Hawthorn midfielder Tom Mitchell appears a near certainty to claim the 2017 Peter Crimmins Medal after a stellar debut year at the Hawks. 

Fresh off a maiden All Australian honour and a top three finish in Monday's Brownlow count, Mitchell was one of the competition’s leading on-ballers in 2017, averaging a sublime 35.8 disposals per game.

After playing every game this season, it was a year that saw Hawthorn's newest ball magnet achieve all sorts of feats.

He broke the record for most disposals in a home and away season with 787.

He set a new high of 20 30-plus possessions games in a year.

And he also became just the seventh player in the game’s history to register 50 disposals in a single game.

Read: What 25 votes could mean for Mitchell

Among Mitchell’s closest challengers for his first club best and fairest is Ben McEvoy.

The ruckman enjoyed the best year of his 10-year career this season, averaging career-highs in hit-outs (32.4) and clearances (2.5). 

Many pundits viewed the 28-year old’s omission out of the All Australian squad of 40 as one of the more surprising exclusions from the group.

In his fourth season in the brown and gold, McEvoy thrived under the burden of shouldering the bulk of the Hawks’ ruck duties. 

Another contender for the medal is veteran Shaun Burgoyne.

At 34 years of age, Burgoyne showed no signs of slowing down this year, continuing his dominant ways as Hawthorn’s Mr Fix It.

Like McEvoy and Mitchell, the number nine played every game this year, averaging 20.4 disposals, four tackles, 3.4 clearances and 9.4 contested possessions.

The four-time premiership player’s re-signing to the club for season 2018 exemplifies how important a player he remains for Hawthorn.