Another stellar year for Jai Newcombe

AS THE club’s top Brownlow Medal vote-getter in 2023, Poowong’s Jai Newcombe had the right to start favourite in the club count for Hawthorn’s Peter Crimmins Medal at the weekend.

But the fact that he finished runner-up again, this time to another youngster, Will Day, by a margin of just two votes, 125 to 123, in only his second full season with the team, takes nothing away from what has been another stellar year.

Not only did Newcombe finish as Hawthorn’s top vote-getter in the Brownlow, with 18 votes, including three best-on-ground honours, to finish clear of Hawks’ captain James Sicily (12) and fellow midfielder James Worpel (11), Newcombe was also named in the top 40 players in the competition, when included in the All-Australian squad for the first time.

The club was full of praise for his efforts.

“In a testament to his sharp career rise, Newcombe finished as the runner-up for the second year in-a-row. Newcombe has now landed on the club’s best and fairest podium in both of his first two full seasons in the system, an incredible feat for the 22-year-old who has only played 51 career games.

“Renowned for his hard-nosed approach, the fan-favourite has averaged 25.1 disposals per game this year and 5.5 clearances.

“Newcombe was also important in generating scoring opportunities for the Hawks, highlighted by a team-high average of 6.4 score involvements per game, while also kicking a total of 12 goals himself this year.

“The Box Hill success story has been a shining light for the Hawks in recent seasons after arriving to the club as pick two in the 2021 mid-season draft.”