When Captain Luke Hodge was struck down with injury, unable to get himself back on the footy field, it was up to Vice-Captain Jordan Lewis to step up and take the reins as the Hawks’ skipper.

For four months Lewis led the Hawks out into battle and impressed everyone who was watching. His hard, tough, contested and uncompromising style of play provides leadership in itself, but also his ability to communicate with his teammates illustrated why he’s the Club’s vice-captain.

From the opening game against the Magpies in Round 1, Lewis led from the front, he put his body on the line like he had done for years previous, but this time as the captain, showed his players the commitment required of each of them if the Hawks are to be successful in 2012.

While Lewis has always been renowned for his hardness at the man and the ball, he developed into a genuine goal kicking midfielder in 2012 who can play in a variety of roles.

Whether he’s playing in his usual role as a tough, in and under midfielder, he’d be one of Hawthorn’s most dangerous when he gets the ball inside 50. He turned into one of the most dangerous players around stoppages too, inside Hawthorn’s forward arc.

He booted 27 goals for the season to finish sixth on the Club’s goal kicking leaderboard and was held goalless in just six of his 22 matches this season.

Those numbers are usually synonymous with players who spend the majority of their time in the forward line, not players who are well-known midfielders who love getting their hands dirty.

He was also ranked third at the Club for clearances, third for contested possessions and sixth for uncontested possessions. 

His best performance in 2012 was undoubtedly his five-goal haul as a forward in the Round 17 win over Collingwood. 

Matched up on Magpies gun Heath Shaw, Lewis proved a dangerous option for the Hawks in the forward line and used his unrelenting desire to tackle and win the ball to cause turnovers resulting in goals not only to himself, but for his teammates.

He was also one of Hawthorn’s best in the dour slog against the Eagles in Perth in Round 4 with 26 disposals, seven marks, two tackles and a goal.

In the Round 22 win over Sydney at the SCG he was excellent too, with 28 disposals, four marks and six tackles.

Those are three games that standout, but there were plenty to choose from given Lewis was one of Hawthorn’s most consistent performers in 2012. 

There was loss to Geelong in Round 2 when he had 20 possessions and kicked three goals, the win over Adelaide in Round 3 when he had 24 disposals, the Round 7 win over Melbourne followed by the win over the Dockers in Round 8. The win over Carlton in Round 14 and the Greater Western Sydney game where he had 31 possessions. The list goes on.

He was recognised for his balanced season with the Most Consistent award given to him by his coaches on Peter Crimmins Medal night and he was a deserved winner given his approach to each game and his diligent, professional preparation for each game.

Lewis stepped up in the absence of Hodge and won even more supporters not only for his leadership credentials, but also his improvement on the field. 

As the 2013 pre-season campaign edges closer, expect to see the midfielder working hard in the gym and on the track to best prepare himself for another gruelling season as he aims to build on the foundations as a goal kicking midfielder.