| TEAM OF THE CENTURY - ST KILDA NAME ORIGINS - 1966 GRAND FINAL - CLUB SHIELD |
|
ST KILDA FOOTBALL CLUB MILESTONES 1873 - 2008 | |||
| VFA 1877-78, 1886-96; VFL 1897-1989; AFL 1990-2007 | |||
|
1873 StKilda FC Formed |
1877 St Kilda joins VFA |
1878 Jnr side only |
1886 Seniors back in VFA |
|
1888 Amalgam. with Prahan |
1900 1st win after 48 losses |
1906 finish 3rd on ladder |
1913 Runners - up |
| 1916 Withdraw for 2 yrs (war) |
1918 Lose Semi to col'wood |
1923 Colours back to RBW |
1925 Colin Watson - Brownlow |
|
1929 Lose 1st semi to Carlt. |
1939 Finish 3rd from top |
1957 Brian Gleeson-Brownlow |
1958 Neil Roberts-Brownlow |
|
1959 Verdon Howell-Brownlow |
1961 1st finals after 22 years |
1965 Ian Stewart - Brownlow |
1966 Win Grand Final-Col'wood |
|
1967 Ross Smith - Brownlow |
1971 Lose G Final to Hawthorn |
1978 Tony Lockett - Brownlow |
1991 Tony Lockett 127 Goals |
|
1992 Tony Lockett 132 Goals |
1997 - Runners - up Robert Harvey-Brownlow |
1998 Robert Harvey-Brownlow |
1958, 1996, 2004, 2008 Pre-Season series winners |
St Kilda Football Club ProfileRussel Holmesby Mon 11 February, 2002 - saints.com.au
The St Kilda Football Club itself was not formed until 1873, containing many elements of the previously strong South Yarra club which had disbanded a year earlier, after falling on hard times. South Yarra had won the Challenge Cup in 1867 and many of its better players lined up under the St Kilda banner. In the early stages the Club played at an area known as the "Alpaca Paddock", next to the present site of the St Kilda Bowling Club near the St Kilda railway station. Alpacas were a kind of llama with long wool which had been imported from South America as a money-raising venture. St Kilda soon boasted a membership of 60 and showed that it would exceed its initial aim of being a junior club. By the end of the first season the Saints were able to force a draw with the top-ranking Carlton and everything looked rosy. There were tough times ahead but St Kilda's uphill battle was not without its humorous moments. Only 12 Saints turned up for a match at Bendigo, and the game against Albert Park started 90 minutes late after the ball burst when it was being inflated prior to the match! Amalgamation with University did not help the cause either, but the Club was still one of the original members of the VFA when it was formed in 1877. That year the Saints became only the second team to journey interstate (Melbourne had gone to South Australia a fortnight earlier) and beat Adelaide, then a combined South Australian side. By 1879 the Club slipped to its lowest ebb and after the side failed to turn up for a game at Essendon, all further matches were abandoned. St Kilda sank into junior ranks for the next six years. The Club returned to senior competition in 1886 and struggled to make its mark. A decision was made to amalgamate with nearby Prahran and the Saints retained their colours, name and ground, as well as picking up a number of Prahran stars. Even at this early point the Saints had a reputation for being able to lift miraculously on their day and roll the best teams in the competition. Another trademark was the presence of some of the foremost players in football. Alf Smith, a champion rover, was one of the earliest stars, but the hot and cold Saints could never sustain their brilliance for long. Proof of the team's quixotic nature came in the last season it played in the VFA when several top players missed the Collingwood game because they chose to go to the races instead! Still, St Kilda finished ahead of Carlton and Geelong, two other teams invited to be founder members of the new Victorian Football League. The Club's first four years in the League were disastrous with 48 losses in a row, and even the first victory came in controversial circumstances. In the opening round of 1900 St Kilda and Melbourne tied, but a St Kilda protest over an incorrectly awarded point was upheld. The relief was only temporary as the Club lost every other game for the year. By an ironical twist, Melbourne went on to the premiership. A committee shake-up heralded a bold new recruiting drive and the Club netted much-travelled ruckman, Vic Cumberland, and champion Tasmanian rover, Vic Barwick. Within two years the brilliant young forward, Dave McNamara, and a talented batch of interstate men were on the books and St Kilda rose to sixth place in 1906. The long-suffering Saints took the football world by storm early in 1907 by winning the opening six games. St Kilda reached the finals for the first time ever, and appeared again in 1908. Carlton knocked St Kilda out of the race both times. Internal bickering rocked the Club in 1909 and it was reflected in the on-field performance. Such was the desperation for a win that a suspended man was used in the win over Geelong. The blue and whites protested and the game was awarded to them. Savage in-fighting made the Saints a laughing stock and in 1911 a dispute between players and officials almost stopped the team taking the field in one game. A massive walkout meant that young local boys filled the gaps for the rest of the year. One of these was a 16 year-old named Roy Cazaly. Yet again a committee was booted out of office and the replacements recruited intensively. An attempt was made to lure back the brilliant McNamara from the Association where he had headed after one internal brawl, but his clearance was refused for 1913. Even without him the Saints charged into the Grand Final for the first time, but after a valiant finish went down to Fitzroy. In 1915 St Kilda decided to change its colours because there were the same as World War I enemy, Germany. The side donned red, yellow and black in 1915 before the war forced the Club into recess. After three years in recess St Kilda resumed in 1918 and a fine team made it through to the finals. The Saints looked like carrying on the good form with four wins from the first five games in 1919, but then fell apart because of internal disputes. Bitter in-fighting kept the side down for years, apart from a brief spark of brilliance in 1923 when the side made a