This Saturday a new Club Champion will be crowned at the 2007 PeterCrimmins Medal. Hawthorn supporter Peter Whitten takes us through his tipsfor each award at the Hawks’ night of nights.
This season’sAwards Night, to be held at the Crown Palladium Ballroom, has been soldout for several weeks. However, Hawthorn supporters can watch the PeterCrimmins Medal LIVE online, thanks to HawksTV. Broadcast commences at7:15pm.
*************
It’s a pleasure and a privilege to write this preview to the PeterCrimmins Medal. With a Geelong-mad wife, things have been a realchallenge for the last couple of weeks, so it’s nice to start thinkingbrown and gold again, and get back to supporting a decent Football team.
As country Hawks, my two sons and I don’t get to as many games as we’dlike, and with our poor ‘free to air’ TV deal this year, it didn’t makethings any easier. Nevertheless, we explored every possible option tosee or hear the Hawks play on a weekly basis.
What a year it was. At the end of last season I was telling my boys itwas going to be “Hawthorn Heaven in 2007”, and I wasn’t far wrong.
While we had some soul-destroying losses during the year, we had evenmore impressive victories – to us, none better than the win wewitnessed against Collingwood, and the come-from-behind beauty againstthe Crows.
The season may have only just finished, but we are already champing at the bit for season 2008 to begin.
Here then, are my tips for what should be a great night.
Peter Crimmins Medal
It’s pretty obvious that any Hawthorn fan given the job of picking thetop three placegetters in the prestigious Peter Crimmins Medal willcome up with a different leaderboard.
After such a stellar year by the club, there are plenty of candidatescapable of topping the list, but which theory do you use for pickingyour winner? Do you go on the Brownlow votes and trust the men in white(orange, blue, yellow and green…..), do you head for the stats sheetsand look for the top possession winners, or do you take a spectator’seye view and go from the heart?
Well, as important as the first two are, I’ve gone for the thirdoption, and after tossing around all the players, all the scenarios andall the games, I’ve come up with Brad Sewell as my winner.
Why? Because I think that Sewelly has shown all the qualities of PeterCrimmins during the 2007 season. Mitch and Hodgey (my second and third)have done as well, but I think that the stopping roles that Sewellyperformed during the year really counted and ensured that the Hawkswere able to get over the line in a few tight games.
As well as that, he won enough of the ball to be dangerous to theopposition, and while he may have done his job of stopping theopposition’s best midfielder, he could also be dangerous going theother way, helping to set up many Hawk goals.
Tough and unrelenting, Brad Sewell fits into the Hawthorn mould perfectly!
Peter Crimmins Medal
1st Brad Sewell
2nd Sam Mitchell
3rd Luke Hodge
Most Improved
There was a good reason to give Tim Boyle my award for “Most Improved”,considering that I only considered players who had played less than 10games before the 2007 season.
Boyle’s goal scoring ability, his key role in “Buddy’s Box” and hisextra height on the forward line all proved crucial at different pointsin the season. However his hamstring injury in the brilliant winagainst Collingwood at the Telstra Dome pretty much put an end to hisseason. While Boyle returned to the side and played finals, he wasnever the same after that injury.
So, I’ve given my “Most Improved” award to Ben McGlynn, or “MightyMouse” as he’s been affectionately named in our house. McGlynn wasperhaps an opposite to Boyle, in that while he didn’t get injured, hewas omitted for the finals series after playing pretty much the wholeseason.
For a guy only 174 centimetres tall, McGlynn’s role in the side isprobably set in stone, but it doesn’t guarantee success, and theobvious work he put in to maintain his place in the side was there forall to see. Tough and committed to the game plan, it seems a given that“Mighty Mouse” will return to the senior team in 2008 and create manyheadaches for opposition coaches.
Most Improved
Ben McGlynn
Most Consistent
Hodge, Brown, Croad, Crawford, Lewis, Birchall? It’s a tough choice,but I think Sam Mitchell is the pick of the bunch. His brilliantperformance at the Brownlow medal shows the umpires rate him highly,and it’s clear that when Mitch doesn’t play, we’re in for a toughergame than usual.
Consistency also comes over long periods as well, as Mitch’s long listof previous awards (JJ Liston Trophy, AFL Rising Star to name a couple)show.
Commonly referred to as “The Extractor”, Hawthorn’s #5 would be a worthy winner.
Most Consistent
Sam Mitchell
Best First Year Player
If the best first year player hadn’t played a senior game before the2007 season, then Xavier Ellis is a shoe-in for the award. Injuryaside, Ellis was almost always in the first 22 Hawthorn players picked.Personally, I think Ellis can look a little slow at times, but afterjust one year of senior AFL football, that’s something that the clubare sure to work hard on.
