Dual Jack Dyer Medallist, Brett Deledio, is now an Ian Stewart Medallist.
Deledio won the annual Ian Stewart Medal after being judged best-on-ground, in last Friday night’s epic draw with St Kilda at the MCG, by the Channel 7 commentary team.
He went head-to-head with Saints’ superstar Brendon Goddard and convincingly won the duel, racking up 29 possessions (including a crucial goal), and restricting his talented opponent to just 15.
The Ian Stewart Medal was established in 2004 in recognition of the only player in league football history to win Brownlow Medals and premierships at two separate clubs.
Stewart played 127 games with St Kilda from 1963-70. He won back-to-back Brownlow Medals with the Saints in 1965-66 and was a member of the Club’s historic 1966 premiership team.
Five years later, in 1971, Stewart joined Richmond in a sensational swap for dual Tiger premiership player Bill Barrot. He went on to play 78 games at Richmond from 1971-75, winning the Brownlow Medal in his debut season with the Tigers, as well as the Club’s Best and Fairest that same year. In 1973, Stewart was a key member of the Richmond side that defeated Carlton by 30 points in the Grand Final.
Deledio became just the second Tiger recipient of the Ian Stewart Medal, joining Jack Riewoldt, who won it for his seven-goal display in a losing side against the Saints, in Round 21 of the 2010 season.
“Winning the game was what we were all striving so hard for, and it was bitterly disappointing not to come away with the four points after the effort we put in,” Deledio said.
“From an individual perspective, though, I’m honored to win a medal named after a player recognised as one of the greatest players in the game’s history.”
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
2010 - Jack Riewoldt, Richmond Football Club
