Leigh Montagna

Montagna was recruited from the Northern Knights in the TAC Cup under-18s as the number-37 draft pick in round 2 of the 2001 AFL draft by St Kilda. He played his first game wearing number 28 for St Kilda in round 2 of the 2002 AFL season against the Collingwood Football Club.

Montagna played in St Kilda's 2004 Wizard Home Loans Cup–winning side. St Kilda defeated Adelaide, {{AFL Ric}} and {{AFL Ess}} on the way to the grand final.{{cite web|url=http://images.slatterymedia.com/image/?image_id=114726 |title=AFL 2004 Wizard Cup Grand Final - Geelong v St Kilda |work=Slattery Media Group |date=2004-03-13 |access-date=2009-11-07 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716083757/http://images.slatterymedia.com/image/?image_id=114726 |archive-date=16 July 2011 }}

By this point, Montagna was establishing himself as a core part of the St Kilda team, setting a then club record for consecutive wins between round 1 and round 10 in the 2004 AFL season. Montagna did not play in the finals series, and St Kilda eventually fell six points short on the scoreboard in the Preliminary Final after qualifying for the finals series in third position.

Montagna's 50th AFL match for St Kilda was in Round 21 of the 2006 AFL season, a 50-point win against the {{AFL WB}}. 2006 was a breakthrough season.{{cn|date=September 2017}} Consolidating himself in the senior team, he went on to play 22 games for the season, leading the club in inside-50s, running bounces, and was top-five in tackles and hard-ball gets. He averaged over 19 disposals per game.

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In Round 8, 2007, in a match against Hawthorn, Montagna suffered a broken jaw but only missed one week with the injury. Although 2007 was the first since 2003 that St Kilda had missed out on playing in the finals series, it was the season that saw Montagna become a top-tier AFL footballer.{{cn|date=September 2017}} Montagna played consistently throughout the season and continued the improvement he had shown in 2006.{{cn|date=September 2017}} He played an accountable and hard-running role through St Kilda's midfield, averaging 24 disposals and 3 tackles per game and kicking 10 goals for the year.{{cite web |url=http://afltables.com/afl/stats/players/L/Leigh_Montagna.html |title=AFL Tables: Leigh Montagna |access-date=24 October 2009 |publisher=AFL Tables}} Some of Montagna's highlights for the year included best-on-ground performances against the Kangaroos, Richmond and Hawthorn in the second half of the year.{{cn|date=September 2017}} Montagna was rewarded for his efforts with a third-place finish in St Kilda's 2007 best and fairest.{{cite news |first=Samantha |last=Lane |title=Riewoldt wins record fourth gong |url=http://realfooty.com.au/news/news/riewoldt-wins-record-fourth-gong/2007/10/05/1191091368176.html |publisher=Real Footy |date=6 October 2007 |access-date=24 October 2009}}

Montagna played in St Kilda's 2008 NAB Cup–winning side—the club's third pre-season cup win. St Kilda defeated Richmond, {{AFL Gee}} and Essendon on the way to the grand final.{{cite news |url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/st-kilda-wins-nab-cup-by-five-points/2008/03/08/1204780132457.html?s_cid=rss_news|title=St Kilda wins NAB cup|work=The Age|date=8 March 2008|access-date=2009-11-07 | location=Melbourne}}{{cite web|url=http://www.jeld-wen.com.au/pr/St-Kilda-2008/20080308.php |title=Saints are NAB Cup Champions in 2008 |work=Jeld-Wen |date=8 March 2008 |access-date=2009-11-07 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081120003712/http://www.jeld-wen.com.au/pr/St-Kilda-2008/20080308.php |archive-date=20 November 2008 }} 2008 saw Montagna continue to become vital in the St Kilda's midfield.{{cn|date=September 2017}} St Kilda qualified fourth for the finals series and were defeated in the preliminary final by eventual premiers, Hawthorn. He finished the year with the most kicks in the competition and second for inside-50s. His season was rewarded by being selected for the first time to represent Australia against Ireland in the International Rules series.

