Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson appears to fall asleep as Brownlow medal winner Tom Mitchell thanks the team for his stellar season
- Tom Mitchell has won the 2018 Brownlow Medal at a ceremony in Melbourne
- The Hawthorn midfielder was the heavy favourite after a phenomenal season
- He was awarded 28 votes – 4 more than Collingwood’s Steele Sidebottom
Tom Mitchell has won the 2018 Brownlow Medal with 28 votes following his record-breaking season – but the headlines were stolen by Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson who appeared to fall asleep during the midfielder’s winning speech.
Mitchell was named the winner after the vote count at Crown Palladium in Melbourne on Monday night, days before Saturday’s West Coast vs Collingwood Grand Final at the MCG.
Mitchell, who appeared at the ceremony along with girlfriend Hannah Emmerson, thanked his family as well as Ms Emmerson for keeping him grounded despite the clamour surrounding his performances this season.
Tom Mitchell has won the 2017 Brownlow Medal with 28 votes following his record-breaking season – but the headlines were stolen by Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson who appeared to fall asleep during the midfielder’s winning speech
The Brownlow medal winner (left) said: ‘My girlfriend (right) and my family have been a huge help getting me through this period – it has been a massive help.’
He was named the winner after the vote count at Crown Palladium in Melbourne on Monday night, days before Saturday’s West Coast vs Collingwood Grand Final at the MCG (pictured with partner Hannah Emmerson on the red carpet prior to Monday night’s event)
The Hawthorn star’s (pictured) Brownlow medal is the latest peak in the 25-year-old’s career after he was traded to the Hawks from Sydney at the end of the 2016 season
He said: ‘My girlfriend and my family have been a huge help getting me through this period – it has been a massive help.’
He also jokingly thanked his partner for changing his diet in the past year and helping him to improve his performances.
The Brownlow medal winner said: ‘She’s the real reason I’m standing up here.
‘I won’t go into to much detail but my diet used to consist of Barbecue Shapes and Starburst.’
The Hawthorn star’s Brownlow medal is the latest peak in the 25-year-old’s career after he was traded to the Hawks from Sydney at the end of the 2016 season.
The trade is widely regarded to have worked out more favourably for the Hawks – with former Swans champion Gerard Healy saying this week that Mitchell’s form has already bitten them on the backside.
Mitchell finished as the best and fairest player at the awards – with the bookies’ other hot tip ruckman Max Gawn finishing on 20 votes in fifth position
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