The 2011-12 campaign saw Aberdeen, under the management of Craig Brown, battle through an inconsistent season to secure a 9th-place finish in the Scottish Premier League. Leading the line was Scott Vernon, whose 11 league goals proved vital in a year where The Dons also reached the Scottish Cup semi-finals. The season, marked by a memorable hat-trick from Vernon against Dunfermline and a dramatic draw that ended Celtic's long winning run, remains a chapter defined by moments of cup-run hope and mid-table consolidation.