Arriving at Hawthorn as a 28-year-old delisted free agent who had played just 34 games in the previous three years, the brown and gold would have been forgiven for reserving their excitement around Ricky Henderson’s arrival.

Hindsight is a wonderful thing, but how silly that looks now in retrospect.

Henderson has played 62 of a possible 68 games in his three years at the Hawks, offering a steady hand to a side that has ultimately missed finals in two of the last three campaigns.

Getting better with age is a term often borrowed for another of Henderson’s Hawk teammates, but you could argue the wingman has just as much right to the expression as Shaun.

31 years old and into your 10th season at AFL level are not exactly the typical measures for a player’s career-best year – but it was certainly a welcome reality for Henderson in 2019.

A runner-up placing in the Peter Crimmins Medal count on Saturday night was the first time Henderson had finished on the podium of an AFL best and fairest count.

The finish came off the back career-high numbers in average kicks, marks, disposals, inside 50s and clearances.

Only three players in the competition recorded more marks than Henderson this year across the league; he continually found space as an integral element of the Hawks’ offensive drive.

Henderson agreed to terms a fortnight ago to remain a Hawk in 2020, as the side regains 2018 Brownlow Medallist Tom Mitchell to its line-up and sets its sights on a return to finals.