VETERANS Lenny Hayes and Sean Dempster have finished second and third in St Kilda’s Trevor Barker Award.

The duo were pictures of consistency in 2014, playing all but two matches between them and they were regularly among the Saints best.

Dempster has now played 40 consecutive games for St Kilda, the longest streak out of any current player, while Hayes finished his illustrious career following the Saints’ loss to Adelaide in round 23.

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Alan Richardson was effusive in his praise for the retiring Hayes, who is still weighing up whether to take up a position with the club in 2015.

“Lenny in his final year was as strong as ever,” The first-year coach said.

“Most importantly, not unlike Rooey, he was a great mentor and leader for our younger players. A lot has been said about his relationship with Luke Dunstan, but that would be true of the work he did with David Armitage, Jack Steven and Seb Ross.

“He’s a class act and he’s one of the most impressive people that I’ve met in footy. His legacy will be a strong and influential one for many years.”

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Richardson was equally pleased with Dempster’s 2014 season, crediting the defender as the leader of the backline when injuries began to take their toll.

“Some of his performances were absolutely outstanding and not only was he able to control the bloke that he was playing on, which was often the opposition’s best medium or small forward, but he was able to support his teammates,” he said.

“His courage and his ability to be able to read the opposition kick and get back and mark was outstanding. He continually put the team in front of his own welfare and there is no greater compliment in footy.”

Dempster was ranked first in the AFL for marks from opposition kicks, demonstrating how well the 30-year-old reads the play behind the ball.

PRESS PASS VIDEO: Sean Dempster

This is third time the ex-Swan’s premiership player has finished third in the Trevor Barker Award, following his podium finish in 2011 behind Nick Dal Santo and Sam Fisher.

Meanwhile, Hayes was ranked second at the club for disposals, averaging 23.5 touches per outing. Defensively, the 34-year-old led the way, laying 46 more tackles than any other Saint at an average of 6.6 per match.

His tackling proficiency was highlighted in his final game, when he broke Jude Bolton’s record for the most tackles in AFL history.

LENNY HAYES: The most prolific tackler in the history of AFL football! A star, a champion... A LEGEND! #ilovelenny pic.twitter.com/zJDS1sDsLq

— St Kilda FC (@stkildafc) August 31, 2014

Hayes’ third placing is the eighth occasion in which he’s finished in the top three in St Kilda’s Best and Fairest, including three wins in 2003, 2010 and 2012.

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