Leigh Montagna Biography

Leigh Montagna joins Fremantle as an opposition analyst on a full-time basis.

"Leigh also has a great understanding of the modern game and we're looking forward to having his input as a part of our pre-game planning and opposition analysis," Dockers football manager Peter Bell said.

"He already has a great working relationship with Ross Lyon from their five seasons together at St Kilda, and the process we have been through with Leigh this week at the club means he will be able to hit the ground running."

Barry Hall is sacked by Triple M radio after an inappropriate comment on air.

Towards the end of a jovial pre-game discussion about the impending birth of co-commentator Leigh Montagna's child, Hall made an inappropriate remark.

Montagna's wife Erin is due with the couple’s first child in the coming week.

"Tonight on Triple M Football there were unacceptable and inappropriate comments made by a member of the commentary team," Triple M head of content Mike Fitzpatrick said in a statement.

"The commentator was removed immediately from the broadcast and an apology was issued on air afterwards."

Seb Ross claims his first Trevor Barker award as St Kilda's best and fairest after a career-best season in 2017.

Ross finished with 159 votes ahead of gun backman Dylan Roberton (124) and captain Jarryn Geary (121).

Ross paid tribute to retirees Nick Riewoldt, Leigh Montagna, Sean Dempster and Sam Fisher, who finished up after the end of the 2016 season, for teaching him valuable lessons.

"The legacy you left on me, you taught me how to work as a young kid," Ross said.

"It probably took me three or four years to figure it out and those three or four years watching you guys each day in your own life, you just put your head down and your bums up and you worked hard, you're as loyal as they come, you're some of the greatest blokes I've ever met and I just wish you guys well in the future."

Leigh Montagna announces his retirement from AFL football after 287 games over 16 years.

"I wanted to take my time and weigh up my options which I have done, (and) ultimately I have decided that the time is right to retire," Montagna said

"If this club is to achieve what we are striving for then I feel that the time is right for me to step aside and provide more opportunity to our younger players and allow them to flourish.

"I feel incredibly lucky to have played for as long as I have, but I am ready for, and looking forward to, the next chapter of my life."

Leigh Montagna's wife could have inadvertently revealed her husband's retirement plans on Instagram.

Erinn Montagna posted a photo of her husband Leigh and retiring Saint Nick Riewoldt on Instagram ahead of the duo's Mad Monday celebrations.

She captioned the photo "Awww, these two top guns last ever Mad Monday! We will see you on Wednesday".

But any such revelation was news to St Kilda coach Alan Richardson, who said he was yet to sit down with Montagna for his end-of-season exit interview.

"'Joey' [Montagna] hasn't spoken to me yet," Richardson told Fox Footy.

"Joey and I will catch up in the next couple of days. Erinn, she might've given him up."

Saints coach Alan Richardson says there will be no decision made on Leigh Montagna's future for the time being.

"There's been no rush. Clearly the media want a decision," Richardson said.

"Joey's really comfortable where it sits from a timing perspective; he certainly hasn't been in a rush, so we're not far away."

Leigh Montagna says he is unsure if St Kilda want him to play on next season.

"I'm not sure when the decision will come," Montagna said.

"As we understand, it's not my decision anyway.

"The club's going to have a fair influence on that and when that is, that will take care of itself. At the moment, we're just worried about playing good footy."

St Kilda coach Alan Richardson has lashed out at Dermott Brereton over his "incredibly disrespectful" treatment of Saints veteran Leigh Montagna.

Brereton raised the ire of Richardson when he wrote, "There's a joke around the league that the hardest contested ball Montagna will fight for is against a teammate to take the kick-in after a behind."

Montagna revealed he had called Brereton to discuss what he felt was a cheap shot and was backed up by Richardson.

"I thought it was incredibly disrespectful," Richardson said on Fox Footy.

"Joey's been such an outstanding performer for a very long time ... when that (criticism) comes from someone like Dermott ... I thought it was really poor.

"And I think Joey's been on record to say that he's OK with people having a go at his footy and challenging where he's at from a footy perspective.

"Joey's been a pretty strong performer for us this year ... he's had a bad game.

"The club had a bad game, you could pick out many players who didn't perform well, but I thought it was pretty poor form by Dermott."

Leigh Montagna has ruled himself out of the Saints' season-opening clash with Melbourne as he continues to battle a right calf strain.

"I'm not far away at all but I think conditioning-wise, I'm going to end up a session or two short," Montagna said.

"So most likely, I'll miss round one and definitely be available for round two. This time of year the last thing you want to do is re-injure it, so we're not going to rush it."

Jarryn Geary will be the St Kilda's new captain for 2017.

Geary takes over the role from Nick Riewoldt, who was skipper for 220 games. That tally ranks Riewoldt third on the all-time list for most VFL/AFL games captained, behind Carlton's Stephen Kernahan (226) and Essendon's Dick Reynolds (224).

Riewoldt, Leigh Montagna, Sean Dempster and Sam Gilbert took themselves out of contention for the leadership group, and thus the captaincy. Those players, known as the 'four elders', make up the Saints' over-30 contingent.

