AS Port Adelaide prepares to crown its 2020 club champion at next Thursday’s Best and Fairest count, portadelaidefc.com.au looks at the contenders to take home the John Cahill Medal.
How the voting works: Following the completion of each game, the panel of Senior Coach Ken Hinkley, Senior Assistant Michael Voss, each player’s respective line coach and General Manager – Football Chris Davies cast their votes. Each player’s performance is rated between 0-5, with a maximum of 20 and minimum of zero votes awarded per player, per game.
John Cahill Medal Contender – Hamish Hartlett
In 2020 Hamish Hartlett only topped Port Adelaide’s rankings in one statistical category.
His booming right foot let off 174 kicks – good enough for seventh.
He used that booming boot to launch Port Adelaide out of defence 45 times – fourth.
His excellent football IQ and positioning helped him to clunk 69 marks – fifth best at Alberton.
He still helped link up the play by hand as well with 107 handballs – eighth.
His 53 tackles proved he’s still as tough as they come – eighth.
In fact, it was in the most unlikely areas that Port Adelaide’s vice-captain flew the flag for his team.
His 19 games played was the most he played in a season since 2017 and the first time he took part in every fixture of a Port Adelaide campaign since 2015.
Indeed Hartlett proved to be Port’s Mr Reliable in 2020.
After a crucial intercept mark? Hartlett was there. Want someone to set the tone with a bruising tackle? Hartlett’s your man. Need someone you can trust to play their role week in, week out and go when they need to go without batting an eyelid? Hamish Hartlett did that.
Turns out he’s a pretty handy drummer as well.
As he enters his 30s, the future of Port Adelaide’s midfield no longer sits on Hartlett’s shoulders and he looks more at home than ever as a sweeping distributor and seasoned head directing traffic in Port Adelaide’s high-sitting defensive press.
He might not be pencilled in for 30 disposals a game anymore, but Hartlett’s newfound durability and continued commitment to playing his role in team football, winning football, is sure to place him towards the pointy end of the John Cahill Medal count.
Three of the best:
Round 4 vs West Coast
With the critics searching for Port Adelaide to claim its first meaningful scalp of 2020, Hartlett stood tall to ensure his side got the job done against the highly fancied Eagles. The vice-captain gathered a season-best 22 disposals, surging the ball forward a season-high 515m and even got on the end of a trademark long-range goal.
Round 11 vs Richmond
There was no shortage of strong performers in arguably Port’s best win of the season, but Hartlett played a key role in knocking over the reigning premiers, gathering 16 disposals, nine intercepts and laying six tackles.
Qualifying Final vs Geelong
Hartlett’s performance against the Cats didn’t go unnoticed by Port Adelaide’s supporters, who voted him their ‘Fans MVP’ in the club’s first finals win since 2014. His seven tackles and eight intercepts, five of those vital marks to lock the ball in Port’s forward half, were key to a famous win.
