Jamie Shanahan

Recruited from West Adelaide as a mature-age prospect, Jamie Shanahan established himself as a disciplined key defender during a resurgence for St Kilda in the 1990s. A traditional full-back whose primary remit was negation rather than rebound, Shanahan holds the unique VFL/AFL record for the most career games played without scoring a single goal, a statistic that underscores his strictly defined lockdown role against the competition's power forwards. He was a central figure in the Saints' defence under Stan Alves, playing a crucial role in their march to the 1997 Grand Final, although that day remains bittersweet due to the Saints' second-half collapse against Adelaide.

Following the 1997 season, Shanahan crossed to Melbourne via the pre-season draft, adding immediate experience and stability to the Demons' backline. His tenure at Melbourne mirrored his time at Moorabbin, as he served as a reliable defensive anchor who helped propel the club to the 2000 Grand Final against a dominant Essendon side. Despite appearing in premiership deciders for two different clubs within a four-year span, Shanahan finished his career without a flag, retiring as a respected defender who relied on concentration and accountability rather than flashiness to hold his place at the elite level.