Best-on-ground in this Sunday afternoon's big Round 23 Richmond v St Kilda clash at the MCG will win the annual Ian Stewart Medal.
This prestigious individual award is a tribute to the only player in league football history to win a Brownlow Medal and premiership at two clubs.
Ian Stewart, an outstanding centreman, 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 their only premiership side in 1966.
In 1971, Stewart joined Richmond in a sensational swap for the Tigers’ dual premiership centreman Bill Barrot.
Stewart went on to play 78 games for 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 award that year.
Two years later, he was a key player in the Richmond side that defeated Carlton by 30 points in the 1973 Grand Final.
Five-time Tigers premiership hero and Club ‘Immortal’ Kevin Bartlett provided an excellent insight into Stewart’s playing ability in his book, ‘KB: A Life In Football’ . . .
“Ian was your purist’s centreman. He was a craftsman, who had lovely timing with his kicking, and I don’t think anyone his size has been a better mark,” Bartlett said.
“He was truly a legendary player, and I doubt you could name a better centreman to have ever played the game . . .
“He joined Richmond feeling he had a point to prove. He wanted to show St Kilda that he wasn’t washed up and he worked really hard to demonstrate that he wasn’t a poor trainer, which was the reputation he brought with him from Moorabbin.
“When he came to Richmond in 1971, I think it’s fair to say that he trained harder than he ever had.
“He was on a mission to re-establish himself as a star of the game.
“In the short time he was at Richmond, he won a premiership, a best and fairest and his third Brownlow Medal in 1971.”
Ian Stewart also is a Team of the Century member and Hall of Fame inductee at both Richmond and St Kilda, as well as an Australian Football Hall Legend.
The full list of Ian Stewart Medal winners is:
2004: Austinn Jones (St Kilda)
2005: Nick Dal Santo (St Kilda)
2006: Lenny Hayes (St Kilda)
2007: Leigh Montagna (St Kilda)
2008: Stephen Milne (St Kilda)
2009: Brendon Goddard (St Kilda)
2010: Jack Riewoldt (Richmond)
2011: Brett Deledio (Richmond)
2012: Jack Riewoldt (Richmond)
2013: Tyrone Vickery (Richmond)
2014: Trent Cotchin (Richmond)
2015: Brett Deledio (Richmond)
2016: Seb Ross (St Kilda)
