21 Facts About Leigh Montagna

Leigh 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.

Leigh Montagna played his first game wearing number 28 for St Kilda in round 2 of the 2002 AFL season against the Collingwood Football Club.

Leigh 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.

In Round 8,2007, in a match against Hawthorn, Leigh Montagna suffered a broken jaw but only missed one week with the injury.

Leigh Montagna played consistently throughout the season and continued the improvement he had shown in 2006.

Leigh Montagna 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.

Leigh Montagna was rewarded for his efforts with a third-place finish in St Kilda's 2007 best and fairest.

Leigh Montagna finished the year with the most kicks in the competition and second for inside-50s.

Leigh Montagna's season was rewarded by being selected for the first time to represent Australia against Ireland in the International Rules series.

Leigh Montagna 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.

Leigh Montagna played in the 2009 AFL Grand Final in which St Kilda lost by 12 points.

Leigh Montagna averaged 27.9 disposals and 6.25 tackles in 2009 and was named in the 2009 All-Australian team for the first time.

Leigh Montagna's season saw him become one of the best players in the competition.

Leigh Montagna played 26 games in 2010, including the infamous draw and replay grand finals, averaging 28.6 possessions.

Leigh Montagna finished second in St Kilda's best-and-fairest award, 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, Leigh Montagna remained a model of consistency and a key leader through the rebuild.

Leigh Montagna 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.

In 2014, Leigh Montagna married his girlfriend of six years, Erinn Byrne.

Leigh Montagna, being of Italian heritage, has said that his surname is pronounced the traditional Italian way: Mon-tan-ya.

However, Leigh Montagna says that he personally prefers the alternate pronunciation: Mon-tag-na.