Here at Hawthorn, we understand that AFL is a team game. Each player, coach and official is but a cog in the wheel of a well-oiled machine, chugging towards success.

But over the next 11 days, we’re forgetting about the team achievements and throwing the spotlight on individuals. 

Here’s the question; which Hawk has the most impressive trophy case of all time? 

Each accolade has been given a weighting (see bottom of page), and the numbers have been crunched to see who comes out on top. 

Follow along each day on hawthornfc.com.au, as we slowly reveal Hawthorn’s Ultimate Trophy Cabinet.

Catch up: The Ultimate Trophy Cabinet - No.2

1st

After crunching the numbers for every single player to have pulled on the brown and gold guernsey, the data has revealed that the most impressive trophy cabinet in the club’s history belongs to none other than Leigh Matthews.

In fact, 'Lethal' clears second-placed Jason Dunstall’s point tally by 65 points and there is little surprise when you gaze over Matthews’ list of accomplishments.

Four premierships, eight Peter Crimmins Medals, an All Australian team, a Coleman Medal just among his highlights.

Matthews gathered 82 points for his placings in the best and fairest counts across his 17-year career.

He was also the only Hawk named in the AFL Team of the Century, granting him 18 points in a category that no other player polled in.

Points:

332 games (10 points)
AFL Hall of Fame Legend Status (50 points)
Hawthorn Hall of Fame Legend Status (25 points)
Hawthorn Team of the Century (11 points)
8x club best and fairest awards, 2x 2nd, 1x 3rd (82 points)
AFL Team of the Century (18 points)
4x premierships (20 points)
2x AFLPA Player of the Years (10 points)
1x All Australian honour (9 points)
1x Coleman Medal (9 points)
5 years as captain (10 points)

Trophy Cabinet key:

POINTS

 

ACHIEVEMENT

50

 

Legend AFL Hall of Fame

25

 

Legend Hawthorn Hall of Fame

20

 

AFL Hall of Fame*

18

 

AFL Team of the Century

15

 

Hawthorn Hall of Fame*

15

 

401-450 Games played

12

Per

Brownlow

12

 

351-400 Games played

11

 

Hawthorn Team of the Century

10

Per

AFLPA Player of the Year

10

 

301-350 Games played

10

Per

Norm Smith Medal

10

Per

AFL Coaches Player of the Year

9

Per

Peter Crimmins Medal Winner

9

Per

All Australian team^

9

Per

Coleman Medal

8

 

Rising Star Winner

8

 

251-300 Games played

6

 

201-250 Games played

5

Per

Premiership**

4

 

Runner-up B&F

2

 

151-200 Games played

2

Per year as

Captain

2

 

3rd place B&F

2

 

100-150 games played

1

 

50-100 Games played

*Only award points if player hasn’t received AFL Legend HoF

*Only award points if player hasn't received Hawthorn Legend HoF

^Only award points if player is in final 22  

** Despite being a team achievement, we felt it was important to still include premierships, but with considerable less weighting than other individual achievements.