PCM Crystal Balling
The Insiders take their best guesses at who will come out on top at our night of nights - the Peter Crimmins Medal this Saturday evening.
With all the brown and gold headlines hitting media outlets over the past week or so, it will be nice come Saturday night to sit back and enjoy what was a fantastic season for our developing list.
But who is going to take Crimmo home? And who is in line for the other awards on the night?
Some of our Hawks Insiders gaze into the the crystal ball to predict the evening’s likely outcomes:
Brad Klibansky
Top 3 PCM:
James Sicily- An incredible season coming off an ACL injury. “Sic” didn’t miss a beat all season. Week in week out, he played at an incredibly high level. Playing in the Hawthorn back line with how hopeless the midfield is would have made his job 10 x harder. How he missed out on All-Australian selection was criminal. Look for him to be named captain next season.
Jai Newcombe - 11 Brownlow votes for our future midfield star. How lucky are we to have picked him up in the 2021 pre-season draft. Despite playing less than 25 games, Jai is currently our best midfielder and will only get better. Has the potential to become one of the game’s best midfielders.
Dylan Moore - “Mr Consistent”. Moore backed up his brilliant end to the 2021 season with an even better 2022. We saw him move into the midfield in the back half of the season and he didn’t disappoint. A real chance for All-Australian in 2023 if he has another big year. Look for Moore to have a permanent midfield role next season.
Smokey to podium: Blake Hardwick- Played his role as a small defender to near perfection. Rarely beaten one on one and not often had more than 1 or 2 goals kicked on him by his direct opponent. Has also become a really good leader and one of the team’s most important players.
Most Consistent Player: James Sicily
Best First Year Player: Josh Ward
Best Clubman: Blake Hardwick
Most Promising Player: Connor Macdonald
Most Improved Player: Finn Maginness
Most Courageous Player: Blake Hardwick
Andrew Weiss
Top 3 PCM:
James Sicily - Outstanding all season, and disgracefully left out of the All Australia team in 2022. Was our heart and soul down back, and our leader on the field all year - combine it with the fact that he was easily our best player this season, it should point to a comfortable PCM victory. His five year deal was apt reward and will certainly be the next club captain.
Jai Newcombe - What a find, what a player, and what a story. Still so hard to believe that he is just 21 years of age. Our best midfielder this year by a country mile, he has heart, he has grunt and he is an absolute ball magnet. Loves to tackle and is not threatened against big bodies - as good a season as anyone in 2022. Stiff not to make the AFL 22 Under 22 team, but it’s irrelevant - he’s ours and we get to watch him in the brown and gold for many years to come.
Blake Hardwick - What a player. Gets the nod here over Dylan Moore as he has form getting votes on PCM night, and his season in 2022 was as good as any other he’s had. An absolute shift worker - clocks in, clocks out, gets the job done without the recognition, fanfare and with a minimum of fuss. Deserves all the accolades that come with being an integral part of our success - now and in the future.
Smokey to podium: - Mitch Lewis - Probably didn’t play enough games to make the podium, but will still be in line for a top-10 or even top-five finish. Would be fitting reward for what was essentially his breakout year. Finn Maginness in the same boat here too. Couldn’t put Dylan Moore here as if he made the podium it would not be surprising so can’t be considered a smokey in my opinion!
Most Consistent Player: Dylan Moore
Best First Year Player: Connor MacDonald
Best Clubman: Ben McEvoy
Most Promising Player: Josh Ward
Most Improved Player: Harry Morrison / Mitch Lewis (shared)
Most Courageous Player: Blake Hardwick
Danny Prins
Top 3 PCM:
James Sicily - It’s James Sicily’s medal to lose and him not winning the Peter Crimmins would make most people as outraged as they were when he missed out on All-Australian selection earlier this month. Sicily has been the dominant defender in Hawthorn’s team over the past few years, whenever he has been fit. His season upon returning from an ACL has been nothing short of phenomenal, averaging almost 24 disposals, 8.5 intercept possessions, 600 meters gained and 8.6 marks.
Blake Hardwick - Mr. Consistent, and one of the first names on the Hawks team sheet every week. Hardwick took his game to another level this season, not only using the ball effectively (82.2% disposal efficiency) with his almost 17 disposals a game, as well as locking down the oppositions best small forward. Hardwick had plenty of big scalps in 2022 and is primed to go again in 2023.
Jai Newcombe - The rising star in this Hawthorn team, Newcombe’s first full season as an AFL player was nothing short of amazing. He established himself as Hawthorn’s number one midfielder, no mean feet as a 20 year old. Newcombe averaged 22.5 disposals and 436 meters gained. It was a joy to watch Newcombe flourish while the rest of the more well credentialled midfielders around him struggled.
Smokey to podium: - Dylan Moore - Dylan Moore may not be a smokey for this spot at all, but I couldn’t not mention him. Moore’s season was incredibly good, nailing down his status as an elite small forward before transitioning to a semi-permanent midfield role later in the season. We know he loves a goal, but the more we see of Dylan, the clearer it is that he is a special footballer with plenty of tricks in his kit bag.
Most Consistent Player: Blake Hardwick
Best First Year Player: Connor MacDonald
Best Clubman: Liam Shiels
Most Promising Player: Jai Newcombe
Most Improved Player: Finn Maginness
Most Courageous Player: Ben McEvoy
Simon Morawetz
Top 3 PCM:
James Sicily - Such an incredible season from the backman that it is easy to forget he was returning from a knee reco. Every bit as elite an interceptor and distributor as before the injury. His omission from the All Australian team bordered on hilarious.
Blake Hardwick - so good a shutdown defender that most footy fans still don’t know who he is. Quietly beats his opponent every week. A credit to the number 15.
Jai Newcombe - the first podium finish for our explosive midfielder will not be the last. Cemented his place in our centre square for years to come with strength, ferocity, and most importantly, consistency.
Smokey to podium: - Jaeger O’Meara - if one of our prominent, senior midfielders can be considered a smokey, that is. Gathered steam after a quiet start to the season. Sacrificed himself at times – his negative role on Tom Stewart was key to our win on Easter Monday – which will not go unnoticed as far as PCM votes go.
Most Consistent Player: James Sicily
Best First Year Player: Connor MacDonald
Best Clubman: Finn Maginness
Most Promising Player: Sam Butler
Most Improved Player: Harry Morrison
Most Courageous Player: Ben McEvoy
If I was a gambling man...and I am...I'd lock in Sicily, Newcombe, Hardwick (proven vote getter) and Moore for the box trifecta. I'd be very surprised if that combination doesn't make up the top 3. Harry Morrison should be a lay down misere for most improved. If by any chance Newcombe won the medal (and I think it will be Sicily) it would be an extraordinary achievement for someone so inexperienced.
Jack Scrimshaw was one of our most consistent players all season he will go close to a top 3 finish.I'm flabbergasted no one has mentioned him 🙄