Will an Eagle claim the game's highest individual honour in 2019? We take a look at the club's top five contenders ahead of this evening's Brownlow Medal count.

Elliot Yeo:

The two-time John Worsfold medallist had another fantastic season and is expected to poll strongly tonight. Yeo took a few rounds to work into season 2019 following a limited build up due to off-season toe surgery, but he hit his straps in the opening RAC Derby of the year (30 disposals) and didn’t look back. The 25-year-old is expected to start collecting votes from round seven (28 disposals, 12 tackles v Gold Coast) and is tipped to pick up three votes for his 27-disposal, 15-tackle effort against the Crows in round 10. He finished the year with a wet sail and is a chance to collect best-on-ground honours for his round 21 (25 disposals, 10 tackles, five clearances v Carlton) and 21 (25 disposals, 15 contested possessions v Adelaide) performances. Yeo’s previous best Brownlow Medal tally is 15 votes (2018).

Luke Shuey:

West Coast’s joint vice-captain led from the front in season 2019. He burst out of the blocks with a likely best-on-ground performance against Greater Western Sydney in round two (28 disposals, seven inside 50s, two goals) and had a magnificent run of games between rounds seven and 10. Shuey could poll in all four of those games but appears a certainly to collect at least two or three votes for his game against Adelaide, where he almost single-handedly dragged the Eagles across the line against the Crows. Shuey had 21 of his 33 touches after the main break to go with 10 tackles and 10 clearances for the game. He repeated his second-half heroics against the Hawks in round 15 (39 disposals, 11 clearances, one goal), where he was unquestionably the best player afield. His previous best Brownlow Medal haul is 10 votes (2017 and 2016).

Dom Sheed:

West Coast’s 2018 Grand Final hero rode the wave of momentum into the 2019 home and away campaign. Sheed shot out of the blocks with a string of solid performances that should have him leading the club’s vote haul early in the Brownlow Medal count. He is expected to poll in rounds two (28 disposals, nine marks, one goal v GWS) and three ( 24 disposals, three goals v Collingwood). The Kalgoorlie product also produced eye-catching performances against Gold Coast in round seven and St Kilda in round eight and was arguably the best player afield for West Coast’s round 14 bout with Essendon (36 disposals, six clearances, two goals). His previous best Brownlow Medal tally is three votes (2018).

Andrew Gaff:

Andrew Gaff was as influential as ever in 2019. After sitting out the first two rounds of the year due to suspension, the two-time all-Australian reminded the competition of his class with a stirring performance against Collingwood in the round three Grand Final rematch. The 27-year-old amassed 35 disposals and five clearances in a game that could earn him a maximum three votes tonight. He could also be in the running to snare best-on-ground honours for his round 10 effort, where he collected 33 disposals, nine marks and three inside 50s to help West Coast steal victory from the jaws of defeat against Adelaide away from home. Gaff was incredibly consistent this year. In fact, he won 30 or more disposals in 14 of his 20 home and away outings this year. With those numbers, he will be a big chance to accumulate votes throughout tonight’s count. His previous best Brownlow Medal tally is 21 votes (2016).

Shannon Hurn:

West Coast’s skipper capped off another magnificent year with his second all-Australian blazer. And if voting goes as predicted this evening, he could record a personal best Brownlow Medal votes haul. It’s not often that a backman picks up best-on-ground honours, but 'Bunga' could take home three votes on at least two occasions tonight. He claimed his third Glendinning-Allan Medal for his 32-disposal, 15-intercept display against the Dockers in round four and was rated by many as the best player afield during West Coast’s round eight win over St Kilda at Marvel Stadium, a game in which he collected 25 touches, nine marks and four score involvements. Hurn had several other big games throughout the year, but as is the way with backmen, they generally came in losses, which doesn’t bode well for votes. His previous best Brownlow Medal tally is six votes (2018).