Shane Savage delivered class, leadership and experience in a backline that was riddled by injury.
The No. 5 played every game in 2019 to lead the Saints for rebound-50s and effective kicks, with Savage rounding out the 2019 Trevor Barker Award’s top-10 off the back of his consistent year.
With Brett Ratten blooding the Saints' young rebounders in 2020, Savage was yet to pull on the red, white and black after the first eight games of the year.
Consistent performances at reserves level – as well as selection as an emergency for Round 7 – pushed the seasoned backman into the selection selection conversation, before earning a call-up in Round 9 as a late in for Seb Ross.
The rebounding defender slotted in seamlessly for his first senior appearance of the year, notching up 14 disposals, five rebounds and a game-high 483 metres gained in the Saints' stellar Pride Game win over Sydney.
Savage was originally selected by Hawthorn with pick No. 75 in the 2008 National Draft, before moving to St Kilda at the end of 2013.
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