DESPITE falling to Port Adelaide on Saturday night, Hawthorn vice-captain Jordan Lewis was deemed the second-best player on the ground by the coaches.
Lewis received eight votes in the AFLCA Champion Player of the Year award, which means he was awarded four votes from both Alastair Clarkson and Ken Hinkley who deemed him the second-most influential player on the ground.
The Hawthorn midfielder was outstanding in the 19-point loss, playing his best game for the season with 38 disposals, nine clearances, six inside 50s and two goals.
His influence on the game was profound, as he gathered 21 of his 38 in the first half and 17 in the second, including his two goals that came in quick succession in the third term.
Those two goals sparked Hawthorn’s third quarter surge after falling five goals behind the Power and looked headed for a debilitating loss despite being without key personnel.
Lewis’ two goals came within two minutes of each other as the Hawks kicked four unanswered goals to reduce the margin to seven points at the final break.
It was his leadership both by his actions and his words that helped the Hawks almost pull off an unlikely victory against the ladder leaders without key players Sam Mitchell, Cyril Rioli, Josh Gibson, Brian Lake and Jarryd Roughead.
Shaun Burgoyne (one vote) and Jack Gunston (one) were the only other Hawks to poll.
Burgoyne continued his outstanding form with another strong performance in the midfield, with 24 disposals, six inside 50s, five tackles and two goals.
Gunston led the Hawks forward line with 10 marks and three goals.
Travis Boak was voted best on ground, receiving the maximum 10 votes for his outstanding game in the midfield.
The Power skipper had 34 disposals, 10 clearances, seven tackles, seven inside 50s and kicked a goal. It was the complete game from the impressive midfielder.
Jared Polec and Chad Wingard each received five votes as the equal-third best players on the ground.
Polec had 26 disposals, 20 of which were uncontested as his run and carry through the midfield hurt the Hawks to catch them off guard inside 50. Polec also kicked a goal.
Wingard was outstanding, particularly in the first half where he kicked three goals and his pressure forced a number of Hawthorn turnovers and skill errors.
He finished with 15 disposals.
The votes: Port Adelaide v Hawthorn
10 Boak (PA)
8 Lewis (Haw)
5 Polec (PA)
5 Wingard (PA)
1 Burgoyne (Haw)
1 Gunston (Haw)
Round 10 Leaderboard
55 Gary Ablett (Gold Coast)
48 Scott Pendlebury (Collingwood)
44 Josh Kennedy (Sydney)
38 Joel Selwood (Geelong)
35 Nathan Fyfe (Fremantle)
35 Robbie Gray (Port Adelaide)
33 Travis Boak (Port Adelaide)
33 Matthew Priddis (West Coast)
32 Patrick Dangerfield (Adelaide)
32 Nathan Jones (Melbourne)
