Tim Membrey
After a delayed start due to off-season shoulder surgery, Tim Membrey worked his way into the St Kilda forward line in Round 6 and never looked back. He booted five goals in his first appearance for the year against Melbourne and then put the foot down after that, kicking 20 goals in his first seven games for the season. By the end of 2016, with 17 games under his belt, Membrey finished with 44.18 next to his name – the most of any player at Linen House Centre. The former Swans spearhead kicked four bags of five, one four and three sets of three. Having never previously kicked more than two goals in a game prior to the start of 2016, it was a herculean rise by Membrey. While his goal kicking stood out, his ability to find space inside 50 and mark overhead were other key reasons behind his rise. He averaged the fourth most marks inside 50 in the AFL – 3.1 per game, from 6.1 marks per game. Alongside Josh Bruce and Paddy McCartin, the trio hold the keys to St Kilda’s future inside 50.
Jade Gresham
The 2015 first-round pick forced his way into Alan Richardson’s 22 for the trip to Adelaide in Round 1, before going on to produce a stellar debut season. A gun midfielder at underage level, Gresham was made to bide his time as a small forward, but it was there he shone bright early. His pressure was elite and his class around goal was stunning at times. His goal against Geelong in the dying seconds, where he danced around an outstretched Tom Lonergan, before snapping from the boundary was simply amazing. After the midway point of the season, the former Northern Knights captain spent more time in the midfield, where he thrived on increased exposure to his natural habitat. Against Carlton in Round 20, Gresham accumulated 10 disposals and six clearances in a single quarter, before finishing with 25 and eight for the day in a sign of what’s to come. He played 18 games in year one, earning a Rising Star nomination in Round 14 and averaged 15.3 possessions, 3.0 tackles and 2.9 inside 50s, to with 11 majors.
Blake Acres
Blake Acres worked his way through a see-sawing start to the season to finish with a wet sail in his third year at Linen House Centre. The West Australian played in Round 1 and accumulated a career-high of 22 disposals, but found himself out of the team the following week. Then in Round 6, Acres gathered a new personal best of 28 possessions, along with five tackles and two goals to earn a Rising Star nomination against the Demons. Only two weeks later he was omitted again, before working his way back into the senior side in Round 12, where he remained for the last 11 games. Across the final five games, the athletic utility averaged 22.4 possessions, 4.2 inside 50s and 4.0 tackles in the brightest patch of his short career. After managing just 10 senior games across his first two years, the former first-round pick added 17 to his tally in 2016 to take a significant stride forward.
Jack Billings
After injury ravaged his second season in the AFL, highly rated midfielder Jack Billings took some steps forward in 2016. It didn’t all go to plan for the former No. 3 pick, but he finished the season with a handful of strong performances to build some momentum into 2017. He accumulated a career-high of 30 possessions against Collingwood in Round 3, followed it up with another 27 touches the next week against reigning premiers Hawthorn and managed eight 20+ hauls across 17 games – the most he has played in a season thus far. Playing predominantly on a wing, with some time across half-forward, Billings’ polish – by both foot and hand – on transition continued to be a weapon. With 42 games now under his belt, the stage is set for Billings to take the next step next season.
St Kilda’s best emerging player award is voted on by the coaching department and awarded to a player who is in their first to fourth year at the football club. The award recognises a player for not only his commitment and desire to help the team succeed on the field, but also his professionalism and club first approach off the field.
