In brief
AFL matches: 23
Disposals per game: 28.9
Clearances per game: 4.5
Contested possessions per game: 9.5
Uncontested possessions per game: 19.1
Inside 50s per game: 4.6
Marks per game: 6.5
Goals: 9
Review
IMPROVING on a sensational 2014 season – in which he was the Peter Crimmins Medallist, an All Australian and a premiership player – was always going to be a massive challenge for Jordan Lewis this season.
His first five weeks of football suggested he might just do that.
Despite a 3-2 win loss record, the prolific ball-winner and vice-captain averaged 35 disposals per game in the Hawks’ first five matches to start the season in red-hot form.
He missed the following two weeks through suspension, but just one more match for the season, in Round 9, to again be a consistent contributor in 2015.
As expected, the 29-year-old found plenty of the ball.
He averaged 28.9 disposals per game – which included 10 games in which he tallied 30 or more disposals – marginally higher than his 27.8 disposals per game in 2014.
One of the Hawks’ midfield leaders, Lewis ranked in the club’s top three players for contested possessions, uncontested possessions, clearances, kicks, handballs and inside 50s. Only fellow midfielder Sam Mitchell had more disposals at the club in 2015.
Closing in on 250 games, Lewis continued to stand up when the Hawks needed him most.
He was influential in a narrow win against Collingwood in Round 14, and the following week in a big win against ladder leader Fremantle.
Some of Lewis’ best performances came in Hawthorn defeats – such as his 34-disposal effort against Essendon in Round 2, a 36-disposal game against Port Adelaide in Round 4, a 31-disposal game against Sydney in Round 8 and a 34-disposal game against Richmond in Round 18.
After a quiet start to the 2015 finals series, Lewis was a big contributor on the final day of the season.
His 26 disposals against West Coast Eagles were complemented by five clearances and five tackles, in a typical Lewis performance – he found plenty of the ball and threw himself into every contest.
That effort helped him earn a fourth premiership medal.
But immediately after the win, Lewis maintained the Hawks were hungry for more success.
“We’ve got guys that are hungry,” he said.
“Guys that missed out today will hopefully drive the group, guys that won their first premiership today will really drive the group.
“It’s from the top down… The leaders have got to really drive the group to become successful again. We’re not just going to sit back and be a mediocre side, we want to play off for premierships.”
There’s no doubting Lewis will be one of those leaders looking to drive the Hawks to more success in 2016.
GM - Football Operations Chris Fagan says...
“In 2014, Jordan had his best-ever year in AFL footy, and he’d be the first one to tell you that this year wasn’t as good as that one,” Fagan said.
“It was always going to be difficult to reach the standards he reached last year, but having said that, his statistics were still tremendous.
“He averaged almost 29 possessions per game, had a healthy amount of clearances and showed good leadership on field.
“In some of the key games through the year, particularly in the grand final, he just played tough and hard, which is what we love to see from him.”
In the news
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