HAWTHORN Vice-Captain Jordan Lewis was deemed the Club’s best in Saturday’s 19-point win over Western Bulldogs, but he didn’t receive the top votes from the coaches.
In what was a hard-fought contest for the majority, Alastair Clarkson and Brendan McCartney deemed Bulldogs midfielder Ryan Griffen best on ground – awarding him a maximum 10 votes in the AFLCA Champion Player of the Year award.
Griffen gathered a game-high 37 touches in his team’s loss, along with five clearances and two goals.
Hawks midfielder Lewis was the next-best vote getter, receiving seven votes from the coaches for his role in his side’s victory.
Lewis had one of his best games for the season; seemingly back to his best as a damaging in and under midfielder capable of pushing forward and hitting the score board.
He gathered 25 disposals, had six clearances, five inside 50s and booted two goals in the win.
Lewis has kicked three goals in his last two games to average a goal a game in his last five games.
Bulldogs midfielder Adam Cooney joined teammates Griffen and Lewis in rounding out the top-three vote getters for Saturday’s match in Tasmania.
Cooney received four votes for his 33 touches, six tackles, four clearances and four inside 50s.
33 of his possessions were contested, something he has added to his game this year.
Isaac Smith continued his rich-vein of form in the win, back to his best as a free-wheeling midfielder whose run and carry is integral to Hawthorn’s line-breaking ability.
Smith backed up his best performance of the year against the Power in Round 16 with another impressive display against the Bulldogs.
At half time, he was clearly Hawthorn’s best player having gathered 17 touches and hurting the Bulldogs with his run and carry.
He finished with a team-high 27 disposals at 89 per cent efficiency, three tackles and two clearances. He received three votes for his performance.
The voting was rounded out by three lots of two votes awarded to Hawthorn’s Bradley Hill and Ben Stratton and Bulldogs’ veteran Daniel Giansiracusa.
Round 17 votes Hawthorn v Western Bulldogs
10 Griffen (WB)
7 Lewis (Haw)
4 Cooney (WB)
3 Smith (Haw)
2 Giansiracusa (WB)
2 Hill (Haw)
2 Stratton (Haw)
Round 17 Leaderboard
85 Gary Ablett (GC)
70 Daniel Hannebery (Syd)
70 Kieren Jack (Syd)
64 Scott Pendlebury (Coll)
61 Joel Selwood (Geel)
57 Patrick Dangerfield (Adel)
57 Ryan Griffen (WB)
55 Jarrad McVeigh (Syd)
54 Jobe Watson (Ess)
51 Pearce Hanley (Bris)
