Just like the captain in 2016, St Kilda veteran Leigh Montagna reinvented himself this season, transitioning to a half-back flank on a permanent basis and instantly improving the Saints’ ball movement.
The dual All Australian extended his time at the Saints before a ball was even bounced this season, before producing another season of exceptional service, culminating in another top-five finish in the Trevor Barker Award.
Montagna, 32, played all 22 games this year, bursting out of the blocks to be one of St Kilda’s most influential players across the first nine holes.
In his 250th game in Round 1, Montagna gathered 29 disposals to be one of the Saints’ best. He then collected 31 touches in his great mate, Nick Riewoldt’s 300th in Round 2, before amassing 40 the following week on a day where the Saints celebrated the 50th anniversary of the 1966 premiership.
Shifting from his natural habitat on a wing to a spot at half-back, Montagna played a critical role in helping develop a raft of young defenders. He was highly influential on Shane Savage and Jimmy Webster, as well as helping accelerate the development of first-year rebounding defenders Brandon White and Bailey Rice.
After finishing fourth in the best and fairest for the second consecutive year, Montagna continues to thrive in the twilight of his career and could play a significant role in helping the Saints return to September next season.
Alan Richardson’s Views:
“‘Joey’ was given a new role this season. He spent the whole pre-season working in defence and predominantly played across half-back for us all year – there were times when he played in the midfield to give us some more drive. But fundamentally as a defender his role was to be strong defensively but also give us some drive and quality use out of defence. He had a really positive year.
“I think ‘Joey’ improved as a footballer, which given how long he’s been playing for is a real credit for him. In the end he was as influential in line meetings as what our line coaches were. Along with Rohan Welsh and Spud in the backs, ‘Joey’ had a real say in the way we setup and the way we should position; he’s got a great footy brain and really strong leadership characteristics and it really helped us. His ability to have a positive influence on not only the Shane Savage’s and Jimmy Webster’s, but on McKenzie and White, Murdoch and Bailey Rice, was really positive.
“He’s a tough bugger ‘Joey’. I mentioned at the best and fairest that in the Round 14 game against Geelong where right at the start of the game he broke his jaw at the start of the game – his head looked like a beach ball at the end of the game. He was in a lot of pain but he’s tough, he just kept going and he didn’t miss a game from that. It clearly had an impact on him for a while and when you consider he ended up finishing fourth in our best and fairest who knows where he might have ended up had he been at his best in that period. He just doesn’t miss. He doesn’t miss training; he doesn’t miss playing.”
The Numbers:
22 games
4th in the Trevor Barker Award
26.7 possessions (No. 2 at St Kilda)
20.1 uncontested possessions (No. 1)
3.0 rebound 50s (No. 4)
483.3 metres gained (No. 9 in the AFL)
