The 12 Hearts Standard end-of-season awards

This is unabashedly a positive outlook on what was a positive season with the team putting together a long unbeaten run, achieving feats that haven't been done in many years and cantering to third place and European qualification for the third season running.

We have picked out 12 different awards. Hopefully, this will be an annual occurrence so the awards or award names may change. But without further ado, writers Joel and James pick out their winners of the different categories...

READ MORE: How Hearts season was one of time: Naismith, falling apart, Shankland, feats

Player of the season

Joel: Lawrence Shankland. I’m not sure how many times this season myself or James has written or said, ‘What else is there left to say?’. It is the greatest individual season I’ve witnessed in three decades of watching Hearts. There are two ways to become a legend. Win silverware or produce over a long period. Shankland, over two seasons, has done as much as one person could to sit on that tier below. There have been comparisons to Rudi Skacel's influence during his spells. Shankland went beyond that. He represented something more than just being a very, very good player this season. When he was on the pitch, there was a greater connection to the support. When he was on the pitch, it felt like the team were already leading 1-0. Never has a player extracted such emotion from his presence and range of noises from his variety of finishing. Steven Naismith suggested we won’t understand his campaign for another few years. I’d tend to disagree. Every Hearts fan knows they witnessed something special and something that will take years, perhaps decades to be repeated.

James: Lawrence Shankland. Quite possibly the easiest decision ever made in humanity’s 100,000-odd years of kicking around our pale blue dot. Few Hearts players in the club’s storied history have offered so much over the course of a season as the talismanic No.9, and the Scotland internationalist’s clean sweep of every individual honour in the country tells its own story. A magnificent season from a magnificent player.

The not-Lawrence-Shankland player of the season

Joel: Stephen Kingsley. There are a few players who were considered but few proved to be more important in a defensive sense than Kingsley. He played left-back, left wing-back, right-back, right wing-back, the right of a back three, the left of a back three and the centre of a back three. Oh, he also played as the left and right of a centre-back partnership. He didn’t let Hearts down once. He was the epitome of a consistent, reliable defender. And he found his range again from set-pieces.

James: Frankie Kent. Plenty of players have enjoyed purple patches throughout the season, but the summer signing from Peterborough United has been a consistent performer throughout his debut campaign in Scotland and the Englishman has barely missed a game. A rock-solid centre-half who rarely makes mistakes, Kent has been a fine addition to the backline and he has proven to be very reliable. You know what you’re getting from him – and he rarely disappoints.

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Most improved player

Joel: Alan Forrest. The winger went from a squad player last season to an important one this season. A comparison can be drawn between Stephen Kingsley with Forrest the attacking version. The 27-year-old is the type of versatile attacker every team needs, someone who can carry out a variety of roles and to a high standard. Forrest played in a number of different positions and the only time he clearly struggled was a home game against St Johnstone against the powerful Luke Robinson. There was greater production in terms of goals and assists with plenty of room to add more next season.

James: Alan Forrest. It’s hard to look beyond the former Livingston and Ayr United winger. Forrest was considered to be a player on the fringes of the starting XI when the season kicked off, but he has finished it as an important member of Naismith’s squad, and one of the team’s most consistent attackers in the final third. A two-year extension signed back in January was a fitting reward for a player who ultimately racked up the eighth-most minutes in the league of any Hearts player this season. Shankland was the only attacker to get more: a fact that underlines just how important Forrest has been this season.

Best signing

Joel: Frankie Kent. One of the priority additions in the summer had to be a dominant centre-back. A leader and organiser. Someone who would thrive doing the bread and butter of Scottish football defending: Blocking, clearing, heading. It was missing last season when Craig Halkett was injured. The club’s recruitment staff couldn’t have done a better job than Kent. He arrived and delivered straight away. His level of performance has been excellent and he has been a fantastic addition behind the scenes, becoming a popular member of the squad and one of the leading voices in the dressing room.

James: Kenneth Vargas. Kent can probably feel a bit hard done by here, but I’ve already given him an award and I’d prefer to spread them around, so I’ll go for Vargas. Nine goals is a decent return for a forward adapting to a new league on the other side of the planet, but it’s the Costa Rican’s potential that truly excites. The raw ingredients are there for an excellent player who could perhaps land Hearts a significant transfer fee a few years down the line. And of all the new arrivals this season, I feel the 22-year-old has the highest ceiling in terms of how he could develop.

