Talismanic Buddy voted best of the best
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Dominating performance...Franklin managed 113 goals over the course of the season. (Getty Images: Mark Dadswell, file photo)
Mercurial goal scorer Lance Franklin has been voted Hawthorn's best and fairest player for 2008, icing a tremendous AFL season in which he won a premiership and kicked in excess of 100 goals.
Franklin received 216 votes from his peers to win the Peter Crimmins Medal, finishing well ahead of skipper Sam Mitchell (177) and Norm Smith Medallist Luke Hodge (175).
The powerful key forward lit up the AFL in 2008 attaining almost superstar status with his exploits on goal earning votes from his peers all but one of their 25 matches.
Although Franklin was kept reasonably quiet during Hawthorn's grand final win over Geelong, he managed 113 goals over the course of the season - 14 more than Carlton full-forward Brendan Fevola.
Meanwhile, Hawks assistant coach Todd Viney has parted ways with the club after three years at Hawthorn.
General manager of football operations, Mark Evans, says Viney played a key role in re-shaping the club towards its first premiership in 17 years.
"Todd has made an outstanding contribution to the Hawks since joining the club in 2005," Evans said in a club statement.
Brown, Fisher accolades
Elsewhere on Saturday evening, Brisbane Lions co-captain and St Kilda defender Sam Fisher picked up best and fairest nods at their respective club awards nights.
Brown claimed the Merrett-Murray Medal for the second year running, narrowly edging out Simon Black and Luke Power at the Lions' awards evening.
Brown was also named the best forward while Black took out the best midfielder award.
In Melbourne, Fisher took out the Trevor Barker award after finishing third and second respectively in St Kilda's best and fairest counts in 2006-07.
"It's a tremendous honour to win the Trevor Barker Medal, particularly playing as part of such a competitive team," Fisher said.
