IF BEN Stratton isn't the most underrated player in the AFL, he's in the top handful, and that's just the way the unassuming Hawthorn backman likes it.
Rarely beaten by talls or smalls, Stratton has become Alastair Clarkson's go-to lockdown defender, has three premiership medallions to show for it, and is content staying out of the spotlight.
"I'm happy to fly under the radar and keep being underrated, it sits pretty well with me," Stratton told AFL.com.au.
"Whatever people think, that's fine with me, I'm not too bothered."
On the field, Stratton is all business and one of Hawthorn's emerging leaders.
But when there's the chance to relax, the mustachioed 27-year-old dives into his other passions – surfing and music.
Although his surfboard is generally packed away during cold Victorian winters, he's learnt guitar and is trained to play piano, but also dabbles on the decks and has played a couple of DJ gigs in Melbourne.
"At the moment, it's a hobby. It's a pretty good feeling playing in front of a crowd, you get up and about and that's another good feeling about music," he said.
"It's kind of hard with footy as well … it's a bit restricted at the moment but maybe post-footy we'll see how things go."
Still, Stratton samples the latest house and techno music in his spare time and brings the best new tunes to game day to pump up his teammates as the Hawks' resident DJ.
"Maybe off the field I carry on a bit, you see a different side of me," he said.
"I put my hand up and play the music and make a fool out of myself every now and then, and try and keep things calm on the ground and do the opposite and just do my job."
Although Stratton often clamps down on the opposition's best forwards, it's his stellar record on Adelaide star Eddie Betts that gets most people's attention.
The 189cm defender kept Betts – arguably the League's most dangerous goalsneak – to only one goal and just seven kicks in their two duels last season.
However, things didn't start as smoothly last time the flag contenders met in round five.
"He kicked three goals in the first quarter, so I thought I was in for a 12-goal game against," said Stratton, who held Betts goalless after quarter-time in a three-point thriller won by the Hawks.
"We've had some good battles and it's good fun.
"Sometimes you're playing on blokes like Eddie one week and then you keep getting the smalls and you're like 'Geez, these blokes are quick'.
"It's nice sometimes then you play on a tall.
"You change up your role and then you've got to be onto your aerial stuff instead."
Flexibility to play different roles is a hallmark of Alastair Clarkson's team, although Stratton is largely exempt from pushing forward and is the owner of the longest goal drought at the club.
Josh Gibson kicked his first major in 127 games as a Hawk in round two, and has booted two more since, leaving Stratton with the longest wait without a major – stretching back 118 matches to round 19, 2010 when he kicked his only AFL goal against the Swans.
"He's (Gibson) just sneaking up there (forward). I was wondering what he was doing up there last week," Stratton said with a laugh.
"I had another shot on the weekend, I just couldn't get it, it was in the last quarter so I was absolutely buggered.
"That will hopefully be gone at some stage soon, whether or not this year or next year, but it would be nice to have a record that stands at the club."
