There have been many champions in Hawthorn's history, and Sam Mitchell is now ahead of all but one. On Saturday night, four days before his 34th birthday, Mitchell won his fifth Peter Crimmins medal as the Hawks' best and fairest. In doing so, he edged clear of club greats Shane Crawford, Jason Dunstall and John Kennedy snr, all of whom won the award four times. Only eight-time winner Leigh Matthews - arguably the best player of all-time - is ahead of Mitchell.
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While fellow Hawthorn veterans faced questions about their future in the game, Mitchell's form barely dipped even as he passed the 300-game milestone late in the season. The champion midfielder played 22 of the Hawks' 24 games, averaging close to 30 disposals. He led the club in disposals and clearances, while his 16 Brownlow medal votes were more than any other Hawk.
Premiership captain in 2008, Mitchell is also a three-time All-Australian, won the VFL's Liston Trophy in 2002 and the AFL rising star award in 2003. He could yet claim the 2012 Brownlow medal, having finished equal second with Richmond's Trent Cotchin behind Essendon captain Jobe Watson in the count four years ago. The Dons skipper could be stripped of his Brownlow by the AFL Commission pending a Swiss court appeal against the decision to ban Watson and 33 other current and former Bombers for taking banned substance thymosin beta-4 during 2012.
Despite his various accolades, four-time premiership player Mitchell has never been named best and fairest in one of Hawthorn's premiership years, having previously won the award in 2006, 2009, 2011 and 2012.
The club's older guard again featured prominently in the top 10. Thirty-year-old Jordan Lewis polled 157 votes to finish runner-up, 13 votes behind Mitchell. Shaun Burgoyne, who turns 34 later this month, was one vote adrift of Lewis in third, while four-time premiership Hawks Grant Birchall and Cyril Rioli also finished in the top five. The youngest man to finish in the top 10 was forward Jack Gunston (7th) who turns 25 later in the month.
Out-of-contract defender Kaiden Brand received the club's best first year player award. Emerging forward James Sicily was named the club's most promising player.
Peter Crimmins Medal Top 10
1. Sam Mitchell – 170 votes
2. Jordan Lewis – 157 votes
3. Shaun Burgoyne – 156 votes
4. Grant Birchall – 152 votes
5. Cyril Rioli – 148 votes
6. Isaac Smith – 146 votes
7. Jack Gunston – 142 votes
8. Josh Gibson – 135 votes
9. James Frawley – 127 votes
10. Luke Breust – 124 votes
Other awards
Best Clubman – Isaac Smith
Best First Year Player – Kaiden Brand
Best Player in Finals – Shaun Burgoyne
Most Consistent – Grant Birchall
Most Promising Player – James Sicily