Ellis was another of Hawthorn’s high-profile draft picks, and so far, he’s shown that he’s every bit as good as his reputation.
Best First Year Player
Xavier Ellis
Best Clubman
When you’re outside the inner sanctum of the club, picking the BestClubman is a tough job. But for me, one act sees this award go to theHawthorn hard man – Campbell Brown.
Late in the final against Adelaide, Browny ran with the flight of theball in a desperate bid to stop the goal that ultimately put the Crowsin front. With seemingly no concern for his own safety, Brown crashedheavily into the goal post. If it wasn’t bad enough that our man was onthe ground and injured, the ball went through for a goal and the Crowshit the lead!
Seeing him grimace as he ran off the ground to get a fit player on forthe last few minutes was nothing less than inspirational. Fortunatelywe won the game and Browny was able to play the following week, but hiscommitment to the task at hand, his dedication to the team ethics andhis out and out bravery makes him my “Best Clubman”.
Best Clubman
Campbell Brown
Best Player in the Finals Series
I’m sure we’d all agree that we didn’t have too many stand out playersin the Semi-Final against the ‘Roos, which makes this choice a littlemore difficult.
For me, however, Lance ‘Buddy’ Franklin takes the prize. His“Magnificent Seven” against the Crows won us the game, and he thenkicked another three in a losing side the following week.
Much maligned for his “frees against” in the first quarter, Hawk fanswill have seen the wholehearted efforts that Buddy was putting in. Thechases, the tackles and the desire to win the ball when everything elseseemed to be going the Kangaroos’ way.
The fact that Buddy also kicked three goals seals he deal. In a gamewhere we struggled in most areas, the area of most concern was our lackof scoreboard pressure. And if it wasn’t for Buddy, things would havebeen a lot worse!
Best Player in the Finals Series
Lance Franklin
Obviously only a few players can win an award on the night, andcongratulations to those guys who do. But to Alistair Clarkson, thecoaching staff and all the players, you’re all winners to us.
Thanks for a brilliant season guys – if nothing else, it means I canput those ‘80s DVDs back in the cupboard and start watching replays ofgames from the 2007 season!
Peter Whitten, Wangaratta.
*************
Watch related media: PCM - Hawk Street Talk
Read related article: PCM - Supporter Previews
PCM Preview - Andy King
Opinions expressed in this article are those of the author andnot necessarily those of the Hawthorn Football Club. hawthornfc.com.auwould like to acknowledge the contribution of supporters to theOfficial Club website. If you would like to sign up to write forhawthornfc.com.au click here for more details.
This season’sAwards Night, to be held at the Crown Palladium Ballroom, has been soldout for several weeks. However, Hawthorn supporters can watch the PeterCrimmins Medal LIVE online, thanks to HawksTV. Broadcast commences at7:15pm.
*************
It’s a pleasure and a privilege to write this preview to the PeterCrimmins Medal. With a Geelong-mad wife, things have been a realchallenge for the last couple of weeks, so it’s nice to start thinkingbrown and gold again, and get back to supporting a decent Football team.
As country Hawks, my two sons and I don’t get to as many games as we’dlike, and with our poor ‘free to air’ TV deal this year, it didn’t makethings any easier. Nevertheless, we explored every possible option tosee or hear the Hawks play on a weekly basis.
What a year it was. At the end of last season I was telling my boys itwas going to be “Hawthorn Heaven in 2007”, and I wasn’t far wrong.
While we had some soul-destroying losses during the year, we had evenmore impressive victories – to us, none better than the win wewitnessed against Collingwood, and the come-from-behind beauty againstthe Crows.
The season may have only just finished, but we are already champing at the bit for season 2008 to begin.
Here then, are my tips for what should be a great night.
Peter Crimmins Medal
It’s pretty obvious that any Hawthorn fan given the job of picking thetop three placegetters in the prestigious Peter Crimmins Medal willcome up with a different leaderboard.
After such a stellar year by the club, there are plenty of candidatescapable of topping the list, but which theory do you use for pickingyour winner? Do you go on the Brownlow votes and trust the men in white(orange, blue, yellow and green…..), do you head for the stats sheetsand look for the top possession winners, or do you take a spectator’seye view and go from the heart?
Well, as important as the first two are, I’ve gone for the thirdoption, and after tossing around all the players, all the scenarios andall the games, I’ve come up with Brad Sewell as my winner.
Why? Because I think that Sewelly has shown all the qualities of PeterCrimmins during the 2007 season. Mitch and Hodgey (my second and third)have done as well, but I think that the stopping roles that Sewellyperformed during the year really counted and ensured that the Hawkswere able to get over the line in a few tight games.
As well as that, he won enough of the ball to be dangerous to theopposition, and while he may have done his job of stopping theopposition’s best midfielder, he could also be dangerous going theother way, helping to set up many Hawk goals.
