Veteran forward Jack Gunston has capped off his remarkable 2025 season, winding back the clock to claim this year’s Peter Crimmins Medal.
Gunston’s emphatic win marks his second Hawthorn best and fairest (and first since 2020), highlighting his extraordinary return to top form ahead of his 34th birthday later this month.
In an enthralling vote count on Saturday night at Crown Palladium, Gunston (157 votes) finished 17 votes ahead of runner-up Karl Amon (140), followed by Dylan Moore (136) in third place.
Last year’s winner Jai Newcombe finished fourth, while Blake Hardwick rounded out the top five for a second consecutive season, tying with Jack Ginnivan.
Gunston’s second Peter Crimmins Medal highlights a career-best year for the 33-year-old, where he also earned his second All Australian blazer, kicked his 550th career goal, notched up 250 Hawthorn games and re-signed for a remarkable 17th season next year.
The three-time premiership Hawk finished with 73 goals for the year to comfortably set a new single-season career high following his previous best tally of 58 from a decade ago in 2015.
Adding to his remarkable achievement is the fact that Gunston missed the first two games of the season, started as the sub in Round 2 and was rested in Round 10.
From his 23 games this season, Gunston was held goalless just once and kicked multiple majors on 20 occasions.
His incredible year included two career-high hauls of seven goals, a bag of six, and a five-goal performance in the Semi Final.
The sharpshooter ranked second in the AFL for goals per game (3.1) while also finishing equal-second in the league for marks inside 50 per game (3.3) and equal-fifth for score involvements per game (7.7).
Gunston also ranked above average for his position in disposals (12.6) and marks (5.2).
For the first time in his 195-game career, Karl Amon finished on the podium in a club best and fairest count.
The 30-year-old featured in 25 of a possible 26 games in 2025 and ranked elite for his position in metres gained (596.1 per game) and kicks (17 per game).
Amon also ranked above average for his position in disposals (24) and handballs (7), impressing with his elite rebounding ability, endurance, and decision-making with ball in hand.
Rounding out the podium was Vice-Captain Dylan Moore.
The third-place finish marks Moore’s second straight podium finish in a Peter Crimmins Medal count, following up his runner-up effort last year.
Building on his All Australian form from 12 months ago, Moore combined his forward smarts with his influence through the middle to rank elite for his position in disposals (19.4 per game), kicks (10.5 per game), handballs (8.9 per game) and marks (4.3 per game).
In addition to Gunston’s Peter Crimmins Medal win, he was also awarded the club’s coveted Lethal Award, voted on by his peers.
Fellow All Australian Josh Battle took home the Most Courageous award in his first season in the brown and gold.
Josh Ward was named Most Improved, Calsher Dear was judged Most Promising, while Will Day was voted Best Clubman.
The Best Finals Player went to ‘Mr September’ Jai Newcombe, while the retiring Luke Breust claimed one last accolade in the brown and gold, collecting the Community Leadership Award, supported by the MacKenzie family.
2025 Peter Crimmins Medal Top 10
1. Jack Gunston – 157 votes
2. Karl Amon – 140 votes
3. Dylan Moore – 136 votes
4. Jai Newcombe – 126 votes
=5. Blake Hardwick – 120 votes
=5. Jack Ginnivan – 120 votes
7. Josh Battle – 119 votes
8. Jarman Impey – 108 votes
9. Nick Watson – 102 votes
=10. Lloyd Meek – 99 votes
=10. Mabior Chol – 99 votes
2025 Peter Crimmins Medal club award winners
Most Improved – Josh Ward
Most Courageous – Josh Battle
Best Clubman – Will Day
Community Leadership Award – Luke Breust
Lethal Award – Jack Gunston
Most Promising – Calsher Dear
Best Finals Player – Jai Newcombe
Coaches gave:
– One vote to players who played their role or beat their opponent.
– Two votes for those who had a significant influence on the game.
– Three votes to the best player or players on the ground.
– And, on rare occasions, a player or players might receive four votes for an exceptional game.