St Kilda’s Leigh Montagna was a worthy recipient of the ANZAC Day Medal – with his 37-disposal performance a standout in a losing side.
Montagna received eight of a possible nine votes from judges Richard Champion, Danny Frawley, and Greg Buckle – who all submitted votes in the familiar 3-2-1 format.
Brisbane Lions midfielder Jack Redden ranked second with four votes – polling votes from each of the three judges – while Dayne Zorko and Lenny Hayes each polled three.
AISH ON THE RISE
He might not have polled in the ANZAC Day Medal voting, but James Aish’s breakthrough AFL performance should at least earn him a Rising Star nomination.
Aish was a key contributor to the Lions’ first win of the season, with a career-high 25 disposals to go along with eight marks, four tackles, four inside 50s, and a terrific goal.
What’s more, 10 of Aish’s possessions came in a tense third quarter when the Saints started to make their move. Also during the third quarter, he took a strong contested mark deep in defence which directly saved a goal for his team.
After six rounds, the Aish leads the Club in total marks and ranks seventh overall in both disposals and tackles – a remarkable effort for an 18-year-old in his first half-a-dozen AFL games.
ETCHED IN THE RECORDS
Jack Redden, Jonathan Brown, and Lewis Taylor might have their names etched in the record books for a while as the Club’s leading goal-kickers at Westpac Stadium in Wellington.
The trio booted two goals each, which was enough to give them the honour of having kicked the most goals at the venue of any other Lions player in history.
And with only one match played in New Zealand each season, it’s unknown when, or if, the Lions will get an opportunity to play there again.
It could end up being a similar situation to when Scott Bamford, Justin Leppitsch, and Chris Scott each kicked two goals at the merged Club’s first, and final, visit to the WACA in 1997.
And with the WACA no longer used for AFL action, Bamford, Leppitsch and Scott will forever be the Club’s leading goal-kickers at that ground.
PATFULL’S BACK
Over the first five rounds, Joel Patfull’s form probably hadn’t reached the same heights as in previous seasons when he claimed back-to-back Merrett-Murray Medals.
However, Patfull was back at his best on ANZAC Day opposed to in-form St Kilda skipper Nick Riewoldt. Until now, no team had been able to contain the Saints superstar this season. Riewoldt finished with just 12 disposals, five marks and a single goal.
Senior Coach Justin Leppitsch said post-game that Patfull’s job on the Saints’ Captain went a long way to ensuring the Lions’ first win of 2014.
WEST STANDS TALL
Trent West’s recruitment during the off-season has been critical for the Lions – particularly following Matthew Leuenberger’s latest knee injury.
In the absence of Leuenberger, West has been a mountain in the ruck, and it was never more evident than against St Kilda last Friday.
West had the better of young Sainst ruckman Tom Hickey, and finished the game with 14 disposals, five marks (two contested), three tackles, 39 hitouts and a goal.
His 109 AFL Fantasy points was the 26-year-old’s highest ever total in 60 senior games (and first time he’d cracked triple figures).
TACKLE-HAPPY TOM
In his opening two matches, Tom Cutler has shown enough to suggest he could be a long-term prospect for the Lions.
With a career-best 21 disposals against Richmond, Cutler showed he could find the ball, provide outside run, and use his neat skills. However, across his opening two games, the former Oakleigh Charger had laid just the one tackle.
But on ANZAC Day, after coming on as the sub late in the third quarter, Cutler proceeded to lay a career-best three tackles in just 25% of game time – and help set-up what turned out to be the final goal of the match.
It’s all part of the first-year players’ AFL education, and just goes to prove that Cutler is a quick learner.
AFL FANTASY TOP FIVE
1. Dayne Zorko – 122 points
2. Trent West – 109 points
3. James Aish – 108 points
3. Jack Redden – 108 points
5. Ryan Lester – 103 points
WHO WAS BEST?
Afl.com.au listed Redden, Patfull, Aish, Jed Adcock (24 disposals, 12 rebound 50s, and five inside 50s), Dayne Zorko (24 disposals, 12 tackles, seven inside 50s) and Andrew Raines (24 disposals) as the Lions’ best, but who do YOU think were the team’s three best players?
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