Tough and unrelenting, Brad Sewell fits into the Hawthorn mould perfectly!
Peter Crimmins Medal
1st Brad Sewell
2nd Sam Mitchell
3rd Luke Hodge
Most Improved
There was a good reason to give Tim Boyle my award for “Most Improved”,considering that I only considered players who had played less than 10games before the 2007 season.
Boyle’s goal scoring ability, his key role in “Buddy’s Box” and hisextra height on the forward line all proved crucial at different pointsin the season. However his hamstring injury in the brilliant winagainst Collingwood at the Telstra Dome pretty much put an end to hisseason. While Boyle returned to the side and played finals, he wasnever the same after that injury.
So, I’ve given my “Most Improved” award to Ben McGlynn, or “MightyMouse” as he’s been affectionately named in our house. McGlynn wasperhaps an opposite to Boyle, in that while he didn’t get injured, hewas omitted for the finals series after playing pretty much the wholeseason.
For a guy only 174 centimetres tall, McGlynn’s role in the side isprobably set in stone, but it doesn’t guarantee success, and theobvious work he put in to maintain his place in the side was there forall to see. Tough and committed to the game plan, it seems a given that“Mighty Mouse” will return to the senior team in 2008 and create manyheadaches for opposition coaches.
Most Improved
Ben McGlynn
Most Consistent
Hodge, Brown, Croad, Crawford, Lewis, Birchall? It’s a tough choice,but I think Sam Mitchell is the pick of the bunch. His brilliantperformance at the Brownlow medal shows the umpires rate him highly,and it’s clear that when Mitch doesn’t play, we’re in for a toughergame than usual.
Consistency also comes over long periods as well, as Mitch’s long listof previous awards (JJ Liston Trophy, AFL Rising Star to name a couple)show.
Commonly referred to as “The Extractor”, Hawthorn’s #5 would be a worthy winner.
Most Consistent
Sam Mitchell
Best First Year Player
If the best first year player hadn’t played a senior game before the2007 season, then Xavier Ellis is a shoe-in for the award. Injuryaside, Ellis was almost always in the first 22 Hawthorn players picked.Personally, I think Ellis can look a little slow at times, but afterjust one year of senior AFL football, that’s something that the clubare sure to work hard on.
Ellis was another of Hawthorn’s high-profile draft picks, and so far, he’s shown that he’s every bit as good as his reputation.
Best First Year Player
Xavier Ellis
Best Clubman
When you’re outside the inner sanctum of the club, picking the BestClubman is a tough job. But for me, one act sees this award go to theHawthorn hard man – Campbell Brown.
Late in the final against Adelaide, Browny ran with the flight of theball in a desperate bid to stop the goal that ultimately put the Crowsin front. With seemingly no concern for his own safety, Brown crashedheavily into the goal post. If it wasn’t bad enough that our man was onthe ground and injured, the ball went through for a goal and the Crowshit the lead!
Seeing him grimace as he ran off the ground to get a fit player on forthe last few minutes was nothing less than inspirational. Fortunatelywe won the game and Browny was able to play the following week, but hiscommitment to the task at hand, his dedication to the team ethics andhis out and out bravery makes him my “Best Clubman”.
Best Clubman
Campbell Brown
Best Player in the Finals Series
I’m sure we’d all agree that we didn’t have too many stand out playersin the Semi-Final against the ‘Roos, which makes this choice a littlemore difficult.
For me, however, Lance ‘Buddy’ Franklin takes the prize. His“Magnificent Seven” against the Crows won us the game, and he thenkicked another three in a losing side the following week.
Much maligned for his “frees against” in the first quarter, Hawk fanswill have seen the wholehearted efforts that Buddy was putting in. Thechases, the tackles and the desire to win the ball when everything elseseemed to be going the Kangaroos’ way.
The fact that Buddy also kicked three goals seals he deal. In a gamewhere we struggled in most areas, the area of most concern was our lackof scoreboard pressure. And if it wasn’t for Buddy, things would havebeen a lot worse!
Best Player in the Finals Series
Lance Franklin
Obviously only a few players can win an award on the night, andcongratulations to those guys who do. But to Alistair Clarkson, thecoaching staff and all the players, you’re all winners to us.
Thanks for a brilliant season guys – if nothing else, it means I canput those ‘80s DVDs back in the cupboard and start watching replays ofgames from the 2007 season!
Peter Whitten, Wangaratta.
*************
Watch related media: PCM - Hawk Street Talk
Read related article: PCM - Supporter Previews
PCM Preview - Andy King
Opinions expressed in this article are those of the author andnot necessarily those of the Hawthorn Football Club. hawthornfc.com.auwould like to acknowledge the contribution of supporters to theOfficial Club website. If you would like to sign up to write forhawthornfc.com.au click here for more details.
