Beattie, 32, scored a comfortable victory over youngster Alex McDonald.

McDonald enjoyed a breakout season for the Hawks, predominantly playing in defence.

Beattie said he was pleasantly surprised to win the award considering the amount of talent on the Hawks' list.

"It was a bit unexpected to be honest," Beattie said.

"Personally, I didn't think that I had that great of a season.

"But it is a huge honour to win the award.

"You look at some of the previous winners on the board and to have your name rated alongside them is a real honour."

Beattie played predominantly as a key forward for the Hawks and rotated between full forward and centre half-forward.

He averaged almost four goals to finish the season with 38 majors from 10 matches.

Adding further merit to the win, it is rare to see a permanent forward poll so well in the award that is traditionally dominated by midfielders.

Beattie has re-signed with the Hawks for next year.

"It's a fantastic club," he said.

"I was always going to head to Kiewa after I was done in the O&M to play alongside my brother Caleb.

"But there is a lot of former Wodonga players already out there and mates that I went to university with."

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The Hawks were in third spot with a 9-2 record when the season was abandoned.

Beattie said the finals series would have been riveting with only one win separating the top-four sides.

"It was a tight competition with only one win separating the top-four sides," he said.

"Tallangatta was in fifth spot and beat us earlier in the season.

"So it was shaping as a cracking finals series."

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