GRAND Final week kicks off in traditional fashion this evening with the Brownlow Medal, SAINTS.com.au dissects which players will feature prominently in football’s night of nights.

Lenny Hayes finished third in 2009 and regularly captures the attention of the umpires, as do Nick Riewoldt and Leigh Montagna.

However with just four wins this season, it’s unlikely these three veterans will feature prominently at the pointy end of the night.

Nevertheless, evaluating which Saint will poll the most votes is an interesting exercise, especially given the nature of the medal as a ‘midfielder’s award’ and the dominance of Nick Riewoldt in a handful of games this season.

Round 1 vs Melbourne:
Alan Richardson’s first game in charge of the Saints ended in a 17-point victory.

Without the suspended Leigh Montagna or Lenny Hayes, Clint Jones was St Kilda’s best midfielder with 39 disposals, while Luke Dunstan was nominated for the Rising Star Award for his 21 touches and seven tackles on debut.

Nick Riewoldt was influential up forward, clunking 12 marks and booting three goals, while Farren Ray might be an outside chance to poll a vote for his 25 touches (including 21 kicks) on the wing.
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MATCH REPORT: St Kilda vs Melbourne

The two Melbourne players most likely to steal votes off Jones, Riewoldt and Dunstan are Nathan Jones and Bernie Vince.

Jones was as prolific as his St Kilda namesake, amassing 38 disposals and laying seven tackles. Crucially, he was also awarded five free kicks for the evening.

Vince had 20 kicks amongst 28 possessions, and booted one goal and four behinds, while Dom Tyson was also impressive in his Melbourne debut.

Our prediction:
3 votes: Nick Riewoldt
2 votes: Clint Jones
1 vote:   Nathan Jones



Round 2 vs GWS:
It doesn’t matter what way you look at it, this was Nick Riewoldt’s game.

The St Kilda skipper was best on ground by a considerable margin, amassing 24 touches, taking 14 marks and booting five goals in the Saints seven-point win.

While three votes to Riewoldt looks to be a lay down misere, who gets the two and one votes from the umpire is anyone’s guess. 3

MATCH REPORT: St Kilda vs GWS

David Armitage finished with 29 touches, while Clint Jones, Jack Newnes and Farren Ray all had solid games and collected 26 possessions each.

Leigh Montagna was solid in his first game for the season, while ruckman Tom Hickey booted three first-half goals and had a significant impact on the game when it was up for grabs.

And the Giants weren’t without a host of excellent performers either.

Callan Ward had 28 touches, Toby Greene 26, but probably the most likely GWS player to steal votes off Armitage and co will be Devon Smith.
The strong-bodied half-forward booted five goals among 22 disposals, causing headaches for St Kilda’s defence in the process.

Our prediction:
3 votes: Nick Riewoldt
2 votes: Devon Smith
1 vote: Tom Hickey



Round 5 vs Essendon
After being heavily defeated by Adelaide in round four, St Kilda rebounded in the best possible way against the Bombers the following Saturday night.

Once again, Nick Riewoldt looks to be a lock for best on ground honours in this game. The forward ace booted five goals and broke Stephen Milne’s record for most goals at Etihad Stadium.
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MATCH REPORT: St Kilda vs Essendon

Contrastingly, Essendon’s highest goal-kicker was midfielder Brent Stanton, who benefitted from the move forward in the final term and finished with three majors among 29 disposals.

While Bombers skipper Jobe Watson also collected 29 possessions, 20 of them were handballs so it is debatable whether the umpires will value his influence on the contest.

Aside from Riewoldt, the other St Kilda players that will be in the mix for votes will be clearance kings Lenny Hayes and Leigh Montagna.

Both midfielders amassed over 30 disposals, with Hayes especially damaging in the final term.

Montagna registered a game-high eight clearances, while the now retired Hayes extracted six in a vintage performance. Rhys Stanley may also be an outside chance to poll a vote courtesy of his 13-mark, 21 disposal match as a lead-up forward.

Much like the GWS game however, it’s hard to see Riewoldt not taking three votes from this stirring win.

Our prediction:
3 votes: Nick Riewoldt
2 votes: Lenny Hayes
1 vote: Brent Stanton



Round 18 vs Fremantle
In the match that immediately followed Lenny Hayes’ retirement announcement, St Kilda unexpectedly demolished Fremantle in what was probably the biggest upset of the 2014 season.

Much like the Saints’ previous three victories, Nick Riewoldt’s dominance in this match will more than likely earn him maximum votes on Brownlow night.

The skipper finished with a season-best 30 touches, 16 marks and booted four goals in as dominant performance from a forward as there was all season.
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MATCH REPORT: St Kilda vs Fremantle

The battle for two votes will be between Shane Savage (30 disposals from half-back), Leigh Montagna (27 touches and three score assists) and Hayes himself (24 possessions, nine tackles and six inside 50s).

It would be a surprise to see any Fremantle player poll a vote in this encounter, although Michael Barlow’s 24 disposals may see the midfielder squeeze a vote.

The other Saints who could realistically lay claim as deserved vote-getters in this one are Luke Dunstan, Farren Ray, David Armitage, Jack Newnes, Sam Fisher and Adam Schneider.  

Our prediction:
3 votes: Nick Riewoldt
2 votes: Shane Savage
1 vote: Lenny Hayes



Other performances to watch out for:
Leigh Montagna vs Hawthorn (Round 7)
It will be difficult for the umpires to find room for Montagna in a 145-point defeat, but he may be a chance for one vote due to his 39 touches, 12 clearances and five rebound 50s.

Lenny Hayes vs Carlton (Round 8)
Bryce Gibbs, Marc Murphy and Kade Simpson shape as the obvious three vote-winners for this game, but Hayes’ 30 disposals and 11 clearances might tempt the umpires into rewarding the veteran with a vote.

Jack Billings vs West Coast (Round 14)
This was the game where St Kilda’s No.3 draft pick announced himself to the football world.
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RELATED: Billings wins Rising Star nomination

The teenager finished with 25 touches at 100 per cent efficiency, including three goals and six inside 50s. West Coast’s Matt Rosa shapes as a lock for three votes, but Billings will be a chance to poll two despite the Saints 33-point loss.

David Armitage vs North Melbourne (Round 17)
Armitage was a colossus in the clinches against the Kangaroos in Hobart, racking up 29 disposals, 11 tackles, 10 clearances and eight inside 50s.

Jack Steven vs Adelaide (Round 23)
Jack Steven was St Kilda’s most prolific player in Lenny Hayes’ final match, collecting 30 disposals at 80 per cent efficiency.  

Sam Fisher may also be in contention to nab a vote, but the fact St Kilda lost by 79 points will hurt the experienced defender.

The St Kilda players who will attend the Brownlow Medal are:
Lenny Hayes
Luke Delaney
David Armitage
Sean Dempster
Jack Steven