The stats

AFL games: 20

Disposals per game: 21.3

Marks: 5.7

Kicks: 13.4

Tackles: 2.9

Total goals: 5

Review

Ryan Burton was one of the shining lights for Hawthorn in 2017.

Runner-up in this year’s NAB Rising Star Award, the 20-year old proved his wares as a very capable backman.

The South Australian was the number one rebound 50 player at the Hawks this year, averaging 3.8 exits per game.

Burton gathered the sixth most possessions of any Hawk this season.

He was also one of only two Hawks, the other being Shaun Burgoyne, to average over 20 possessions at a disposal efficiency over 80%.

A word from: Brett Ratten

“Ryan played majority down back this year and had a fantastic year.

“His ability to read the flight of the ball and then win the footy and counter-attack is something that was a real plus for us.

“Losing Grant Birchall for the majority of the year, Burton has been one of the shining lights for us to give us that counter-attack that we usually get from Birch. He’s got good ball use from half-back and he has developed really well in 2017.”

Read: James Cousins' season in review