Montagna's 100th game for St Kilda was in Round 2 of the 2009 AFL season against Adelaide at AAMI Stadium, which St Kilda won by 32 points. He played in 21 of 22 matches in the 2009 home-and-away season, where St Kilda won the minor premiership and qualified in first position for the finals series. A new club record of 19 consecutive wins between rounds 1 and 19 was set, the equal-third-best in league history. The club completed its best-ever home-and-away season with 20 wins and 2 losses.{{cite web |url=http://afltables.com/afl/seas/2009.html#lad|title=2009 Season Scores and Results - Ladder|work=AFL Tables|year=2009|access-date=2009-11-08}}

He played in the 2009 AFL Grand Final in which St Kilda lost by 12 points. Montagna averaged 27.9 disposals and 6.25 tackles in 2009 and was named in the 2009 All-Australian team for the first time. His season saw him become one of the best players in the competition.{{cn|date=September 2017}} Considered a Brownlow Medal contender in 2009, Montagna took out a third-place finish in a tight St Kilda best-and-fairest count as well as earning an All-Australian position for the first time.

Montagna played 26 games in 2010, including the infamous draw and replay grand finals, averaging 28.6 possessions.{{cite web |url=http://www.footywire.com/afl/footy/pp-st-kilda-saints--leigh-montagna|title=Leigh Montagna player profile}} He finished second in St Kilda's best-and-fairest award (Trevor Barker Medal), was selected in the AFL's All-Australian team for the second year in a row, finished in the top 10 in the Brownlow medal, and capped off the year by representing Australia in the International Rules series for the second time.

Leigh Montagna played his 150th game against Richmond in a draw in Round 2 of the 2011 AFL season at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

The departure of Ross Lyon at the end of the 2011 season resulted in the beginning of a complete rebuild for St Kilda; and, despite the retirements and movement of many of his senior teammates, Montagna remained a model of consistency and a key leader through the rebuild.{{cn|date=September 2017}} He played 102 out of 110 games in that period, averaging 26.4 disposals and finishing fourth in the club best and fairest as well as representing Australia on two more occasions.

2016 saw Montagna play across half-back for the first time in his career; he excelled in that role, averaging 29.2 disposals per game and helped lead the club to within percentage points of playing finals for the first time since 2011.{{cn|date=September 2017}}

At the conclusion of the 2017 season, Montagna announced his retirement from the AFL.{{cite news|url=http://www.afl.com.au/news/2017-08-30/after-16-seasons-veteran-saint-hands-in-his-halo|title=After 16 seasons, veteran Saint hands in his halo|last=Schmook|first=Nathan|date=30 August 2017|work=AFL.com.au|publisher=Telstra|access-date=30 August 2017}} In February 2019, he was appointed as a Melbourne-based opposition analyst for Fremantle Football Club.{{Cite web|url=https://www.fremantlefc.com.au/news/2019-02-22/montagna-on-board-at-freo|title=Montagna on board at Freo|date=21 February 2019 }}

Leigh Montagna currently commentates the AFL for Fox Footy and Triple M, he also commentates the National Basketball League for ESPN.{{Citation needed|date=December 2023}}

:{{cite web|url=http://afltables.com/afl/stats/players/L/Leigh_Montagna.html|title=Leigh Montagna|work=AFL Tables|access-date=26 May 2016}}

{{AFL player statistics legend}}

{{AFL player statistics start}}

|- style="background-color: #EAEAEA"

! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | 2002

|style="text-align:center;"|{{AFL Stk}}

| 28 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 3 || 1 || 4 || 3 || 2 || 0.0 || 0.0 || 3.0 || 1.0 || 4.0 || 3.0 || 2.0

|-

! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | 2003

|style="text-align:center;"|{{AFL Stk}}

| 28 || 12 || 12 || 3 || 73 || 52 || 125 || 30 || 18 || 1.0 || 0.3 || 6.1 || 4.3 || 10.4 || 2.5 || 1.5

|- style="background-color: #EAEAEA"

! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | 2004

|style="text-align:center;"|{{AFL Stk}}

| 28 || 9 || 9 || 2 || 58 || 43 || 101 || 28 || 25 || 1.0 || 0.2 || 6.4 || 4.8 || 11.2 || 3.1 || 2.8

|-

! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | 2005

|style="text-align:center;"|{{AFL Stk}}

| 11 || 8 || 6 || 3 || 78 || 43 || 121 || 35 || 19 || 0.8 || 0.4 || 9.8 || 5.4 || 15.1 || 4.4 || 2.4

|- style="background-color: #EAEAEA"

! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | 2006

|style="text-align:center;"|{{AFL Stk}}

| 11 || 22 || 12 || 14 || 270 || 151 || 421 || 106 || 81 || 0.5 || 0.6 || 12.3 || 6.9 || 19.1 || 4.8 || 3.7

|-

! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | 2007

|style="text-align:center;"|{{AFL Stk}}

| 11 || 21 || 10 || 12 || 339 || 163 || 502 || 108 || 75 || 0.5 || 0.6 || 16.1 || 7.8 || 23.9 || 5.1 || 3.6

|- style="background-color: #EAEAEA"

! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | 2008

|style="text-align:center;"|{{AFL Stk}}

| 11 || 25 || 12 || 11 || 388 || 179 || 567 || 118 || 82 || 0.5 || 0.4 || 15.5 || 7.2 || 22.7 || 4.7 || 3.3

|-

! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | 2009

|style="text-align:center;"|{{AFL Stk}}

| 11 || 24 || 8 || 19 || 399 || 271 || 670 || 123 || 150 || 0.3 || 0.8 || 16.6 || 11.3 || 27.9 || 5.1 || 6.3

|- style="background-color: #EAEAEA"

! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | 2010

|style="text-align:center;"|{{AFL Stk}}

| 11 || 26 || 18 || 17 || 429 || 316 || 745 || 111 || 126 || 0.7 || 0.7 || 16.5 || 12.2 || 28.7 || 4.3 || 4.8

|-

! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | 2011

|style="text-align:center;"|{{AFL Stk}}

| 11 || 21 || 13 || 10 || 335 || 171 || 506 || 88 || 94 || 0.6 || 0.5 || 16.0 || 8.1 || 24.1 || 4.2 || 4.5

|- style="background-color: #EAEAEA"

! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | 2012

|style="text-align:center;"|{{AFL Stk}}

| 11 || 22 || 13 || 8 || 324 || 194 || 518 || 100 || 104 || 0.6 || 0.4 || 14.7 || 8.8 || 23.5 || 4.5 || 4.7

|-

! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | 2013

|style="text-align:center;"|{{AFL Stk}}

| 11 || 21 || 16 || 8 || 395 || 226 || 621 || 101 || 82 || 0.8 || 0.4 || 18.8 || 10.8 || 29.6 || 4.8 || 3.9

|- style="background-color: #EAEAEA"

! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | 2014

|style="text-align:center;"|{{AFL Stk}}

| 11 || 20 || 9 || 5 || 310 || 160 || 470 || 79 || 80 || 0.5 || 0.3 || 15.5 || 8.0 || 23.5 || 4.0 || 4.0

|-

! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | 2015

|style="text-align:center;"|{{AFL Stk}}

| 11 || 17 || 8 || 9 || 277 || 209 || 486 || 85 || 82 || 0.5 || 0.5 || 16.3 || 12.3 || 28.6 || 5.0 || 4.8

|- style="background-color: #EAEAEA"

! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | 2016

|style="text-align:center;"|{{AFL Stk}}

| 11 || 22 || 4 || 4 || 339 || 249 || 588 || 135 || 60 || 0.2 || 0.2 || 15.4 || 11.3 || 26.7 || 6.1 || 2.7

|-

! scope="row" style="text-align:center" | 2017

|style="text-align:center;"|{{AFL Stk}}

| 11 || 16 || 5 || 1 || 235 || 165 || 400 || 96 || 59 || 0.3 || 0.1 || 14.7 || 10.3 || 25.0 || 6.0 || 3.7

|- class="sortbottom"

! colspan=3| Career

! 287

! 155

! 126

! 4252

! 2593

! 6845

! 1346

! 1139

! 0.5

! 0.4

! 14.8

! 9.0

! 23.9

! 4.7

! 4.0

|}

In 2014, Montagna married his girlfriend of six years, Erinn Byrne. Montagna, being of Italian heritage,{{cite web |url=https://www.footyalmanac.com.au/italian-immigrants-and-footy/ |title=Italian Immigrants and Footy |last= |first= |date=19 December 2014 |website=The Footy Almanac |publisher= |access-date=21 January 2021 |quote=}} has said that his surname is pronounced the traditional Italian way: Mon-tan-ya. However, Montagna says that he personally prefers the alternate pronunciation: Mon-tag-na.{{cite news |last= |first= |date=31 July 2015 |title=11 AFL footballers whose names you're pronouncing wrong |url=https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/11-afl-footballers-whose-names-youre-pronouncing-wrong/news-story/a578223cded24f630db0796ccb04b19e |work=The Herald Sun |location= |access-date=21 January 2021}}

Montagna was involved in a police investigation regarding a woman's claims of being sexually assaulted by St Kilda teammate Stephen Milne at Montagna's house in 2004.{{cite news | url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-11-13/montagna-defends-milne-in-rape-case/5089834 | title=Montagna defends Milne in rape case | newspaper=ABC News | date=13 November 2013 }} No allegations were made against Montagna. Initially, charges were not filed against Milne, but he was later charged with several counts of rape. Montagna testified in defence of Milne, telling the Melbourne Magistrates Court that no one was pressured into having sex, asserting that he could identify those present in the darkened room and observed Milne and the alleged victim kissing and cuddling. He denied hearing any complaints or witnessing Milne forcing himself on the woman but that version of events was disputed by the woman's friend, who testified that she left the room out of fear after hearing the victim say "no" several times in response to Milne's advances.{{cite news | url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-11-13/montagna-defends-milne-in-rape-case/5089834 | title=Montagna defends Milne in rape case | newspaper=ABC News | date=13 November 2013 }} Milne eventually pleaded guilty to one count of indecent assault. {{cite news | url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-11-18/stephen-milne-fined-without-conviction-over-indecent-assault/5898782 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150615051853/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-11-18/stephen-milne-fined-without-conviction-over-indecent-assault/5898782 | archive-date=15 June 2015 | title=Stephen Milne escapes conviction over indecent assault | newspaper=ABC News | date=17 November 2014 }}

{{reflist|30em}}

{{Commons category}}

• {{Stkplayer}}
• {{AFL Tables|L/Leigh_Montagna}}

{{2009 All-Australian team}}

{{2010 All-Australian team}}

{{2003 AFL Rising Star nominees}}

{{2008 Australian international rules team}}

{{2010 Australian international rules team}}

{{2014 Australian international rules team}}

{{2015 Australian international rules team}}

{{2001 AFL national draft}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Montagna, Leigh}}

Category:1983 births

Category:Living people

Category:Australian rules footballers from Victoria (state)

Category:St Kilda Football Club players

Category:All-Australians (AFL)

Category:Northern Knights players

Category:Australian people of Italian descent

Category:Sportspeople of Italian descent

Category:Australia international rules football team players

Category:People educated at Marcellin College, Bulleen

Category:National Basketball League (Australia)

Category:21st-century Australian sportsmen