Matt Priddis with Sam Mitchell - two Eagles who could retire at the end of the season. Credit:Graham Denholm Priddis already holds the record for best tackle average in the game of 6.69 - ahead of North Melbourne captain Andrew Swallow (6.61) and Essendon's Ben Howlett (6.22) - and needs to lay just 31 tackles to break Hayes' mark. His record-breaking run is even more remarkable given Priddis was picked up by West Coast as a 21-year-old mature-aged player in the 2005 rookie draft after being overlooked for the national draft twice. In his first season, back in 2006, Priddis laid nine tackles in two games but, since then his ability to put the gripe on oppositions players has been nothing short of phenomenal. The West Coast ball-magnet has been in the top 15 in the AFL for total tackles laid from 2007-2016, has finished in the top five most prolific tacklers on five occasions and led the league for tackles in each of the last two seasons.

Priddis is set to create a new benchmark for total tackles in the AFL. Credit:Paul Kane In 2015, Priddis laid 176 tackles, 12 more than second placed Swallow, while last year he wrapped up a player 188 times - 18 more tackles than Swans midfielder Luke Parker. If he keeps up his average of 145 tackles per season over the last 10 years, and 6.69 tackles per game, Priddis will smash Hayes' record by the end of Round 5 and if he plays on in 2018 he could break the 1750 mark. Priddis leads the competition for average tackles and handballs per game. Credit:Morne de Klerk Matt Priddis' tackle numbers by year (number of games played in brackets)

2006: 9 (2)

2007: 128 (24)

2008: 103 (18)

2009: 127 (20)

2010: 130 (19)

2011: 193 (25)

2012: 122 (22)

2013: 129 (21)

2014: 160 (22)

2015: 176 (24)

2016: 188 (22) Career average: 6.69 tackles per game. Most tackles (number of games played in brackets): Lenny Hayes (STK) - 1496 (297) Jude Bolton (SYD) - 1490 (325) Matt Priddis (WC) - 1466 (219) Scott Thompson (ADE) - 1405 (307) Andrew Swallow (NM) - 1374 (208) However, Priddis isn't the only Eagle eyeing with an AFL record in his sights this season.

Prized West Coast recruit Sam Mitchell is on track to break three separate records in 2017 following his outstanding 15-year career at Hawthorn. Mitchell needs to dish off 242 handballs to eclipse Western Bulldogs midfielder Scott West's all-time mark of 4093 which looks a distinct possibility after he racked up more than 300 handballs in each of his last two seasons at Hawthorn. Sam Mitchell is on track to break three AFL records in 2017. Credit:Getty Images. However, despite his prolificacy, the 2012 Brownlow medallist doesn't have the competition's highest handball average - that honour belongs to the aforementioned Priddis whose remarkable average of 15.87 is well clear of new Sydney skipper Josh Kennedy (15.21). Priddis sits an impressive ninth in the all-time handballs table. Most handballs (number of games played in brackets):

Scott West (WB) - 4093 (324) Robert Harvey (STK) - 4008 (383) Sam Mitchell (HAW/WC) - 3852 (307) Simon Black (BL) - 3781 (322) Daniel Cross (WB/MEL) - 3687 (249) Mitchell is also just 15 clearances behind Brisbane Lions star Simon Black's benchmark of 1715 and given he looks likely to start in the middle for West Coast in Round 1, that appears another milestone he could surpass. Priddis also appears in the top five on this list, behind Black, Mitchell, ex-Eagles champion Chris Judd and Adelaide's Scott Thompson. Priddis is a much-maligned player on the east coast because some commentators claim he "doesn't hurt" oppositions teams with his disposal, but the stats don't lie and it puts the 31-year-old in the top bracket of players in the AFL over the last decade. Most clearances (number of games played in brackets): Simon Black (BL) - 1715 (322)

Sam Mitchell (HAW/WC) - 1700 (307)

Chris Judd (WC/CAR) - 1499 (279)

Scott Thompson (ADE) - 1422 (307)

Matt Priddis (WC) - 1359 (219)

Matt Priddis handballs to Sam MItchell during the JLT Community Series, Credit:Getty Images The final record in the ex-Hawks sights is a sign of his consistency, with Mitchell only three 30-disposal games away from beating St Kilda's Robert Harvey's mark of 118 games where he racked up 30 possessions or higher. Given Mitchell had 10 games with 30 more more possessions in 2016 and as well as a remarkable 16 times in 2015 (including in all four Hawthorn finals), this seems like another record he could own come season's end. Especially if his dazzling 39-possession, seven clearance game against Melbourne in the Eagles final pre-season game is anything to go by. Most instances of 30 disposals or more in a match (number of games played in brackets):