The three favourites to win the 2014 Doig Medal have all worn it around their neck before. Aaron Sandilands won in 2009, David Mundy a year later, and Nat Fyfe took out the prestigious award in 2013 after a runner-up finish to Matthew Pavlich in 2011.

On Saturday night, the Fremantle Dockers will award the 20^th Doig Medal to the 2014 club champion. Will it be one of these three Fremantle champions who join Pavlich and Peter Bell as the only multiple winners, or could there be a surprise.

Fremantlefc.com.au takes a look at the main chances.

Aaron Sandilands – 23 games
An All Australian three times previously in his career, Sandilands was awarded a fourth representative jumper in 2014. That augurs well for his chances of claiming a second Doig Medal. The ruckman was devastating from the very first game when he annihilated Collingwood at the stoppages at Etihad Stadium. Sandilands easily led the AFL for hitouts-to-advantage and that, coupled with the most contested marks he’s taken since 2010, should see him give the 2014 Doig Medal an almighty shake.

Watch highlights from Aaron Sandilands' season

Nat Fyfe – 20 games
There was no doubt that Fyfe was the best-performed player at Fremantle in 2014, but weighing heavily against the superstar is the four games he missed through suspension. Given players can score a maximum of 25 votes per game in the Doig, he could be giving teammates such as Aaron Sandilands and David Mundy a good head start. In Fyfe’s favour was the stunning string of performances he unleashed on the competition in 2014. He will poll incredibly well in the games he did play, just as he didwhen he finished one vote shy of West Coast’s Matt Priddis in the 2014 Brownlow Medal, and that could be enough to win back-to-back Doig Medals.

David Mundy – 24 games
The Doig Medal rewards players who consistently give great effort and perform their role for the team. On that criterion, David Mundy is a huge chance to win his second Doig Medal. ‘Barra’ played every game in 2014 and finished first at Fremantle for total disposals and tackles, and second in contested and uncontested possessions. The runner-up last year, don’t be surprised if Mundy goes one better in 2014.

Hayden Ballantyne – 20 games
Given Ballantyne played 20 games in 2014, it’s hard to see him polling more votes than Nat Fyfe. But ‘Ballas’ is a great chance to sneak a place for what was his best season at AFL level to date. He kicked six goals in a game once, twice booted five and had three or four majors on eight occasions. Add the intense effort he gives every week to apply defensive pressure on the opposition and Ballantyne could find himself in the top four on Doig Medal night.

Watch highlights from Hayden Ballantyne's season

Stephen Hill – 20 games
Like Ballantyne, Hill’s 20 appearances are unlikely to generate enough votes to win the Doig Medal. But it was arguably his most consistent season at AFL level and he has a strong chance to equal or better his fourth-placed finish from 2010. ‘Hilly’ easily beat his previous best disposals per game average in 2014 so he should feature prominently.

Watch highlights from Stephen Hill's season

Michael Barlow – 19 games
Five missed games in 2014 leaves Barlow with a huge handicap to overcome if he is to win his first Doig Medal. The midfielder has the game to be a club champion thanks to his ability to get around the ground and win disposals. Barlow also kicked 18 goals, the most in a season in his career. Expect him to poll well and challenge for a place.

Watch highlights from Michael Barlow's season

Smokey to sneak a place: Given Freo finished as the second best defensive side in the AFL behind Sydney, don’t be surprised to see a defender or two sneak onto the leader board. Luke McPharlin was unlucky not to win the Doig in 2012, but he’s out of the running this year because of injury. Michael Johnson performed well but only played 18 games.  Lee Spurr and Cam Sutcliffe did not miss a match and were very consistent, while Zac Dawson played 22 games and stood tall in the absence of key stars.

Doig Medal voting process: At the conclusion of every game this season five members of the Fremantle coaching staff, including senior coach Ross Lyon, gave every player votes up to a maximum of five. Top votes are awarded for what is regarded as an elite performance.

Other awards: The club will also hand out the Beacon Award. Proudly sponsored by Programmed, it contains similar criteria to the AFL’s Rising Star award in that players are eligible to win it in their first or second year of AFL football provided they have played 10 games or less in their debut season.

The Players’ Award will also be announced. It is voted on by the players themselves and is given to the player who was deemed to have best reflected the values set by the playing group at the start of the season.

The Best Clubman, Player of the Finals and life membership inductions are also on the Doig Medal presentation program.