No matter who of the frontrunners for this year’s Trevor Barker Award ends up taking home the prestigious honour, history will certainly be made.

Whether it be a first-time winner in Rowan Marshall and Callum Wilkie after years on the podium, a young gun in Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera breaking through as the youngest winner since 2005 or a three-time champion in Jack Sinclair or Jack Steele cementing themselves as club greats, this year’s winner will be more than deserving of such recognition.

Ahead of Monday night’s event, take a look as to who could take home this year’s Best & Fairest.

Jack Sinclair

There is every chance that Jack Sinclair could engrain himself as a bonafide champion of St Kilda should be clinch this year’s Best & Fairest. 

Not only would the No. 35 become one of just 10 Saints to win the award at least three times, but could also become the first ever Saint to clinch the honour in three consecutive seasons.

Further solidifying himself as one of the competition’s most composed and precise players off half-back in 2024, Sinclair spent additional time on-ball to bring his game-changing attributes and dynamic play further afield.

With 11 Brownlow votes to his name from this campaign just gone, a triple Best & Fairest honour for Sinclair would certainly be fitting recognition to such an impressive and captivating career bloom.

Rowan Marshall

What a season it was for the big-hearted Rowan Marshall.

Taking the ruck reins solo once again, Marshall pieced together one of his most dominant seasons yet to entrench himself as one of the Saints’ most influential players and put himself in the running for a maiden Best & Fairest honour.

Although missing out on selection in this year’s All-Australian squad, the Portland product earned both the Silk-Miller Memorial Medal and Ian Stewart Medal for his powerhouse performances against Hawthorn and Richmond respectively, in tandem with his series of tide-turning performances which directly thrust the Saints back into the contest and on the path to victory.

After finishing on the podium twice, including one year as runner-up in his breakout 2019 campaign, could this finally be the year Marshall finds himself as the Saints’ No. 1?

Callum Wilkie

Just when it seems as if Callum Wilkie’s journey couldn’t possibly reach greater heights, the dependable defender continues to find a way.

A maiden Trevor Barker Award for the vice-captain would certainly continue that surge, coming off a season which again earned him a string of league-wide plaudits and club history as the Saint with the most consecutive games to their name (132*).

The ever-reliable defender was impeccable as the backbone of St Kilda’s defence week after week, barely lowering his colours despite challenging patches for the club on-field throughout the year.

Consistency has long been a lynchpin of Wilkie’s career, and while accolades are often elusive for key defenders across the competition, such dependability is certainly in the frame to be rewarded come Monday night.

Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera

At just 21 years old, Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera could very well be St Kilda’s youngest Best & Fairest winner in almost two decades years when Luke Ball, also at 21 years of age, shared the distinction with Steven Baker in 2005.

With composure and class well beyond his years, Wanganeen-Milera delighted at every turn in a breakout campaign which confirmed his credentials as a future star and one of the most vital pieces in the Saints’ future.

Plying his trade largely off half-back, the No. 7 enthralled with a career-best average of 25 disposals and five rebound-50s per game, utilising his clever use and cool head under pressure to the utmost effect both springing out of defence or launching into attack.

If Wanganeen-Milera does find himself as this year’s Trevor Barker Award, his already promising trajectory is sure to shoot further skywards, much to the excitement of Saints fans far and wide.

Jack Steele

Jack Steele already finds himself in fine company as a two-time Best & Fairest, however could very well take the next step into elite contention should he snare a third Trevor Barker Award on Monday night.

Well and truly overcoming the injuries that plagued him last year, the skipper led from the front on countless occasions in 2024 as his side’s premier on-baller to average 24 touches, seven tackles and five clearances per game.

Steele has several standout appearances while shouldering the responsibility of skipper, including four matches with 30 or more disposals, six with 10 tackles or greater and a blistering three-goal burst against Essendon to cap off his well-rounded season.

Three Trevor Barker Awards would put Steele level with the likes of three-time recipients Lenny Hayes, Premiership captain Darrel Baldock and Saints Legend Nathan Burke. What impressive company to be a part of.