Ross was terrific in the season restart (25 disposals, five clearances) and in Thursday's prime-time affair against Carlton (21 disposals), with a series of unsung team roles in the remaining matches complementing his higher-disposal games.

A calf niggle sidelined the dual best-and-fairest for consecutive games for the first time in five years, before the dual-best-and-fairest made his return against Essendon in Round 12.

Ross spent the heart-racing semi-final alongside Dustin Martin, helping quell the triple-Premiership Tiger's influence in what would ultimately be St Kilda's final hit-out for the year.

Ross was selected by St Kilda with pick No. 25 in the 2011 National Draft.