On Saturday night, Hawthorn Football Club will hold its 2015 best and fairest awards, the Peter Crimmins Medal.
hawthornfc.com.au takes a look at who might be in contention to take out the prestigious honour in the club’s three-peat premiership season.
Hawthorn’s three All Australians will undoubtedly be in contention for the 2015 Peter Crimmins Medal.
Sam Mitchell, Josh Gibson and Cyril Rioli all had extraordinary seasons and are expected to poll well.
Sam Mitchell averaged more than 31 disposals per game this year.
The midfielder was extremely consistent, collecting 30 or more disposals in 16 of his 24 matches.
The 32-year-old led the Hawks in disposals, kicks, handballs, contested possessions, uncontested possessions, clearances and centre clearances.
A third-placed finish in the Brownlow Medal – and a strong finals campaign – should see the four-time Peter Crimmins Medal winner firmly in contention again.
Expect defender Josh Gibson to poll well also.
The 31-year-old played in 25 of the Hawks’ 26 matches this season, spending a whopping 98.9 per cent of his matches on the field.
Capable of playing tall or small, Gibson led the club for marks and one-percenters, was second for rebound 50s and ranked fifth in disposals.
If Gibson was to win, it would be his second Peter Crimmins Medal, after a win in 2013.
After arguably his most consistent season, Cyril Rioli will be in contention for his first Peter Crimmins Medal.
The livewire forward-midfielder finished with 42 goals and an average of 15.3 disposals from his 24 matches in 2015.
Whether a brilliant grand final performance – in which he won the Norm Smith Medal – can catapult him to a Peter Crimmins Medal win remains to be seen.
Outside of the club’s three All Australians are a number of strong contenders, including skipper Luke Hodge, fellow veteran Shaun Burgoyne, forwards Jack Gunston and Jarryd Roughead, and midfielder Jordan Lewis.
Lewis, Gunston and Burgoyne were all named in the initial All Australian squad of 40 players, while Hodge and Burgoyne also led from the front all year.
Shaun Burgoyne was the only Hawk to play all 26 games this year, giving him maximum opportunity to poll votes.
The 32-year-old averaged close to 20 disposals per game this season, spending time across half back, through the midfield and up forward.
Luke Hodge found plenty of the ball in 2015, averaging 26.8 disposals per game, and had a brilliant finals series.
While Hodge missed five games through suspension throughout the home-and-away season, his leadership in September (and October) could be enough to see him contend for the Peter Crimmins Medal.
Last year’s winner, Jordan Lewis, again enjoyed a consistent year.
The Hawks vice-captain averaged 28.9 disposals from his 23 games, which included ten 30-plus disposals games.
Forwards Jack Gunston and Jarryd Roughead also enjoyed consistent seasons.
Gunston finished with 57 goals and averaged 16.5 disposals from his 24 matches, while vice-captain Roughead kicked 50 goals and averaged 19.3 disposals from 24 matches.
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