On Saturday, Hawthorn’s Peter Crimmins Medallist will be crowned and this year a brand-new winner is set to be announced.
The last two years have seen Tom Mitchell heading into the night as an almost certainty for the win.
But with the midfielder having spent the year on the sidelines, the 2019 medal is up for grabs and with multiple Hawks producing career-best seasons, there are plenty who are worthy of the win.
Let’s take a look at those who have performed this year and who are in contention to poll the most votes.
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Jarman Impey
Like many of the Hawks, Impey had one of his best seasons to date, with a career-high number of disposals and a 25-possession game in Round 16 that earned him a Brownlow vote.
The defender was hitting a high right up until his sudden end to the season, due to an ACL injury in Round 18.
Will the 17 games he played be enough to come away with the medal?
James Worpel
Worpel well and truly stepped up this year in the Hawthorn midfield and took Mitchell’s injury as an opportunity to show everyone what he is made of.
The 20-year-old didn’t miss a single game and averaged 26.5 disposals, 6.3 clearances and 12 contested possessions.
He is sure to poll well in the second half of the year, averaging 30.4 disposals in the last seven games of the season.
James Sicily
Sicily had an influential year in the backline earning him an All Australian squad honour.
The defender played all 22 games and will most likely poll in Round 16 for his dominant display down back where he racked up 28 disposals, seven spoils and seven rebound 50’s.
Ben McEvoy
McEvoy is one of Hawthorn’s most consistent players, having made it into the top 8 in last year’s vote count and coming in as runner up in 2017.
The 30-year-old’s 2019 season was no different in terms of consistency, averaging 28.3 hit-outs and 12.4 disposals.
Despite missing three games in the middle of the year, McEvoy will be sure to poll well as a clear-stand out throughout the year.
Jaeger O’Meara
O’Meara had an impressive season in 2018 and placed fifth with 120 votes.
This year the 25-year-old joined Worpel in a strong performance filling the Mitchell sized hole in the midfield, averaging 25.8 disposals in the 21 games he played.
O’Meara had a season-best game in Hawthorn’s Round 6 win against Carlton, where he received a perfect 10 from the coaches after a 42 disposal domination, also managing to collect nine clearances and kick a goal.
Blake Hardwick
Hardwick polled 127 votes last year to finish second, having not missed a single game.
2019 saw him again play all 22 games, averaging 17.4 disposals, his highest average of disposals in his career.
His impressive season also earned him a spot in the AFL Players’ Associations squad of 22 Under 22.
Ricky Henderson
There is no doubt in anyone’s minds that, in his 11th season, Henderson reached his career-best form.
The 31-year-old played all 22 games and averaged 24.6 disposals, the third highest for the Hawks in disposal averages.
His biggest game happened in Round 10 against Collingwood where he racked up a massive 37 possessions.
