Emerging midfielder Jack Steele served it up to the Eagles in Round 20, 2017 to stamp himself as a player of the future.

There had been glimpses throughout the 2017 season, Jack Steele’s first in red, white and black.

Twenty nine possessions against the Blues in Round 8, an incredible 17 tackles against Fremantle in Perth – including the chase down of the year.

The Saints had found one, a player of substance.

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As St Kilda clung to hopes of a long awaited finals appearance, Steele was now a permanent resident in the engine room.

It wasn’t all smooth sailing of course. When the Saints stumbled in the dying seconds against Port Adelaide in Adelaide, their third loss in as many weeks, questions were being asked. 

While Alan Richardson’s men would eventually miss September action, a spot in the eight was still up for grabs when the Saints met the Eagles at Etihad Stadium in Round 20.

The Eagles, also fighting for a finals berth, weren’t the complete team they would become in 2018 but still boasted champions like Jeremy McGovern, Andrew Gaff and Josh Kennedy.

What followed was a see-sawing encounter that wasn’t decided until the final minute.

Steele was a colossus: Twenty nine possessions, 20 of them contested, 12 tackles and two crucial goals.

His first major, kicked after the quarter time siren, followed a typically courageous mark, parked at the front of the pack.

The second was one for the ages.

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With the Saints trailing by a point mid-way through the final term, Steele grabbed the game by the neck.

The Canberra product hit a boundary line throw-in in the Saints forward pocket at pace.

And despite Will Scofield hanging off him, nailed the goal.

It sent the Saints into the lead and on course for a memorable victory.