The Mauricio Pinilla at Aberdeen award for best goal

Joel: There are so many to choose from. Alan Forrest and Lawrence Shankland’s thunderous efforts against Hibs and St Mirren respectively. Kenneth Vargas’ Skacel-esque touch, spin and finish against Motherwell. Shankland’s glorious Hibs winner. Shankland’s recent goal at St Mirren, the precision placement against Ross County and the outside-the-boot strikes against Livingston and Aberdeen. Kyosuke Tagawa’s season finisher. But in keeping with the name of the award, I'll go for Cammy Devlin’s goal against Livingston in the 4-2 win. The move was started and finished by the Aussie midfielder. There were so many bits to enjoy - from Barrie McKay’s involvement to Shankland’s deft touch around the corner, Cochrane’s overlapping run and first-time cross and then Devlin’s nutmeg finish.

James: Lawrence Shankland v Hibs. Easter Road. 0-0. It’s the 93rd minute of a game where Hearts haven’t played especially well, and a share of the spoils is looming. Zander Clark hoofs it long in one last attempt to break the deadlock. Shankland gets under it, bustling his way past Rocky Bushiri. He takes a deft touch inside, shifting his feet this way and that as he tries desperately not to lose his balance. And then he curls it into the top corner, just about causing a riot in the away end as he does. The technique is superb and the finish is sublime, but it’s also a goal dripping with narrative – which makes it catnip to a hack like me.

The David Clarkson award for best save

Joel: There is a real temptation to hand this to Kye Rowles for a certain block against Hibs in the 1-0 win at Easter Road just because there are still complaints from across the city that he wasn’t sent off. However, that set up the best save of the season when Zander Clark dove to his right and brilliantly tipped Martin Boyle’s penalty away. There were some excellent reflex saves throughout the campaign, notably against Dundee, Kilmarnock and Celtic. But given the context of the penalty stop, how impressive it was and what it allowed Hearts to do (go and win) it ticks all the boxes. It also provided Clark with a huge boost with Craig Gordon back from injury and fans beginning to ask questions about who starts between the sticks.

James: Zander Clark v Cyriel Dessers. This could be a case of recency bias on my behalf, but I’m struggling to think of another moment this season where I was resigned to conceding, only for the ball to somehow stay out of the back of the net. When Kye Rowles was cheaply dispossessed by Ross McCausland inside his own box and the winger squared it to Dessers, it looked for all the world as though the Nigeria internationalist would stick the ball home – only for Clark to rush out and deny him. A fantastic piece of goalkeeping.

READ MORE: Steven Naismith gives Hearts budget and recruitment insight

The Suso Santana at Falkirk award for best individual performance

Joel: It would be easy to do a top five of Lawrence Shankland. Alan Forrest’s display in the win at Livingston was a standout. Kye Rowles was excellent in the win against Celtic at home and Zander Clark had his moments, namely the win at Easter Road. But no performance resonated more with the crowd and the occasion than Cammy Devlin’s against Rosenborg. Yes, there were the two goals. But it was about his running and his tempo-setting. Hearts under Naismith pride themselves on control. Devlin brings that wee bit of chaos that sparks a fire in the crowd. He was everywhere that evening.

James: Macaulay Tait v Dundee. There have been lots of impressive displays spread around the season, and we all know how often Shankland has been the match-winner for Hearts. Having said that, I’m going to give my best performance award to Tait for his second-half display in the 3-2 win over Dundee back in January. With Hearts trailing 2-0, the teenager was brought on to replace Beni Baningime in the 56th minute to make his third senior appearance, having previously been brought on for the final few minutes against Celtic and St Mirren. Tait was seemingly everywhere for Hearts, grabbed a first-ever assist, and was instrumental in the eventual turnaround. For a player so young, it was quite the introduction.

The 4-0 v Celtic award for best team performance

Joel: The 2-0 win over Celtic. The execution of the game plan went perfectly. From getting a lead to nullifying the Celtic’s wide threat and making it difficult for the home side to the point the home crowd became very agitated that they took it out on Santa by booing him at half-time. Normally when winning at Celtic or Ibrox you have to endure an onslaught. There was never really that feeling. It was all quite comfortable. A mention for the 2-1 win at Motherwell. It was 2-1 going on 4 or 5-1.

James: Celtic 0-2 Hearts. It’s hard to overlook the team’s first league win at Parkhead since 2007 for the best all-round performance of the season. The unexpected nature of the win naturally adds a bit more weight to it, but this was a game where Naismith got his tactics spot on and everyone followed their instructions to the letter. After going 2-0 up after half an hour, Hearts put in a professional and composed performance, and Celtic never looked like getting back into it. The midfield three of Aidan Denholm, Jorge Grant and Baningime were at their very best – and Brendan Rodgers’ side had no answers.

