Hawthorn is on the hunt for a new captain and premiership Hawk Campbell Brown believes star defender Ben Stratton is the man to take the reins from Jarryd Roughead in 2019.

Roughead became Hawthorn’s 35th captain when he replaced four-time premiership great Luke Hodge at the start of 2017, before the 31-year-old stepped down from the role in November.

While the general consensus is inside midfielder Liam Shiels and wingman Isaac Smith are the two frontrunners, Brown has endorsed Stratton following a career best season by the 29-year-old.

“I think it is a three horse race,” Brown told SEN this week.

Round 18

“Everyone was just talking about Isaac Smith and Liam Shiels and I thought the service that Benny Stratton has put in over nearly a decade now, he fits right into the box that Hawthorn would look at.

Isaac Smith, Ben Stratton and Liam Shiels share a laugh at a training session before Christmas. Source: News Corp Australia

“I know how highly he is rated internally and he is coming off a career best year.

“I think they are in pretty good hands with Liam Shiels, who has been anointed a long way out as a future captain. Isaac Smith has done it through the course of the last few years when Roughy has gone out.”

Stratton and All-Australian forward Jack Gunston were added to the Hawks’ leadership group two years ago, with Smith and Shiels assuming the vice-captaincy duties across the past couple of years.

Jaeger O'Meara celebrates after kicking the sealer against Geelong in Round 21 last year. Source: News Corp Australia

Reigning Brownlow medallist Tom Mitchell and star midfielder Jaeger O’Meara haven’t been included in the leadership group in their first two years at Waverley Park, but Brown expects them to feature sooner rather than later, suggesting former Sun O’Meara has captaincy traits.

“I still think that Tommy Mitchell and Jaeger O’Meara are potential leaders down the track, but not right at the minute,” he said.

“I’d love to see Jaeger put another quality year in like he did this year. He has captain written all over him down the track.”