JOSH Gibson has been crowned Hawthorn’s 2015 Peter Crimmins Medallist.
The 31-year-old was adjudged the club’s best and fairest player at Crown Palladium tonight.
It is Gibson’s second Peter Crimmins Medal – and the second time he has won the prestigious honour in a premiership year - after he previously won the award in 2013.
The versatile defender polled 204 votes, to finish ahead of runner-up Cyril Rioli (194 votes) and third-placed Sam Mitchell (192 votes).
Skipper Luke Hodge and fellow utility Shaun Burgoyne rounded out the top five vote getters with 171 and 165 votes respectively.
Since arriving at the club in 2009, Gibson has established himself as a vital part of Hawthorn’s backline and he was honoured to receive the award.
"These guys next to me tonight have had fantastic years, as have a lot of guys at the club," Gibson said after receiving the medal on stage.
"It's totally unexpected … I wasn't even thinking about this.
"To my teammates, I know it's an individual award, but you don't win these things unless you've got the support of the guys around you.
"Especially the brotherhood, my defenders, I love you blokes."
Gibson played in 25 of the Hawks’ 26 matches this season, averaging just under 22 disposals per game.
Capable of playing tall or small, Gibson spent 98.9 per cent of his time on ground in 2015, ranking first for one-percenters and marks, and second for rebound 50s.
Gibson polled in all but three of his 25 matches and was recognised externally with All Australian selection for the first time.
He polled the most votes of any Hawk in Rounds 21 and 23, and the equal most votes in Rounds 5 and 9.
Rioli was the only Hawk to poll the maximum 16 votes in a match during 2015, for his performance in the grand final.
The 26-year-old midfielder-forward finished with 42 goals for the season, averaging 15.3 disposals per game to also be recognised with All Australian selection.
He polled the most votes of any Hawk in Rounds 8, 14, 20 and the grand final, and the equal most votes in Rounds 7 and 16.
Mitchell rounded out the top three after an impressive year that earned him All Australian selection for the third time.
The midfielder averaged 31.2 disposals per game in 2015, and has finished in the top three of the Peter Crimmins Medal in all but two years since 2006.
He polled the most votes of any Hawk in Rounds 10, 19, 23 and the qualifying final, and the equal most votes in Rounds 5, 15 and the preliminary final.
The 32-year-old was rewarded for an outstanding finals series, named the club’s Best Player in Finals.
Midfielder Billy Hartung was awarded Most Promising Player, Captain Luke Hodge received Most Consistent and Daniel Howe was judged the club’s Best First Year Player. Ben Stratton won the Best Clubman award.
Peter Crimmins Medal Top 10
1. Josh Gibson – 204
2. Cyril Rioli – 194
3. Sam Mitchell – 192
4. Luke Hodge – 171
5. Shaun Burgoyne – 165
6. Ben Stratton – 152
7. Grant Birchall – 149
8. Luke Breust – 146
9. Isaac Smith – 145
10. Jack Gunston – 144
Other awards
Best Clubman – Ben Stratton
Best First Year Player – Daniel Howe
Best Player in Finals – Sam Mitchell
Most Consistent – Luke Hodge
Most Promising Player – Billy Hartung
Peter Crimmins Medal voting procedure
Votes for the 2015 Peter Crimmins Medal were awarded after each home-and-away and finals game by the Hawthorn Football Club Match Committee, consisting of Senior Coach Alastair Clarkson and Assistant Coaches Cameron Bruce, Brett Ratten, Adem Yze and Brendon Bolton/Damian Carroll. A maximum of 16 votes can be accumulated by a player each game.