Best moment

Joel: Leaving Tynecastle Park after the Rosenborg game. It was the knowing that it was a special European night under the lights. I and no doubt many others of my generation or younger had heard plenty of stories about nights in Gorgie past, namely Bayern Munich. But those special nights have been few and far between when it comes to Europe. The come-from-behind win over Rosenborg felt special. It was special. It was definitely one of those moments I wish I was in my season ticket seat rather than the press box. The atmosphere was unreal and the performance matched it. Walking onto Foundation Plaza then up McLeod Street and onto Gorgie Road there was just a buzz in the air as fans made their way home or from one pub to another.

James: Kyosuke Tagawa scores against Rangers. It was the final act of the 2023/24 campaign, and what a way it was to sign off the season. Despite Tagawa’s struggles this season, the striker has a tremendous amount of goodwill behind him and it’s hard to think of any other Hearts player who fans are more eager to see succeed. After breaking his league duck against St Mirren a few days earlier, it was great to see Tagawa follow that up with a goal against Rangers. And what a goal it was. It was the clearest indication yet of what the Japanese can bring to the team – and the fact that it set off another chorus of the ‘Tequila’ chant from the home fans was the cherry on top.

Surprise of the season

Joel: Winning 10 away games in the league. Hearts away from home has always been an area of real frustration. Winning on the road is not easy but for a club the size of Hearts and the expectation and ambition that comes with it, not reaching double figures for away wins in over 30 years is not good enough and points to underachievement in general. Let’s hope it is not that long before the next season with 10 or more away victories. 

James: The unbeaten run. We’ve already touched on the win at Celtic Park, but what followed was even more impressive. Not even Naismith predicted that Hearts would win 11 of their subsequent 12 games in all competitions (a 2-2 draw with County was the only blip), and it was this run that allowed Hearts to pull clear of the chasing pack and make third theirs to lose. It was a wonderful run of form at a crucial juncture of the season, and it was a welcome sight, but even the most dyed-in-the-wool supporter would have a hard time admitting that they saw it coming. It was unexpected but in the best possible way.

Best tactical decision

Joel: The switch to the back three. Hearts were naive in the first meeting with Celtic, losing 4-1 with the team pulled apart far too easily. It was most evident when Matt O’Riley put the visitors ahead at Tynecastle Park. After that match, with the right-back position an issue, Naismith switched to a back three and it brought the team a strong foundation and platform. Six clean sheets were kept in the next 10 games. It may not have made the football any easier on the eye at that point in the season but did make the team very difficult to break down.

James: Pushing Cammy Devlin further forward. This is admittedly more of a long-term call from Naismith, rather than a piece of tactical tinkering on the sidelines that turned a game in Hearts’ favour. There are a fair few examples of the latter to choose from this season, but the decision to push Devlin further forward has provided all sorts of headaches for the opposition during the closing stages of the season. The Aussie’s recent performances against Livingston and Kilmarnock in particular showed another side of the midfielder and demonstrated how effective a presence he can be in the final third. Devlin is another player on the books in Gorgie with stacks of potential, and the change in role looks like it will add another string to an already considerable bow.

Biggest achievement

Joel: Reaching 68 points after the slow start. Football fans always want more so there has been a wee thought of, ‘What if Hearts started the season strongly?’. The team won just three of their first 10, giving up cheap points. There was the failure to beat Killie and Motherwell at home, drawing when winning 2-0 against Hibs and losing 2-1 to Rangers after winning 1-0 going into stoppage time. To go from 11 points after 10 to 68 in total is an impressive achievement. Even more so when you consider that in the last 30 top-flight seasons that points tally has been surpassed just twice by a team finishing third (Rangers on both occasions).

James: 10 away league wins. In the end, Hearts strolled to third place and, if you ask me, there are two big reasons why. The first are the 16 clean sheets recorded in the league this season – a superb tally that laid the groundwork for many a success – and the second is the 10 victories recorded on the road in the Premiership this term. These are the games that are the difference between finishing fourth and cantering to third, between third and closing the gap with the Old Firm, and in my view, they are the most impressive aspect of Naismith’s first full season in charge. And, most importantly of all, it means Joel’s decades-long obsession with tracking away league wins in the hope of one day seeing Hearts hit double digits can finally draw to a close.