Hawthorn AFL Blind Captain Ned Brewer Maiga received one of the highest honours at the club's 2025 Inclusion Awards.
Shortly after winning his seventh club best and fairest award, Brewer Maiga was presented with the new Variety Heart of Community Medal, which celebrates someone who embodies the values of both the Hawks Community Foundation and Variety - the Children's Charity, one of the club's inclusion partners.
Brewer Maiga won the award after being recognised as someone who goes above and beyond, not for recognition, but to make his community stronger, more inclusive and more compassionate.
Upon accepting the award from Variety CEO Peter Bruce, it was announced by Hawthorn General Manager - Community Impact & Inclusion, Adam Moedt, that from now on, the award would be named the Ned Brewer Maiga Medal.
To make the moment even more special was the fact that Brewer Maiga's Mum was in the room to see him accept his incredibly well-deserved honour.
Not only does Brewer Maiga lead the club's AFL Blind team with incredible distinction, but he also works in Hawthorn's community team, helping to deliver school sessions that teach children about living with a disability and building their empathy levels.
Away from the club, Brewer Maiga has represented both his state and his country in blind cricket, travelling all over the country and the world to do the brown and gold proud.
Brewer Maiga took to his Instagram page to describe what having a medal named after him means.
"I can't put into words just how much this means to me," he said.
"I only really care about making people smile and as happy as I can, hopefully making a difference in a small way.
"I could never have imagined something like this, so it's hard to feel like it's deserved in a way, but this is one of, if not the biggest, achievement and honour of my life.
"I am forever grateful and indebted to Hawthorn Football Club and the people involved over the years who have supported me through everything!
"Honestly, it has given me a purpose and so much happiness in what has been at times such a challenging period of my life.
"For the footy club that I have loved forever to name anything in my name is nuts in itself, let alone a medal that has the values that it does, simply something that I don't know can ever be topped in my life."
