The Northern Blues will crown its 2016 club champion at tonight's Laurie Hill Trophy awards night.
Following a season of change and improvement, the best and fairest will officially mark the end of the 2016 year for the Blues.
We take a look at the top six candidates who will figure heavily in the vote count on Friday night.
LAURIE HILL TROPHY
Named after former Preston captain, two-time club champion and J.J. Liston Trophy winner, Laurie Hill.
Kristian Jaksch
Jaksch finished the season as the Blues' leading goalkicker for the year, after kicking 24 goals from 17 VFL games. The 21-year-old spent time at both ends of the ground throughout the season, forming strong partnerships with the likes of Liam Jones, Harry McKay and Jack Silvagni when playing up forward. Jaksch’s best games came in Rounds 7 and 10, where he kicked four goals in wins against Coburg and Box Hill.
Jaksch is congratulated by his teammates after kicking a goal in Round 3. (Photo: AFL Media)
Tim Jones
The Tasmanian was a revelation for the Blues in his first season at the Club, missing just one game through injury after making his senior debut in Round 3. Jones provided strong support alongside Jason Tutt and Tom Wilson in the middle, hitting the ground running with an excellent opening game against Port Melbourne. His performances against the Borough, Frankston and Box Hill should see him poll, with his strong early form to hold him in good stead in the vote count.
Hisham Kerbatieh
One of the Northern Blues’ brightest sparks throughout the campaign, Kerbatieh was the only VFL-listed Blue to play every game this season and just one of three overall. Alternating his time between half forward and midfield, Kerbatieh was second for goals scored in the side (21 for the year), fourth for total disposals and equal first for total tackles. His five-goal performance in a losing side against Werribee will definitely see him poll votes.
Jason Tutt
The 25-year-old had an extremely consistent campaign when he featured for Northern this year, averaging the second most disposals per game and the most possessions of any Blue all season. He had 27 disposals or more on eight occasions, and was named in his side’s best players on 11 occasions from 14 matches.
Tutt had a very consistent season for Northern and will likey poll well in tonight's count. (Photo:AFL Media)
Mark Whiley
Whiley played a key role in a solid patch of mid-season form for the Northern Blues, with the hard-at-it midfielder forming part of a strong midfield brigade alongside Tutt and Wilson. After a slightly slow start to the year due to a calf injury, Whiley hit his straps from Round 9 with a brilliant performance against Frankston and put together a great patch of football. He collected over 30 disposals on three occasions, and led the team for clearances per game in his 10 matches over the year.
Tom Wilson
The Northern Blues captain is the overwhelming favourite to triumph in the Laurie Hill Trophy for the second time in three years. Wilson became the first Northern Blue since Kane Lambert in 2013 to make the VFL Team of the Year, with his only blemish for the season a serious concussion sustained in Round 5. His month of July saw him voted best-on-ground by his coaches in four consecutive matches, while his early performances against Port Melbourne and Collingwood set the tone for an outstanding year from the first-year skipper.
