St Kilda has reached at least the penultimate week of the finals in each of the past three years but the phrase 'Saint youngster' has been a rarity.
In the 82 rounds since Sam Gilbert was nominated for the NAB AFL Rising Star in 2007, only Jarryn Geary in 2009 has earned a nomination in the red, white and black.
But that trend looks to be changing this year as the Saints' youth push has seen Jack Steven become the round 10 nomination for the award.
Steven's nomination comes on the back of two 27-possession games in the wins over Melbourne and Fremantle.
He said he was unaware that the Saints had been so poorly represented in the list of NAB AFL Rising Star nominees in recent seasons but said that was set to change.
"I guess it's because we've had such a strong team with a lot of experienced players," he said.
"Sippo (Arryn Siposs) is going pretty well at the moment. He seems a likely type. Tommy Lynch came in for his second game last week and there are a few of the younger boys who are looking good."
Now in his fourth season on the Saints list, Steven is only just eligible for the Rising Star as he had nine games to his name at the start of the season. The maximum allowed is 10.
He also just made the age cut off, having turned 21 in March.
While every potential rising star says they didn't expect to be nominated, Steven genuinely didn't as he assumed he was ineligible for the award until he got the good news on Monday.
"I didn't know if I was able to get nominated. I didn't know what the rules were. It was a little bit of surprise"
One of the catalysts for Steven's good form in the St Kilda midfield was a moment that was devastating for many of the Saints faithful.
Lenny Hayes' season-ending knee injury in round two earned Steven a call-up the following week and opened up a midfield position he has made his own.
As with any player his size, Steven prefers to play in the middle but says he is quickly learning what it takes to cope with the workload.
"I probably just need to work on my general fitness and getting used to playing in the middle. It's a big effort playing there all day," he said.
"At the moment my body has been holding up which is pretty good. I've had a few troubles with my groins but lately the physios have been pretty good and hopefully it stays like that."
Steven's home life has also given him an insight into the demands of top-level football.
He shares a Brighton home with senior teammates Steven Baker and Zac Dawson, both of whom have shown the way in preparation.
"I like it. It's a pretty cruisy house," he said.
"Bakes does everything right and living with him, you learn how to do everything properly and what is expected."
