch up with friends and family," Merrett said.