UGSFL 2024: Narrogin star Tom Kilpatrick receives Hardie Medal as Hawks best after landslide win in F&B count

Brilliant midfielder Tom Kilpatrick has claimed his first Hardie Medal to cap a superb season with Narrogin. Kilpatrick’s outstanding 2024 season was recognised earlier this year with the Leo Graham Medal as the fairest and best player in the Upper Great Southern Football League. The Hawks held their season presentations on September 13 and the prolific ball winner finished a dominant winner of the club’s most prestigious award. Kilpatrick won the Hardie Family Medal by nearly 100 votes in the Hawks fairest and best count. The 20-year-old was a standout this year for the Hawks, who finished fourth on the ladder before being bundled out in an elimination final by Wickepin. He finished with a staggering 165 votes to easily defeat key position star Henry Gould (75 votes) and Damon Penny (70). Noah Criddle-White (60) and player-coach Jordan Heil (58) rounded out the top five in the league count. It was Kilpatrick’s first gong as Hawks’ league fairest and best winner, the young gun having played six WAFL colts games with South Fremantle in 2023. Kilpatrick also won the Hawks’ best under-21 league player award. In other league awards, Penny was named most consistent, Noah Bowen-Zoccoli who finished sixth in the fairest and best received the coaches award, Criddle-White was the most outstanding forward and Bradley Timms was named most outstanding backman. Silky midfielder Simon Mason won the Hawks’ reserves fairest and best gong, polling 109 votes to defeat joint runners-up in Blair Forrest and Branden Miller. In other reserves awards, Jack Leigh won the most consistent trophy, Jack Elswyk won the coaches award, Logan Batt was named best under-21 player, Noah Williams claimed the leading goal kicker award and Alex Isaacs was named most improved. Hawks’ legend Perrin Quartermaine received the prestigious best club person award.