On Saturday night, Hawthorn Football Club will hold its 2013 best and fairest awards, the Peter Crimmins Medal.
The coaches will also award players deemed to be the best player in finals, most consistent, most promising and best first year player.
hawthornfc.com.au takes a look at who might be in contention to win each, with the second of the series focusing on Most Consistent.
Sam Mitchell
He was named All Australian for a reason, because he was consistently one of the league’s elite performers. Mitchell, a four-time Peter Crimmins medallist averaged 28 disposals in 24 matches this season and was ranked number one at the Club for disposals, clearances, centre clearances and contested possessions. He gathered 30 or more touches in eight matches and gathered less than 20 disposals only once, when heavily tagged in the Grand Final.
Jarryd Roughead
The AFL’s Coleman medallist kicked 72 goals for the year and was the side’s most consistent goal kicker having booted goals in 23 of his 25 matches. He kicked five goals on two occasions and bagged four seven times. He also kicked multiple goals in 19 of the 25 games.
Ben Stratton
Over the course of the year Stratton became another one of Hawthorn’s defenders who was lauded for his consistent level of high performance. He is continuing to improve, now having played 77 career games. He played in every game this season and was ranked number two at the Club for one percenters. He puts his body on the line and has also become of the side’s best spoilers with his ability to read the game up there with the likes of Luke Hodge, Josh Gibson and Brian Lake.
Jordan Lewis
Last year’s winner of the award had another consistent year in 2013, ranked second behind Sam Mitchell for disposals, clearances, centre clearances and contested possessions. He played 24 of 25 games and gathered 20 or more touches in 16 of those matches.
Josh Gibson
Since crossing from the Kangaroos, Gibson has matured into one of Hawthorn’s most consistent players and a leader of the backline. Week in, week out, Gibson’s teammates know the level of performance he will display given he rarely has a bad game. Led the Club for one percenters and his ability to come third-man up is a consistent feature of his game. He played 24 of 25 games.
Brent Guerra
The recently retired veteran played 19 matches this season, having been managed for the finals throughout the year. In each of those 16 games though, he was as reliable as ever in defence. Rarely beaten in one-on-one contests, Guerra is one of those players each and every one of his teammates trust given he has been so reliable over a number of years. Gathered 15 or more touches in 15 of his 19 matches.