AN INJURY-FREE Jaeger O'Meara is just scratching the surface of his potential, teammate Isaac Smith says.

O'Meara played his best game in Hawthorn colours against Melbourne on Sunday, tallying 26 disposals, five clearances and two goals and winning seven votes in the AFLCA player of the year poll.

O'Meara and Liam Shiels were outstanding in Hawthorn's win, stepping up as Tom Mitchell dealt with a heavy tag from Demons co-captain Nathan Jones.

Smith said he was expecting big things from the former Gold Coast onballer in 2018.

"He had a really good preparation (pre-season) and I think we're just starting to see what he can do," Smith told RSN 927.

"The sky's the limit for 'Jaegs'. There's obviously a lot of potential there and he can be a genuine star of the competition if he gets a good run at it, so it's pretty exciting."

O'Meara was traded to the Hawks from the Suns at the end of 2016, with Hawthorn parting with a top-10 pick to land the star midfielder.

After playing the first three games of the 2017 season, O'Meara's career at Hawthorn got off to a shaky start when a hot spot in his troublesome knee was detected and he was sidelined for 14 weeks.

He ruptured the patella tendon in his right knee in April 2015 and did not play a senior match for more than two years following knee surgeries.

Despite the injury setbacks, Smith said O'Meara had handled himself with aplomb in his time at Hawthorn.

"'Jaegs' is such an impressive individual that he hasn't really shown any of that since he's been at the club. I'm sure he's had moments where he's sitting down and doubting his injury or what not, but he just doesn't show it," Smith said.

"He's the nicest human. He's probably the best looking human I've ever seen, he's cashed up now and he plays really good footy, so he's got a few things going for him and he doesn't show his stresses too much at all. 

"He's a great teammate and he's someone awesome to have around the club."