Montagna

[Kildonan]

St Kilda's most improved?
13 July 2006
Paul Gough
afl.com.au

It's a measure of just how much Leigh Montagna has improved in 2006 that in just 14 rounds he has already played more games for the Saints this year than in any of his four previous seasons.

Montagna is fast emerging as a key weapon in the Saints' push for a third consecutive top four finish and last week against Collingwood he produced arguably the best match of his 43 game career.

The Saints' wingman, opposed to Magpies' star Ben Johnson, had 23 touches and two goals to play a huge role in a 10-goal win that leaves Grant Thomas' team within striking distance of the top four.

Since being drafted at pick 37 in the 2001 "super" draft, Montagna has taken four years to become a regular in the Saints' side - having managed just 30 games prior to this season.

Montagna admits it is only this year that he has felt he belongs at AFL level and with that has come a confidence to take on opponents, which he did with such devastating affect against the Magpies.

"My instructions are to try and run and carry the ball and kick long, those sorts of things,' Montagna said.

"It does help when you know you are in the best side because you get a bit more comfortable and you know you can try a few things."

"Early days when you are in and out of the side, you are always conscious of getting dropped or going to the bench but once you know you are in the best side, you can try things (without fear of being dropped)."

Montagna admits his tough early years at Moorabbin have given him a fierce desire to succeed.

"That's what I am focusing on - contributing to the team each week and playing my role."

"I have always been a goalkicking midfielder, that is one of my strengths, and I always like to think I could have a couple of shots on goal each game."

"Early on, when I was in and out of the side, each week at training I would be wondering if I was going to play."

"But you don't want that feeling - you want to know you are in the best side and contributing each week."

St Kilda coach Grant Thomas says Montagna has matured into a far more consistent player this year.

 

[nicko016]

Montagna has been really good. He has improved a lot this year, however, it has gone unnoticed by most because he has just steadily improved to become a not only a regular but very important player to our team. However, we still need him to take another step up and become one of our first tier midfielders rather than a second tier or burst player.

 

[Otiman]

I can think of two players that are more improved than montagna since last season, Gram and Goddard. Both have stepped up enormously to fill the gap left by Aussie Jones. Montagna had his big improve last year, but struggled with injuries so his impact wasnt as well noticed.

 

[Kildonan]

I can think of two players that are more improved than montagna since last season, Gram and Goddard. Both have stepped up enormously to fill the gap left by Aussie Jones. Montagna had his big improve last year, but struggled with injuries so his impact wasnt as well noticed.

...and Maguire has come good after a slow start. One can also see the improvement in McQualter and Rix - both are coming along nicely.

 

[Ms Pikey]

...and Maguire has come good after a slow start. One can also see the improvement in McQualter and Rix - both are coming along nicely.

Dont know if anyone's noticed. but maguire's good form coincides with him wearing his sock's up.

 

[Kildonan]

Montagna leading Moorabbin’s Genesis
20 July 2006
Luca Giacobello
St Kilda Football Club

This season St Kilda has revealed another young star ready to make the quantum leap to becoming a superstar in Leigh Montagna.

Although the 22 year old has been at the club since 2002, Montagna was floating between the reserves and seniors for a lot of his career until he got his break against Melbourne in Round 18, where he helped demolish the Demons with 17 touches and three goals in his best performance.

He hasn’t looked back and now ‘Joey’ is becoming a star on the rise. “Over the course of the past couple of years, I’ve been in and out of the side and this year has been about cementing a spot in the side. I felt when I got an opportunity on the wing, I’d get more consistency in my football and this season I’ve done that without being too spectacular.”

“As games roll on, you gain confidence and play good footy and I think that’s the way the season's panning out for me so far.”

Leigh has been in scintillating form this season, averaging around 20 touches and leading the side in penetrating the ball inside the forward 50, something he reveals he has worked on. “I’ve always been able to carry the ball and kicks goals, something the coaching staff have allowed me to do but I’ve tried to improve with the toughness, tackles and pressuring the contested footy.”

“This is something I’ve worked on over the years now I’m doing it better, getting run-with roles, and once you do these things your overall game improves by knowing your game, your strength and weaknesses.”

Leigh’s standouts include last week’s crushing of the Magpies where he was given so much room; he was able to take seven bounces before kicking the ball inside the forward 50.

Similar to last year, the mid-season break has served the side well in re-launching their premiership ambitions for 2006. “We went back and spoke about what made us great in the past, being hard, tough and working together as a team. We thought about the set rules we look to follow each week as our season’s been patchy in regards to form. We changed our attitude to what we need to do, so Bonnie Doon was where we planned out the rest of the season and so far we’ve been doing that.”

The game against the Bombers was vital to keep top four prospects alive and even though they occupy the bottom of the ladder without a win in three months, the wet weather would even the contest greatly. “Today’s weather did hamper us a bit as we try to be a fast pace side with a lot of handballs, ball carrying and long kicking.

We needed to adjust and get back to tough footy after Essendon got the jump on us and got a rev-up at half time. Even though it wasn’t our best game, we still got the win.”

“We knew they were going to come out hard given their past couple of months. They had a crack and when they were up, they were hard to defeat. Fortunately for us, they didn’t finish well and we took advantage of that even though we were complacent at the start.”

Montagna is one of those looking to take the midfield reins in the coming years and appears to have been groomed, now he’s showing his raw talent to the league. “It’s been a natural progression with starting off in the forward pocket and working my way up the ground, now getting a good run on the wing.

"It’s only a matter of time before the Thompsons, Pecketts and Harveys move on, so this is when we need blokes like myself and McQualter to step up and take more of an on-ball role because we can’t rely on Ball and Dal Santo to carry all the load their whole careers.”

Life away from football shows the true nature of Leigh giving back to the community along with teammate and good friend Troy Schwarze. “Troy and I have started working for the Unity Foundation in that we train Melbourne Storm players to go out and run programs at schools. These life-skills program teach about choices and consequences and this year my involvement is greater, doing a couple of days a week and I’m thoroughly enjoying myself.”

Leigh and his teammates are confident that they can make a charge like last year to the finals and reclaim the place they’ve held the past two seasons. “Top four is still a reality but we’ll have to see how others pan out in the next few weeks. We’ll have a great advantage with the double-chance and if we keep winning, hopefully we’ll be in a good spot come finals time.”

 

[nicko016]

How good could Montagna become?

 

[nicko016]

A while ago I asked how good Montagna could become. Well, I think he will become an elite midfielder. Critics have said that we lack a quick midfielder and a goalkicking midfielder. Joey is both and is beginning to impose himself on games.

 

[Bourky23]

gram would have to win most improved this year tho for sure wuldnt he?? everyone expected somethin from ur goddards, joeys eventually yet grammy is a complete unknown quantity to most people

 

[nicko016]

Both Fishers have been big improvers this year especially Leigh as he had so long off, He has been fantastic this year and an unheralded success.