IN what has been a challenging year for the Saints, votes could be difficult to come by at tonight’s Brownlow medal count.
But despite relatively limited success, midfielders Leigh Montagna and Jack Steven would have caught the eye of umpires on many occasions this year.
Never to be discounted, Nick Riewoldt had another strong season and finished second in the St Kilda best and fairest, while Jarryn Geary, Dylan Roberton and David Armitage all enjoyed consistent years.
But it is no secret the Brownlow is a midfielder’s award and has been for a while now. Tony Lockett won the medal in 1987 as a full-forward, but since then the game’s highest individual accolade has largely been reserved for prolific ball-winners.
Montagna averaged 29.6 disposals per game in 2013, up on his 2010 average of 28.7 touches per match. He polled 16 votes in the Brownlow in that year and was named in the All-Australian team. While St Kilda wasn’t successful in the season just gone, Montagna was nevertheless one of the shining lights and is historically a strong vote-getter.
Of all the current players in the AFL, the 29-year-old is ranked 26th in career votes – marginally ahead of 2008 winner Adam Cooney and within touching distance of Ryan O’Keefe and Lance Franklin.
Expect Montagna to come home strongly, the midfielder collected 32 or more disposals in six of his last seven games. It will be interesting to see who polls three votes in St Kilda’s Round 23 win over Fremantle, with Steven and Montagna each collecting 47 disposals.
Steven himself had a similarly dominant year and capped it off with his first Trevor Barker Award – just reward for a youngster who worked incredibly hard over pre-season and has now established himself as one of St Kilda’s most electric players and valued performers.
This year he added consistency to his armoury, averaging 26.9 possessions per game and booting 16 goals. One thing is for sure, Steven will claim more than his 2012 tally of one vote this evening.
St Kilda’s best performer in the 2012 Brownlow was Lenny Hayes, who polled 19 votes to finish in equal eighth position. Only five Saints have polled more career votes than the iconic Saint, with Nick Dal Santo just four votes ahead of Hayes.
The veteran had an interrupted season due to injury and is expected to be a little quieter tonight, but fellow midfielder David Armitage was constantly under the nose of the umpires this year – leading the club in tackles and taking over the mantle as St Kilda’s best in-and-under player.
Meanwhile, Riewoldt’s first half of the season should yield him some votes, especially in rounds two, five, seven and nine. The four-time All-Australian led the competition in total marks and also booted 50 goals, his highest tally since 2009.
Others to keep an eye out for include Jarryn Geary, Dylan Roberton and Farren Ray.
Robert Harvey was the last Saint to win the Brownlow, going back-to-back in 1997 and 1998.
You can follow Tom Morris on Twitter: @tommorris32
