St Kilda rebounding defender Shane Savage followed up a career-best 2015 with another season of excellent service this year, continuing his emergence as a game breaking half-back.
The 25-year-old played all but one game in 2016, forming a damaging partnership with Saints veteran Leigh Montagna across half-back. The pairs ball use helped transform St Kilda into a far more damaging team on transition than in recent years.
After an eye-catching season last year, the former Hawk improved the defensive side of his game this season as well as raising his consistency.
Savage polled in each of the opening 15 rounds of the Trevor Barker Award, before finishing in 13th position in the best and fairest, nestled either side of defenders, Sam Gilbert and Dylan Roberton.
Across 21 games this season, the Dandenong Stingrays product averaged a career-high 20.4 disposals at an elite 84.7 per cent efficiency rate. He had at least 20 possessions on 12 occasions in 2016, including a 30 possession haul against his old side in Round 4.
Savage reached the 100-game milestone against Fremantle in Round 10, and finished the season with 111 games next to his name, requiring one more appearance to draw level with the amount he played for Hawthorn before crossing to Linen House Centre at the end of 2013.
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Alan Richardson’s Views:
“Sav had a really positive year with respect to his improvement and growth. We all know that his rebound off half back is a real strength to his game – and we need that – but his challenge at the start of the year was to go to another level with his defence and that happened for us. We liked what we saw in terms of him being responsible for someone or playing team defence as opposed to just playing one-on-one. He really improved his all-round defensive game and continued to provide a real offensive threat from defence.
“He was probably a bit better in the air than he has been previously with his intercept work in the air. He’s got an incredibly aggressive step, combined with great speed and really good ball use, so we want him to continue to be brave and bold in the way that he plays. ‘Joey’ [Leigh Montagna] has been enormous for Sav and for all our small and young defenders. He really learned off him this year, which was great for his development.”
The Numbers:
21 games
20.2 disposals (No. 7 at St Kilda)
14.4 uncontested possessions (No. 7 at St Kilda)
84.7 per cent efficiency
385.7 metres gained (No. 4 at St Kilda)
3.2 rebound 50s (No. 3 at St Kilda)
2.8 inside 50s
