JAEGER O'Meara won't be shocked if his Brownlow Medal-winning housemate Tom Mitchell emerges from Hawthorn's player-driven captaincy vote as an official leader.
Mitchell also claimed the Hawks' past two club champion awards since crossing from Sydney at the end of the 2016 season, but is yet to force his way into the club's leadership group.
Hawthorn players will vote for Jarryd Roughead's captaincy successor on a descending 5-4-3-2-1 basis before letting their teammates know who they picked.
NO SECRETS Hawks to reveal their picks for captaincy
Mitchell is unlikely to go from outside the leadership group, which this year comprised Roughead, vice-captains Liam Shiels and Isaac Smith, and Jack Gunston and Ben Stratton, to a captaincy contender.
However, the 25-year-old dual All Australian has spoken of his want to break into that group and he's been noticeably more vocal in the early stages of the pre-season.
Mitchell also defied the AC joint injury he sustained in the season-ending finals loss to Melbourne to return to training early with the first-to-fourth-year players.
"He's definitely developing in that area and obviously with the year he had and the previous year before that, he's got a lot of respect from the (playing) group," O'Meara said.
"So if he does get that (captaincy honour), it will be no surprise.
"We've got a number of guys who could take that role. Obviously, Roughy stepped down from that role but did a tremendous job over the two years I've been here.
"There are a fair few guys who've been in the leadership group for the last few years and have developed really nicely, so whoever takes that spot will hold it in high regard and it will be a massive honour for them."
RETURN UNKNOWN Scully's ankle feeling OK, but no timeline set
Mitchell's possession-accumulating is unrivalled in VFL/AFL history. He now owns the single-game (54), home and away season (787) and premiership season (848) disposal records.
He was considered a more damaging player in 2018, posting personal-best numbers in kicks (16.2), contested possessions (16.2), clearances (8), inside 50s (4.9) and metres gained (446.3).
But Mitchell hasn't let his Brownlow glory go to his head, according to O'Meara.
"He's not that type of guy – he's been trying to lay pretty low, Tommy," he said.
"But he's been training hard and he's a determined little bugger, so he'll probably be trying to go one step ahead again next year and hopefully have some team success."
