The Ian Stewart Medal was established in 2004 as the brainchild of music guru and Saints’ fanatic, Ian ‘Molly’ Meldrum. It has been developed in order to recognise the only player in league football history to win Brownlow Medals and Premierships at two separate clubs.
Ian Stewart played 127 games with St Kilda from 1963-70. He also won back-to-back Brownlow Medals with the Saints in 1965-66 and was a member of the club’s 1966 premiership team. In 1971, Stewart joined Richmond in a sensational swap for dual Tiger premiership player Bill Barrot. Stewart went on to play 78 games at Richmond from 1971-75. He won the Brownlow Medal in his debut season with the Tigers, as well as the Club’s Best and Fairest that year.
Two years later, Stewart was a key member of the Richmond side that defeated Carlton by 30 points in the 1973 Grand Final.
After Saturday’s game, the player judged best on ground by Channel 10’s commentary team will be selected as the winner of the Ian Stewart Medal. The medal will be presented to the player in the Club change rooms after the match by Channel 10 commentator, Andrew Maher.
Past winners of the Ian Stewart Medal:
2004 - Austinn Jones, St Kilda Football Club
2005 - Nick Dal Santo, St Kilda Football Club
2006 - Lenny Hayes, St Kilda Football Club
2007 - Leigh Montagna, St Kilda Football Club
2008 - Stephen Milne, St Kilda Football Club
2009 - Brendon Goddard, St Kilda Football Club
