Fremantle star midfielder Nat Fyfe will win his maiden Brownlow Medal in 2015, the annual poll of the 18 AFL club captains has predicted.

The captains also picked Gold Coast to make its maiden finals appearance this season.

Four club captains said Fyfe, 23, would win the medal, closely followed by Gold Coast champion Gary Ablett, who received three votes.

Another win for Ablett this season would be his third.

Fyfe finished second behind West Coast's Matt Priddis in last year's Brownlow count, with 25 votes, but was ineligible after being suspended for high contact on Sun Michael Rischitelli in round two.

Port Adelaide's Travis Boak, Adelaide's Patrick Dangerfield and Geelong's Joel Selwood were each picked for the Brownlow by two captains.

New Brisbane Lion Dayne Beams, Power's Robbie Gray, Swan Josh Kennedy, Richmond's Dustin Martin, North's Daniel Wells and Priddis all were nominated once.

Hawthorn, Port Adelaide and the Sydney Swans were unanimous choices to make this year's finals. (Captains were asked, 'Which seven other clubs do you think can make this year's top eight?')

All but one captain predicted that Fremantle and Geelong would finish in the eight. North Melbourne won 14 votes, Gold Coast 12, Richmond eight, Essendon four, Adelaide three and Collingwood and West Coast one each.

When captains were asked which other club would make the Grand Final, Hawthorn won 11 votes, the Swans four and Port Adelaide three.

Hawks spearhead Jarryd Roughead is the captains' tip to win the Coleman Medal. Seven nominated him, ahead of four for Swan Lance Franklin, who was last year's winner.

Two picked Geelong's Tom Hawkins and Tiger Jack Riewoldt, while Giant Jeremy Cameron, West Coast's Josh Kennedy, Swan Kurt Tippett and new Crows captain Taylor Walker all were chosen by one captain.

Exciting Cats youngster Nakia Cockatoo and ready-made Swans onballer Isaac Heeney were the two leading NAB AFL Rising Star nominations, with four and three votes respectively.

Others to be nominated were Hawk Jed Anderson (two), and Melbourne's Angus Brayshaw, Carlton's Patrick Cripps, Crow Matt Crouch, Magpie Jordan De Goey, Sun Jarrod Garlett, St Kilda's Patrick McCartin, Lion Jaden McGrath, Collingwood's Matt Scharenburg and North's Kayne Turner, all of whom won a single vote.