Friday night saw the Box Hill Hawks hold their last function of the season, their Best and Fairest Award, The Col Austen Trophy asPaul Hooper reports.
Held at the Pavilion function facility at Box Hill City Oval, 140 people were in attendance.
Tom Schneider won the “Col Austen Trophy” for the best and fairest player for season 2012. Col Austen played with Hawthorn from 1946 to 1949 and then with Richmond from 1950 to 1952. He shared the Brownlow Medal with Ron Clegg from South Melbourne in 1949.
In 1956 Col Austen came to Box Hill as Captain / Coach and then non playing coach from 1957 to 1959. In 1956 he led Box Hill to their first finals appearance as well as a second finals appearance in 1957. Col’s son, Grant Austen was in attendance to present the award.
Tom Schneider, 20 won the award at Box Hill as a rookie listed player with Hawthorn. In his second year at Box Hill, Schneider is described as one of the best in and under players in the VFL. He played his junior football at Blackburn Football Club then progressed through the TAC Cup competition with the Oakleigh Chargers before being rookie listed at Hawthorn.
As a rookie listed player at Hawthorn, Schneider has played two seasons with the Hawks aligned partner, the Box Hill Hawks.
The vote count was tight and runner-up was Tom Murphy who also had a great year with Box Hill in between call-ups to the Hawthorn side.
Schneider follows some impressive recent winners who have gone on to play at AFL level including Sam Gibson (North Melbourne), Ed Curnow (Carlton), Sam Isles (Gold Coast Suns), Matthew Ball twice (Hawthorn) and Sam Mitchell (Hawthorn).
Other winners on Friday night included:
Best Clubman - Adam Pattison
3WBC Media Award - Luke Andrews
Most Courageous Award - Kyle Cheney
Leading Goal Kicker (Seniors) - Daniel Pratt 36-Goals
Leading Goal Kicker (Development Team) - Daniel Cooper 29-Goals
Development Team – Player of the Finals - James Wilsen
Development Team Runner B&F Runner-Up - Tom Gordon
Development Team Best and Fairest - James Wilsen
Team First Award - Xavier Murphy
Best First Year Player - Jordan Kelly
Most Professional Player - Marc Lock
Player of the Finals – Taylor Duryea
Most Consistent Award – Matt Jones
Runner Up Col Austen Trophy - Tom Murphy
Winner - Col Austen Trophy - Tom Schneider
The Box Hill Hawks had a frustrating year unable to win more than two games in a row but not losing more than two games in a row. They played finals winning the Elimination Final against Sandringham but going down narrowly to eventual Premier, Geelong in the Semi-Final after leading for three and a half quarters.
Coach, Damien Carroll has been appointed for season 2013, his third year at the club.
Last Modified on 09/10/2012 16:05