Tim Membrey has always been a naturally gifted footballer.
When the Swans swooped and took the Gippsland prodigy with Pick 46 in the 2012 Draft, the young forward had already proven he was a talented goalkicker with the old-fashioned blue-collar swagger about him.
It seemed like an almighty steal for a club that has found some serious diamonds out of the rough in their impressive decade.
During his draft year, his then coach at the Gippsland Power, Nick Stevens, declared he was a better kick at goal then Brendan Fevola.
He worked on his craft, bagging goals in the NEAFL, including an eye catching eight-goal performance in 2014 but was simply unable to find a spot in a Sydney side that had only recently obtained the signatures of Lance Franklin and Kurt Tippett on big money deals.
Membrey spent two years at the club, exempt from opportunity despite being a class above reserves level.
When club legend Adam Goodes decided to commit for another year, Membrey got tired of waiting, he was eager to get his crack at AFL football and realised that a change of clubs might be the spark he needs.
He then requested a trade, citing more senior opportunities as the reason he wanted to leave the Swans.
His coach, John Longmire, was on the record giving Membrey his blessing to leave, but making it clear to him that he wants him to stay as he is good enough to be playing regular AFL football.
Membrey chose to leave.
Surprisingly, the Swans could not facilitate a trade and subsequently delisted the devastated young forward.
It seemed that another prodigious talent would be lost to AFL football after only two years.
Then came the lifeline by the St Kilda Football Club, who saw Membrey’s talent and thought he could add a dimension to a Saints side in the middle of a painful rebuild.
The Saints recruited Membrey as a delisted free agent at the end of 2014, on a one-year contract.
The tattooed, rough-looking forward came to the club as an unknown commodity.
Membrey battled through his first year at the club, bagging nine goals from his 12 games at the senior level, but failing to find the continuity that derailed the start of his career at Sydney.
He was a whipping boy for Saints fans, who were frustrated with his season, as they could see his potential.
Coming into the 2016 season, barely keeping his spot on the Saints senior list, being offered a deal close the cut off period for list managers, Membrey knew he needed a big year to keep his AFL dream alive.
After starting the season in the VFL for Sandringham, Membrey finally got his chance in the Round 6 thumping of Melbourne at Etihad Stadium.
He kicked five goals, had eight marks and 16 disposals in a best on ground performance. He hasn’t looked back since.
Membrey’s stunning form has seen him kick 39 goals from his 14 matches to date, including four bags of five goals.
Only Lance Franklin, Josh Jenkins, Eddie Betts and Josh Kennedy have matched or bettered this feat.
It makes you wonder if he had played the first five games whether he would be the leader in the Coleman Medal.
The 22-year-old forward has stood tall and been a brilliant addition to the Saints.
He is an old-fashioned, hard working forward who does all the little things right and is a deadeye dick in front of goals.
His coach, Alan Richardson, spoke of Membrey’s elite qualities and how he is helping shape a potent forward line for his side.
“So not only is a he a pretty good mark, he’s a very hard match-up from that point of view, he’s able to get up and back, he was involved in a lot of our defence he’s certainly able to reset aggressively as a forward and give us something to kick to.
Players that are so flexible do not grow on trees. He is startling similar to Jack Gunston in the way they work hard up and down the ground, but still provide an attacking presence.
His footy nous and excellent instinctive footy brain have made him one of the improved players in the competition.
He is now settled at the Linen House Centre and has a massive future and say in the direction of his new club.
The supporters are excited and so they should.
He is surely in the calculations for an All-Australian selection, in what would be one of the most remarkable stories to come out of this season.
Membrey has epitomised the rise of the St Kilda Football Club in 2016, leaving them on the brink of a shock finals appearance.
Coming up against his old side at Etihad Stadium on Saturday night, in arguably the most important game the club has played since it’s 2010 grand finals against Collingwood, Membrey has a chance to rub salt in the wounds of a club that let him go without giving him the chance to shine.
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