This season is shaping up to be an opportune platform for several off-contract players to prove they're in line for substantial pay rises ahead of inking their next deals.
The opening 10 rounds have seen a handful of players reach new heights and career-best form in a timely manner as their current deals reach their cessation at season's end.
Each club currently has a raft of names unsigned for next season as they move through 2022, with already-announced stars, emerging prospects and bargain buys among those set to place further pressure on their respective club's purse strings.
With over 200 players unsigned for next season, we take a look at EIGHT who are set to earn bumper deals following hot starts to the season.
4. Mitch Lewis
The Hawks' key forward has lifted into the first-string spearhead duties under first-year coach Sam Mitchell, landing a return of 22 goals from his seven games to start this season.
The 3.14-goal per game average places Lewis among the top bracket of key forwards this season, placed in the top 10 of the Coleman Medal race.
Lewis last inked an extension with Hawthorn at the end of the 2019 season after tallying 14 career games in the brown and gold before signing on the dotted line.
Across the past three seasons, the 23-year-old has been placed on a path to lead Hawthorn's attack in their new era, but 2022 has shown to be a breakout campaign for the Calder Cannons product.
Lewis is on track to boot close to 60 majors for the season and will demand a substantial pay rise in his next deal.