"Before that vote, Montagna, Riewoldt, Gilbert and Dempster got up and said 'Don't vote for us, we're out. Time for you blokes to drive it. We think you're ready'," Saints coach Alan Richardson said.

Midfielder Seb Ross, Dylan Roberton and Josh Bruce are St Kilda's newest official leaders. They join Geary, Jack Steven, David Armitage, Jack Newnes and Maverick Weller.

"If we had six players who got lots of votes and then there was a gap, we'd have six (in the leadership group). As it turned out, we had eight, because those guys were voted in really strongly," Richardson said.

Gary ablett and Luke Hodge are set to add to their long list of achievements by being named as AFL Life Members.

Ablett and Hodge join St Kilda's Leigh Montagna, Western Bulldogs veteran Matthew Boyd and Sydney 2012 premiership captain Jarrad McVeigh in automatically qualifying for life membership having reached 300 AFL games.

Leigh Montagna believes a premiership with St Kilda is still within reach before he retires.

"I have it in the back of my mind that hopefully these young guys, if they continue to improve, they might be able to carry Nick [Riewoldt] and I to a flag one day," Montagna said.

"It's certainly possible. How realistic it is, that's anyone's guess."

Leigh Montagna signs a one-year contract extension that will tie him to the Saints until the end of 2017.

"I am really excited about the journey we are on as a team and happy to continue to be part of it," Montagna said.

"It’s also a great show of faith from the club to sign me up and have faith in my body and ability to keep playing for another couple of seasons."

Leigh Montagna is set to miss St Kilda's season opener against Greater Western Sydney after scans revealed he required surgery on a torn medial meniscus in his left knee.

Leigh Montagna says there is no rush for Nick Riewoldt to return to the field after the St Kilda captain returned to Seaford this week after spending time with his family following the death of his younger sister Madeleine.

"I am not sure if he knows when he will be right to play," Montagna said.

"Obviously it's a very tough situation and he's going through the grieving process and he needs to take his time.

"It was great for him to show his face today and it was really courageous."

Leigh Montagna says 2014 has been a "nothing year" for him personally as a player.

"I know the club is moving in the right direction and we're playing a lot of young kids and it's all going to be beneficial in the future, but you look back and nothing has been really achieved from the year personally," Montagna said.

"It can be quite difficult but you also understand if you're going to play for 15 years you're going to have some years where you have success and other years where you don't.

"That's all part of it so you've sort of got to keep it in perspective."

Leigh Montagna says he was a proud mentor when he watched Jack Billings run into an open goal and seal the Saints' surprise win over Essendon in round five.

"He's one guy that I've spent a bit of time with behind the scenes and I was really proud to see him so excited when he kicked that goal in the last quarter," Montagna said.

"We know Jack has got the talent but we probably thought he would take a bit of time to really build and he probably still will."

Nick Riewoldt chalks up record-equalling ninth year as Saints captain after being named as skipper of the club on Friday.

The Saints' leadership group will also comprise Leigh Montagna, David Armitage, Sean Dempster, Jarryn Geary and Lenny Hayes.

"I think we've felt a little bit disappointed the last couple of seasons about our ability to do that so we need to continue to display strong behaviours, especially around the ones we hold important," Riewoldt said.

"That's what the group was voted in on, to continue to do that and defend the Saints' trademark that we've come up with, and on-field performance comes into that, and to really drive and accelerate the growth from underneath and within the footy club.

"We've got a pretty clear mandate, we've spoken about that as a group and I think the rest of the players are aware of what we want to get out of being in this role."

Leigh Montagna says he is ready to captain the Saints if Nick Riewoldt steps down as skipper.

"With the Leading Teams model, we'll do it through the formal procedures and pick a leaderships group and from there, pick a captain," Montagna said.

"It would be something I'd seriously consider. We'll get to that when we do but look, Nick has been a tremendous captain and I'd continue to love playing under Nick."

Nick Riewoldt and Leigh Montagna will finish their careers with the Saints after agreeing to new deals with the club.

"I'm certainly happy that I have committed to the Saints and now it guarantees that I will play the rest of my career at St Kilda," Riewoldt said.

"I'm really excited about it and it is great to be able to do it with one of my great mates as well. It is an exciting time at the club and I am now committed to aiding the transition of some of the younger players into playing senior football."

"It means a lot that the club has shown real confidence in me and I feel that I have a lot of good footy left to play," Montagna added.

"St Kilda is on an exciting path and both Nick and I are looking forward to being a part of a really positive future."

Jack Steven takes out his first Trevor Barker Award as St Kilda's Best and Fairest player.

Steven was the clear winner after a standout season, polling 152 votes to finish well ahead of Saints' veterans Nick Riewoldt (115) and Leigh Montagna (113).

In a season which has earned him an All-Australian nomination, the 23-year-old averaged 26.9 disposals and was in the league's top 10 in clearances, handballs and disposals.

"I love to play for the Saints and I love all the boys I play with. I'm not much for standing up here, but I want to keep playing for the Saints," he said in his acceptance speech.

Veteran Saint Lenny Hayes says youngster Jack Newnes, along with a number of other St Kilda players, has the potential to one day captain the club.

