At a glance:

  • Rosie Dillon is pushing for St Kilda's AFLW best-and-fairest.
  • The 24-year-old was one of the Saints' standout tacklers and toughest combatants.
  • Dillon averaged 13 disposals and six tackles per game after coming off a best-and-fairest year for Hawthorn VFLW.

If there’s one Saint to fly well under the radar, it’s Rosie Dillon.

The tenacious midfielder was either on the bottom of a pack or laying a crunching tackle, often escaping the immediate gaze of the fans.

But without Dillon packing her punch on the inside, the Saints’ midfield make-up would be completely different.

Now after a terrific campaign in the red, white and black, the 24-year-old is well in the running to snare St Kilda’s first best-and-fairest.

Dillon’s inside grunt was unswerving week after week, with her victories in the clinches both halting the opposition and giving the Saints’ outside runners chances to break free.  

Molly McDonald looks to put her name in the history books one more time

The in-and-under midfielder’s skill through heavy traffic saw her lead her side for contested possessions, and place a narrow second for clearances behind Georgia Patrikios.

But Dillon’s defining feature was her tackling.

The 153cm on-baller was a pressure magnet all season long, piecing together four dominant seven-tackle performances from her six games.

Toughness. Photo: Corey Scicluna.

Dillon placed second for St Kilda’s total tackles, with Nat Exon leapfrogging the hard-nut after a dominant eight-tackle effort against the Blues.

The No. 24 also found plenty of time to rack up the footy, with influential outings against Fremantle (18 disposals), Melbourne (16), Carlton (16) and Richmond (18).

They were traits that held her in good stead last season at Hawthorn VFLW, with the vice-captain taking out the club’s best-and-fairest and feature in the best-on-ground 11 out of a possible 14 times.

More silverware for Olivia Vesely is no joke

Even after an amazing season in the red, white and back, Dillon probably doesn’t get the praises she deserves.

A place in St Kilda’s best-and-fairest count might change that.

Rosie Dillon

Season averages: 13 disposals, six tackles
Best game: Round 4 v Fremantle, 18 disposals, seven tackles, two marks
Key stat: First for St Kilda’s contested possessions, second for clearances, tackles