Glory for super Hawk Sam Mitchell

SAM Mitchell joined Hawthorn royalty last night, winning his fourth Peter Crimmins Medal as club champion.

Sam Mitchell

SAM Mitchell joined Hawthorn royalty last night, winning his fourth Peter Crimmins Medal as club champion.

Mitchell, 30 this week, polled in 21 of a possible 24 matches for 172 votes to easily beat fellow midfielder Brad Sewell (156) and backman Grant Birchall (144) in the count at Crown Palladium.

It was the former captain's second consecutive win - after earlier triumphs in 2006 and 2009 - and moved him alongside Shane Crawford, Jason Dunstall and John Kennedy Sr as four-time winners.

The only player to have won the medal more often is rover/forward legend Leigh Matthews, who won it eight times from 1971 to 1982.

Mitchell, who played his 200th game in Round 3's win over Adelaide, was judged best afield five times, including back-to-back standout games in the tough Round 23 win over West Coast and in the qualifying final against Collingwood.

Sewell, 28, was best on ground five times, including in the Grand Final. He also polled in 21 of 24 matches.

The 2007 Crimmins medallist was in Hawthorn's best three 11 times and won its best finals player award.

All Australian Birchall, 24, was third for the second consecutive season polling in 21 of a possible 23 matches, including two best afields.

Emerging forward Luke Breust (140) finished fourth and won the most promising player award while vice-captain Jordan Lewis was awarded most consistent after polling in 20 of a possible 22 matches.

Lewis enjoyed arguably his best season to finish on 139 votes in joint sixth place with Cyril Rioli.

Lance Franklin paid the price for injury and inaccuracy in front of goal, finishing fifth on 139 votes.

"Buddy", who won the Crimmins Medal in the 2008 premiership season when he booted 113 goals, finished with 69 goals after the finals series despite missing six matches with a hamstring injury. His chances were no doubt further hindered by his tally of 64 behinds.

Forward Jack Gunston was judged best first-year player. The ex-Adelaide Crow played 19 games and had only two goals in four matches up to Round 10.

But Gunston, 20, booted 37 more majors from Round 11 onwards, including three bags of four goals, to prove to the Hawks faithful exactly why the club traded away three picks last year to secure him.

Veteran backman Brent Guerra was named best clubman, highlighted by his selfless approach to the finals.

Guerra, who tore his hamstring in Round 23 against West Coast, battled valiantly during September for a shot at playing in the finals.

But he won many admirers, internally and externally, when he emotionally stood aside early in Grand Final week to allow his teammates to focus on playing without him.