THE 2015 Trevor Barker Award is an open race and promises to be a great evening. Following a season of numerous individual highlights, a handful of Saints are in the running to be crowned best and fairest.
The favourites:
David Armitage
Armitage enjoyed a breakout season in 2015, playing 21 games and averaging 28.4 disposals per outing. His form in the first half of the year was outstanding, at one stage leading the AFL for total disposals and clearances.
Performances like his 45-disposal haul against the Bulldogs in round six are sure to draw votes, while his 38 possessions against Essendon in round 14 is also likely to attract attention.
The left-footer didn’t finish the season as strongly in terms of pure disposal numbers, but did lay a total of 31 tackles in his last four games.
Jack Steven
Steven is very much in the frame to claim his second Trevor Barker Award after a consistent and at times prolific campaign.
In his first best and fairest campaign, in 2013, Steven amassed 591 disposals at 26.9 per outing. This year his numbers were identical.
The midfielder was especially damaging at Etihad Stadium, averaging 32 touches per game at St Kilda’s home venue. Seeing as the voting panel are coaches, the fact he laid eight or more tackles in eight games also bodes well.
Don’t discount:
Sean Dempster
Dempster was a picture of consistency in 2015, playing 21 of a possible 22 games and averaging seven marks per match.
For the 31-year-old, statistics do truly illustrate how valuable he is. Having finished third in St Kilda’s best and fairest in 2011, 2012 and 2014, the defender will be at short odds to finish on the podium again this year.
Like most defenders, Brownlow Medal votes do not equate to Best and Fairest votes. Not including 2015, Dempster has polled just two votes in his entire career but remains a highly valued player at the Saints.
Dylan Roberton
Much like Jack Steven, Roberton recaptured his 2013 form this season.
The 24-year-old spent time in defence, on the wing and even dabbled in the midfield occasionally in what was his best year of football.
Roberton played 20 games and averaged 20.7 disposals per outing and was arguably St Kilda’s best player against Collingwood in round three and Hawthorn in round 10. He finished 10th the 2013 best and fairest and appears certain to push for a top three placing on Monday evening.
The underdogs:
Josh Bruce
A 50-goal season will surely be enough to propel the key forward towards his first top 10 finish.
Nick Riewoldt
Riewoldt is no stranger to Trevor Barker Awards, having won six of them throughout his illustrious career. However injuries mean the skipper is unlikely to feature at the pointy end of the leaderboard, having played in just four of St Kilda’s first eight games.
Jack Newnes
Newnes enjoyed another consistent season in the red, white and black, averaging 20.4 disposals and playing every game.
He will have games where he will poll well (like rounds three, nine and 20), but he is unlikely to gain enough votes to really challenge the top two or three. Don’t discount him in future years though.
Leigh Montagna
Montagna enjoyed a prolific season in the Saints midfield, but like Riewoldt, missed a large chunk of games towards the start of the season that will count against him.
From rounds 8-16, Montagna did not drop below 27 possessions and is sure to poll well as a result.
