ALEX WOODWARD was just looking forward to enjoying a free meal at the VFL’s J.J. Liston Trophy awards night on Monday.
Other than enjoying a steak or well-cooked chicken breast and the company of his younger Hawthorn and Box Hill teammates, the 21 year old had no expectations for the evening.
That all changed at the conclusion of the Round 14 voting, when he rocketed up the leader board with two best on ground performances in rounds 13 and 14.
Woodward would poll 13 votes in the last eight rounds, including four best on grounds to see him the runaway victor on 20 votes, three clear of North Melbourne-listed North Ballarat player Liam Anthony.
“I wasn’t planning on winning anything – I only played the 12 games and in the 13th I was injured in the first five minutes,” Woodward told hawthornfc.com.au
“I went there to enjoy the night and have a free meal. The food was good incidentally and surprisingly, I came away with the win.
“I’m very grateful and very humbled.”
Read about Alex Woodward’s season.
The young Hawthorn midfielder clinched victory thanks to best on ground efforts against Bendigo and Northern Blues in the final two rounds of the season, games in which he picked up 29 disposals and 28 and two goals respectively.
But Woodward wasn’t convinced he’d get the votes in those games to overrun Anthony, who he trailed by three by three votes after 18 rounds.
“In the last two rounds (Hawthorn and Box Hill teammate) Sam Grimley kicked a total of 13 goals, so I didn’t know who the votes were going to go to,” he said.
“I was a few votes off so I had to catch up a bit and luckily enough the umpires saw I played well enough on the day and I polled in both games.”
Alex Woodward with his J.J. Liston Trophy medal at the Ricoh Centre.
Woodward’s story is one of persistence, determination, resilience and of the relentless pursuit of his dreams.
Just months after being drafted by Hawthorn with pick 53 in the 2011 National Draft Woodward was booked in for his first knee reconstruction after rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament in the first five minutes of a NAB Cup game.
Less than a year later he was booked in for a second knee reconstruction after this time rupturing his ACL at a routine pre-season training session in January 2013.
But 2014 would bring a change in number - he switched from 36 to 39 - and eventually, a change in luck.
He put his injury curse behind him and was rewarded by playing 13 VFL games, where he averaged 23 disposals for Box Hill and eventually, be rewarded with an AFL debut in Round 18.
His story is the feel-good one of 2014.
“It was a tough initiation into the AFL and VFL system but something I developed from pretty well with the help of the guys at both Hawthorn and Box Hill,” Woodward said.
“That’s in the past now and I’m happy I’ve been able to play some consistent footy this year and had no major injuries.”
Woodward sings the song with his teammates after his debut game, the Round 18 win over Sydney at the MCG.
Now, with Box Hill into a Preliminary Final after defeating minor premiers Port Melbourne last Saturday and Hawthorn preparing for a Qualifying Final, Woodward is focusing on achieving that elusive medal that he watched his teammates, from both Hawthorn and Box Hill, achieve last year.
“I just have to keep up the consistency and momentum going forward,” he said.
“I’m very happy I’ve received the award but I’m going to approach every game like I have this year and hopefully, get ready for a fierce contest and put my head over the ball.
“As a team we’re still very focused on what we want to achieve this year, both teams are a chance so we know what we have to do.
“I’m still very focused because last year I missed out on a medal premiership-wise so that’s something I want to achieve.”
Woodward is the second Hawk to win the J.J. Liston Trophy in as many years after teammate Mitch Hallahan was the joint winner last year.
The Hawks currently have four J.J. Liston Trophy winners on their list with Woodward and Hallahan joined by Ben Ross (2012 winner) and Sam Mitchell (2002).
