Midfielder Seb Ross earns second Trevor Barker Award on emotional St Kilda B&F night
St Kilda midfielder Seb Ross claimed his second best and fairest in three years on Wednesday, but said he hoped the night would be remembered as a tribute to Saints legend Danny Frawley.
Sport
Don't miss out on the headlines from Sport. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Midfielder Seb Ross has claimed a second St Kilda best-and-fairest award in three years, edging out ruck revelation Rowan Marshall to win the club’s top award.
On an emotional night in which the Saints paid tribute to club legend Danny Frawley, Ross — who won the Trevor Barker Award in 2017 and finished second to Jack Steven in 2018 — capped another consistent season by polling 170 votes to finish ahead of Marshall (152 votes) and Jack Steele (151 votes) on the podium.
SCROLL DOWN TO SEE THE LEADERBOARD
Ross averaged 26 disposals, 4.2 clearances, 6.3 score involvements and 98 SuperCoach ranking points as one of only seven Saints to play all 22 games this year.
Stream every match of the 2019 Toyota AFL Finals Series before the Grand Final Live & On-Demand on KAYO SPORTS. Get your 14 day free trial and start streaming instantly >
The 26-year-old logged less than 21 disposals in only one match and was a stand-in captain for much of the season in the absence of injured skipper Jarryn Geary.
Ross said despite the win, the best-and-fairest night had not been about him, but rather club legend Danny Frawley who was honoured two days after his death.
“I’ll reflect on it being a pretty special night,” Ross said.
“There was a big crowd there tonight and it just showed the man Danny was.
“Tonight’s not about me. I think the whole night, and rightly so, has to be about Danny and what he brought to the footy club, but not only our footy club, the whole footy fraternity.
“He’s extended his olive branch a long way and he’s influenced so many lives and he’ll be sorely missed by many of us.”
Ross expressed his surprise at winning the award, which he expected to be claimed by Marshall.
“I didn’t really expect it. But I’ve had a little bit of time to reflect on my year this year and it was a pretty consistent year,” Ross said.
“I had my own challenges with Gears being out of the side for a long time so having to captain the side for 17 games brought a different look to my game and something I wasn’t used to. So having to adjust to that was probably where I was more focusing my game on.”
Saints coach Brett Ratten said Ross was a deserving winner.
“He’s a consummate professional and is always the first to lend a hand to his teammates,” Ratten said.
“Seb’s a pillar of our group and thoroughly deserves this accolade.”
The Saints’ most improved player of 2019, ruckman Marshall played 20 games to take his career tally to 33 since being plucked from VFL side North Ballarat in the 2017 rookie draft and starting his time in the AFL as a forward.
The 23-year-old, who stands 201cm, was the fourth-ranked ruckman in the competition this year, averaging 33.5 hit-outs (11.5 to advantage), 5.5 clearances, 17.8 disposals and 110 SuperCoach ranking points.
“Rowan has really thrived since moving into the ruck,” Ratten said.
“He grabbed the opportunity with both hands and has impressed not only us at the Saints, but many across the competition.”
MORE NEWS:
Former St Kilda teammates lead moving tribute to Danny Frawley at club’s best and fairest night
Danny Frawley bravely shares the story of his battle with depression after Richmond sacking
Danny Frawley is gone and Bungaree will never be the same, writes Mark Robinson
AFL orders Craig Hutchison’s company to withdraw sale of finals tickets
Steele led the AFL for tackles during the home-and-away season, averaging 8.2 a game along with 21.9 disposals.
Wingman Jack Billings averaged 25.7 disposals across 22 games to place fourth, while the Saints’ leading goalkicker Tim Membrey (44 goals) rounded out the top-five.
The average age of the top-10 was 24.5 years old and the average games played just 92, Ratten pointing to a positive future ahead.
“We know we have areas to work on over summer and we can’t wait to get to work,” he said.
Originally published as Midfielder Seb Ross earns second Trevor Barker Award on emotional St Kilda B&F night
‘Blowhard’: Cornes backlash turns prickly
Kane Cornes has been roasted by a high profile colleague over comments that have left NRL commentators in disbelief.
Ginnivan leaves ‘heartbroken’ kids ‘in tears’
Hawthorn star Jack Ginnivan is embroiled in a fresh controversy after angry parents exposed a move that left their children shattered.