"Without putting too much pressure on a guy like Jack Newnes, I see a lot of leadership qualities in him," Hayes said.

"Jarryn Geary has become a really important player for us and a good leader over the last couple of years. Ben McEvoy's in there as well.

"Even a guy like Leigh Montagna, if 'Roo' didn't want to do it next year, then I'm sure he could take over for a couple of years until one of those younger guys is ready."

On the eve of this 200th game, Leigh Montagna says the quest for a premiership with the Saints continues to drive him.

"I've just got to make sure I do all I can to still be involved at the footy club, and I've got a lot of faith in Scott Watters and the direction the club is going," Montagna said.

"If I can hang around and continue to play good footy and be a part of the next generation of successful Saints, that's what I want to be a part of."

Nick Riewoldt will captain St Kilda for an eight successive season under a new leadership structure.

Riewoldt will be joined by Leigh Montagna, Nick Dal Santo, Ben McEvoy, James Gwilt, David Armitage, Sean Dempster and Jarryn Geary in the leadership group after Sam Fisher and Adam Schneider decided to step aside.

Saint Leigh Montagna will miss St Kilda's opening game of 2013 after the AFL Tribunal upheld his one-match suspension for rough conduct against Carlton's Andrew Walker.

Lenny Hayes has agreed to a new one-year deal with the Saints while three other big names have also committed to the club including Leigh Montagna, Stephen Milne and Sam Gilbert.

"Without strong leadership this group wont progress," Saints coach Scott Watters said.

"Lenny, Stephen, Sammy and Joey are loyal one-club players who we value extremely highly. Their leadership is integral moving forward."

Young Saint Jack Newnes' says he has already exceeded his expectations so far this year after playing five games.

"To get those under my belt has been a big surprise. At the start of the year I would have been rapt with one game," he said.

"Initially I wanted to get a bit bigger and improve in the VFL then try to get a couple of games. Another few games would be great as well."

Leigh Montagna says he has not interest in testing the his market worth with other clubs and wants to stay a Saint for life.

"I'd rather not. I'm happy at the club and if you want to stay and you want to play, most players get paid accordingly to where they sit amongst the club and I think that's the end of it," Montagna said.

Nick Dal Santo, Justin Koschitzke and Leigh Montagna have been made life members of St Kilda, an honour awarded to players who have played at least 150 games and spent 10 years at the club.

St Kilda's Leigh Montagna has pleaded guilty to bumping an injured Ed Curnow in and is suspended for one game after the incident sparked widespread criticism among football circles.

"It was definitely not my intention to cause any further distress to Curnow when I checked him while moving towards the contest," Montagna said in a statement.

"It was a split second decision taken with no malicious intent. I agree that it is unacceptable to make contact with an injured player, even in the direct field of play, and therefore accept the one-match suspension."

St Kilda's All-Australian duo Brendon Goddard and Leigh Montagna have signed new three-year deals with the club.

"It really builds on the plank of stability and the focus we are about, which is team success. Personally I couldn't be happier and it is a great sign of the contentment of the group, where the team is going and where the club is heading. I thank the boys for that," St Kilda coach Ross Lyon said.

Injuries have grounded Nick Riewoldt, Leigh Montagna, Lenny Hayes, Brendon Goddard and Steven Baker for Saturday's clash with Hawthorn with the Saints taking a cautious approach in the lead up to the finals.

A string of standout performances has experts talking up Saints onballer Leigh Montagna as a legitimate Brownlow Medal chance.

"I'm starting to get a little bit of publicity, but we try to put that aside," Montagna said.

"We don't really take too much notice of those things."

The AFL's official statisticians have named Leigh Montagna as their Brownlow Medal bolter.

Using the formula that tipped Jimmy Bartel as runaway winner in 2007 and Adam Cooney as a top-three certainty last year, Champion Data has Montagna as the only challenger to Gary Ablett.

Champion Data has Montagna, St Kilda's most potent ball carrier, on 17 votes after 11 rounds.

St Kilda's Leigh Montagna will front the AFL tribunal tonight to contest a charge of striking Paul Hasleby.

Leigh Montagna admits to delivering a personal insult to Bomber Andrew Lovett with words implying that Lovett was guilty of domestic violence.

Montagna, however, made light of his remarks which were heard during the game's broadcast saying that he and Lovett were close friends.

"Andy Lovett and I are actually good mates," Montagna said.

"We'd had a flat third quarter and Essendon were coming back and I thought a little bit of spark might just get the boys going again.

"So I just had a bit of a scuffle with Andy and I knew he wasn't going to hurt me cos we're mates. He might have just thrown a leg into me - given me a little corky or something like that - which got me a little bit agitated, especially coming from Andy, cos, as I said, we're mates."

Lovett is understood to not be looking to take the matter any further.

Later analysis of the video footage, however, reveal that it was Nick Riewoldt who verbalised the sledge at Lovett.

St Kilda re-sign Lenny Hayes and Leigh Montagna with contracts that will keep them at the club until 2011 and 2010 respectively.

"We've got a real chance to build something here," Hayes said.

"We're at a club that hasn't had a lot of success and I think that's a real driving force for the current playing group."