The most prestigious night on the AFL calendar has finally arrived, with the 2016 Brownlow Medal count only hours away, and while Geelong superstar Patrick Dangerfield is the shortest priced favourite in history, St Kilda star Jack Steven is expected to feature prominently.
Following one of the most dominant seasons in the game’s history, Dangerfield is considered a lay down misere, predicted by many experts and analysts to break Dane Swan’s record of 34 votes, although anything can happen.
Steven, who won his third Trevor Barker Award earlier in the month, hasn’t been a prolific vote winner in the past - his previous best haul is 12 votes in 2015 - but given the year St Kilda produced and his growing reputation in the game, the Lorne product is set for his best count yet.
Richmond’s Dustin Martin, Western Bulldogs’ Marcus Bontempelli and Sydney pair Dan Hannebery and Luke Parker are expected to fight for a podium finish. While seasoned vote winners, Geelong captain Joel Selwood, Hawthorn star Sam Mitchell and another Swan, Josh Kennedy, all can’t be ruled out, given the seasons they compiled in 2016.
Steven played in all 22 games this year, averaging career-highs and St Kilda season-highs for disposals (28.0), contested possessions (11.3) and clearances (5.5), as well as 5.3 inside 50s (No. 3 in the AFL), 5.6 tackles (No. 2) and 52.2 pressure points (No. 1).
Where will Steven poll his votes?
The three-time best and fairest winner got off to a fast start against Port Adelaide in Round 1, finishing with 36 disposals. Although Tom Hickey shaded him, producing the best game of his career, while Robbie Gray and Chad Wingard led the Power to victory.
Steven torched the Pies in Round 3, accumulating 30 possessions and booting three goals to help celebrate the 50th anniversary of St Kilda’s 1966 premiership in style. Leigh Montagna was a clear best on ground, but Steven wasn’t far behind him.
In another early vote polling opportunity, Steven kicked three goals from 25 touches in the win over Melbourne in Round 6, but Nick Riewoldt, Blake Acres and Hickey also shone brightly, so he might be in play for a minor vote.
Purple patch
Steven dominates between Round 9 and 12 and could feature right up the pointy end of the leaderboard if things go his way in the first half of the count. He starts the run with a dominant performance against Essendon, amassing 40 disposals in an unstoppable performance. Although don’t discount Seb Ross for three votes here, the young gun produced one of the best efforts of his career.
A week later, Steven continues his blistering form, this time dismantling Fremantle at Etihad Stadium with 32 disposals. David Armitage also vied for best on ground honours after laying 17 tackles in a game winning effort. A fortnight later, after the disappointing trip to Adelaide in Round 11, Steven was at his game breaking best against Carlton – lock him in for three here.
Back end form
After a rare down week against the Gold Coast Suns in Round 15, Steven responded emphatically by terrorising the Bombers for the second time in the space of seven weeks. This time, he accumulated 41 disposals, 12 clearances and 12 tackles in the best individual performance of his year. A certain three here.
With St Kilda’s finals chances on the line in Round 18, Steven once again rose to the occasion, this time finding the ball on 39 occasions to lead the Saints to a memorable victory over this weekend’s grand finalists Western Bulldogs.
As the Saints remained in finals contention in the closing month of the season, Steven received plenty of close attention from the opposition, performing selfless roles in the process, without producing efforts that will attract votes. However, in the final round of the season, he finished the year with a thud, adding 31 disposals to his bottom line for the year. But, it was the Riewoldt show against Brisbane, so Steven will be fighting for a two or one.
