Jack Steele's rise from the suburban Gungahlin Jets to leading St Kilda in the AFL

Winning always brings about a good feeling.

But doing it where you grew up, and captaining your team against your old side, is something else again.

Last Friday night Jack Steele did just that at Manuka Oval, leading his undermanned St Kilda side to a win over the Giants with an imposing individual performance.

A few short years ago Steele was fighting for midfield minutes amongst a deep GWS group. With more talented players than spots in the team, the Giants traded the 26-year-old for a future second-round pick.

But since donning the St Kilda jersey, Steele has evolved into one of the league's finest two-way midfielders and leaders.

With the Saints' win in Canberra last Friday against the Giants, Steele's team have stamped themselves as serious finals contenders.

And the Canberran's journey to the top echelons of the game from the very bottom sees no signs of stopping.

While often thought of as a rugby league or union heartland due to the Raiders and Brumbies, Canberrans generally have an affinity for all varieties of football.

AFL names like Alex Jesaulenko, James Hird, Phil Davis and Nathan Buckley spent time mastering their craft as juniors in Canberra's icy cold winter conditions.

Just like among the traditional VFL teams, there's a pecking order of clubs in Canberra.

There's the traditional blue bloods of Ainslie Tricolours, Eastlake Demons, Queanbeyan Tigers and Belconnen Magpies, and the newer suburban population hubs of Gungahlin and Tuggeranong. Almost all of the AFL-era talent to leave Canberra has done so via the four former clubs.

Jack Steele was no different, drafted as an Academy selection to GWS from Belconnen. Lesser known is the fact that he started his footy days at the Jets in Gungahlin.

Steve May is a stalwart