Brent Guerra’s outstanding 2012 season was soured in Round 23, when a hamstring injury had him sidelined for the Club’s finals campaign.

It was a disappointing personal end to the season for the 30 year old, but, he should be proud of his contribution to the side throughout the course of the year.

As one of Hawthorn’s veterans, Guerra provides great leadership and guidance to his younger teammates and sets the standard for on-field performances.

More than that, Guerra’s professionalism and dedication to preparation makes him a role model to his teammates and has been a factor in his ability to find a home at the Hawks, his third AFL club.

Since his arrival at Hawthorn, Guerra has impacted the side with his hardness, his uncompromising style and at times ferocious attack on the man and the ball.

It seems the Hawks were as good a fit for Guerra as Guerra was for the Hawks with his superior foot skills giving him a key role in Alastair Clarkson’s game style.

The first half of the season saw him arguably hit career-best form as he showed why he has been a staple in the Hawthorn backline since his arrival in 2006.

He was clean, composed, efficient and a player who could be relied upon by his teammates and coaches to perform his role to the best of his ability and always dedicate 100 per cent of himself and his game to the success of the side.

One of his best performances of the year came in the Round 6 win over St Kilda when he gathered 25 disposals and took 14 marks in defence. Then there was his performance against the Kangaroos in Round 10 when he combined his ability to find the ball and his ferocious attack on the man. In that game, he gathered 24 disposals, took eight marks and laid six tackles.

But perhaps the one piece of play that stands out from Guerra’s season, sets him aside from others and best showcases his playing style and importance to Hawthorn was a crunching hit on Cat Paul Chapman in Round 19.

With the Hawks trailing Geelong and looking for a spark, the ball was in dispute, bouncing towards Chapman on Geelong’s forward 50. 

Guerra was coming from the other direction. Two of the toughest players in the league were on a collision course.

Neither took a backwards step, with Guerra running straight at the ball, his eyes never deviating.

He and Chapman collided, with the latter winded in the collision.

In the one motion, Guerra grabbed the ball, left Chapman in his wake and got the ball moving forward. The play resulted in a Hawthorn goal.

Throughout 2012, Guerra played each game as if it were his last and never took a backwards step. He is committed to his teammates and his Club, and will do whatever it takes to succeed.

While his season was cruelly cut short, he has re-signed with the Club and will again have an impact for the Hawks in 2013 and beyond, for as long as his body allows him.