2015 was a big year for Jack Steven. In fact, it was a massive year. Not only did the speedy midfielder produce another stunning season, to win his second Trevor Barker Award in three years, but he also committed his long-term future to St Kilda.

The inking of a five-year deal in March will tie Steven to the Saints until the end of 2020, and more importantly, kept him away from the prying hands of free agency.

After starting 2014 on the back foot - quite literally due to a foot issue on the eve of the season - Steven battled to reach the standard he set in his maiden best and fairest year in 2013. He still contributed across 17 appearances, but not to the level he would have liked.

In a tremendous show of faith and a strong indication of the direction St Kilda is heading in, Steven quashed any chance of a year of rumours and innuendo by putting his contract to bed before round one.

And from there, the 25-year-old didn’t look back, recapturing his 2013 form that saw him establish himself in the top echelon of midfielders in the competition.

Steven played all 22 games in 2015, averaging 26.9 possessions (2^nd highest at St Kilda), 6.9 tackles (1^st), 5.5 inside 50s (1^st) and 4.3 clearances (2^nd), to steer him towards his second best and fairest prize, and 12 Brownlow Medal votes (equal 20^th overall).

Along with David Armitage, Steven led an evolving red, white and black engine room in 2015, continuing to help usher in a new wave of youngsters in the form of Jack Newnes, Luke Dunstan and Seb Ross, among others.

With Steven and Armitage, two players with more than 100 games of experience, and firmly in the peak zone of their careers, St Kilda is well placed to compete in the middle section of the ground.