Decorated St Kilda star Leigh Montagna is one of 11 new AFL Life Members set to be inducted at the 2017 Annual General Meeting in March, following an announcement by the AFL Commission on Tuesday.
Eight of the 11 inductees, including dual Brownlow medallist Gary Ablett Jr. and four-time premiership Hawk Luke Hodge, received automatic qualification after reaching 300 total AFL games – including pre-season and International Rules appearances – as a player, coach or umpire in 2016.
After being drafted by the Saints in the 2001 ‘super draft’, Montagna has been a picture of consistency and excellence during his illustrious 15-season career in red, white and black.
The 33-year-old is a two-time All Australian – with both selections coming in Grand Final years for the Saints – and has represented the club on 271 occasions – the 8th most of any player in St Kilda’s history.
St Kilda Chief Executive Officer, Matt Finnis, lauded Montagna for his stunning contribution to the club, labelling the recognition by the game's governing body as one of the highest honours in the game.
“Leigh Montagna receiving AFL life membership is absolutely due recognition for the career of one of our clubs most loyal, reliable and durable players,” Finnis told saints.com.au on Tuesday morning.
“To have a career approaching his 16th season – a career that has spanned nearly three times the length of an average AFL career – you only achieve that through a level of professionalism that very few players are able to achieve.
“Leigh has been an enduring leader of our club, and along with his good mate ‘Rooey’, they have both been pivotal in accelerating the development of our young playing list, both on and off the field.
“AFL life membership is amongst the highest honours that any individual can achieve in this game and we’re thrilled that one of our clubs most loyal servers has been recognised in this way.”
Along with Ablett and Hodge, Montagna joins Sydney premiership captain, Jarrad McVeigh, and Western Bulldogs premiership hero, Matthew Boyd, as the current crop of players receiving AFL life membership.
Umpires Dean Margetts, Simon Meredith and Matthew Nicholls all automatically qualify for the honour.
While dual Essendon premiership player and long-time club administrator, John Birt, 1983 Brownlow medallist and inaugural West Coast captain, Ross Glendinning and former AFL Commissioner, Sam Mostyn, were also confirmed as life members following their ‘special service to the game’.
Leigh Montagna
271 premiership games for St Kilda.
28 pre-season games for St Kilda.
Six games for Australia.
All Australian 2009, 2010.