thrilling rush for the finals. It was another five years before the Club was in contention for the four, missing out narrowly, but in the following year, 1929, led by Bill Cubbins, the side made the grade only to fail to Carlton in the first semi final. There was not much to cheer Saints' fans in the depression of the 1930's, apart from the magnificent goal kicking of full-forward Bill Mohr. The ex-Wagga full-forward was one of the League's greatest players in an era noted for great spearheads, and in 1936 he became the first Saint to top the goal kicking list, with 101. St Kilda, as ever, had plenty of stars during this period, but had to wait until 1939 to get into the four. Under the coaching of ex-Carlton man, Ansell Clark, one of the most talented St Kilda teams of all times stunned the more fancied Richmond in the semi-final, and only a couple of crucial errors robbed the Club of success in the preliminary final. As in 1918, the Saints began the next season full of running but, yet again, committee brawling affected on-field performances. This combined with the loss of players on war service to send the team plummeting down the ladder. There was an even more tangible effect on football when the St Kilda Cricket Ground was taken over by military authorities and the Saints were forced to play home games at Prahran. With only 11 teams competing in 1943, the VFL announced that the team at the bottom of the ladder after 11 rounds would drop out, and St Kilda suffered the ignominy of being side-lined. Even when they resumed there was more gloom as the hidings were more frequent. Through it all the Club retained a tremendous following, and when long-awaited success came in the form of five wins early in 1950, the St Kilda-Carlton game drew 50,000 people to the Junction Oval. Coaches came and went, but by 1955 the Club had hit rock bottom. The change came when hot-gospelling coach Alan Killigrew took over. Killigrew cleared out the dead wood and only 16 men retained their place on the senior list. Half of the team in the opening round had never worn a St Kilda guernsey before and, thanks to Killigrew's infectious enthusiasm, the side at last raised itself from the bottom. In the next couple of years St Kilda won respect as a competitive, determined combination and success came in other areas with Bill Young heading the goal kicking list in 1956 and Brian Gleeson and Neil Roberts winning Brownlows over the next two seasons. Just as St Kilda seemed poised for success, the self-destructive forces took hold again and a committee faction fight spilled over to involve players in a pre-season battle which eventually forced Killigrew out of the coaching position. Ex-Carlton man, Jim Francis, coached the side in 1959 and 1960, but in many ways it marked time. The 28 year-old former utility player, Alan Jeans, was a shock choice as coach for 1961, but it proved to be a master stroke. He guided the team into the finals for the first time in 22 years, but a year later lost three veterans - Neil Roberts, Eric Guy and Bud Annand, who all retired at once. Yet, by expert recruiting, the Saints fielded four brilliant youngsters in the opening round of 1963. Carl Ditterich, Ian Stewart, Bob Murray and Jim Wallis added to a talented bunch of players which included the dazzling Tasmanians, Darrel Baldock and Ian Stewart, and St Kilda again reached the finals in 1963. Prior to 1964 the Club announced that it would move to a new home at Moorabbin, after years of being treated as second-class tenants by the cricket club. On a memorable opening day, St Kilda pipped Collingwood and set the scene for a fine season in which it topped the ladder after the home and away games. A stirring one point win over Collingwood won a berth in the Grand Final for the first time in 52 years, but the dreams crashed when Essendon stormed to a big win. Eight wins in a row at the start of 1966 showed that the Club intended to make amends, but a 10 point loss to Collingwood in the semi-final set the Saints back on their heels. Rebounding in the wet preliminary final, St Kilda won another crack at the Magpies, and a Herculean struggle was in the balance until the final minutes. Eighteen year-old Barry Breen sent through a wobbly point to give the Saints their first-ever flag! St Kilda was now a power and made the finals in 1968 and 1970 before reaching the Grand Final in 1971, only to be narrowly defeated by a fierce Hawthorn side. A more attacking side took the field in 1972 and, despite a lack of consistency, looked to have a big chance for the flag. Injuries and illness hit the Saints hard before the preliminary final, and Carlton pulled away in the closing stages. The lack of player depth hit the team hard and it slipped rapidly. By 1977 St Kilda finished last for the first time in 22 years but new coach, Mike Patterson, breathed life into the Club in 1978 and St Kilda's aggression steam-rolled several sides early in the year. Injuries and lack of confidence disrupted momentum, but late in the year St Kilda regained its poise and stormed home to narrowly miss a place in the finals. Financial problems were by now hitting the Club hard and, when several players retired or transferred, there was no money to buy replacements. St Kilda fell away alarmingly to finish last in 1979, and former player, Lindsay Fox, was appointed Chairman. The trucking millionaire restructured the Club and there was an on-field youth policy. But it brought little in the way of tangible results, even though the Club managed its share of headlines with the Doug Cox affair and the landmark restraint of trade court case to secure Silvio Foschini. Financial burdens increased to the extent where the Club's very existence was threatened, and only a scheme of arrangement saved the situation. Still the performance did not improve on the field, and even the return of legendary Darrel Baldock as coach did not look like arresting the situation. Late in 1987 the side showed its best form for years and the sensational form of young full-forward, Tony Lockett, was inspirational. He won the goal-kicking and the Brownlow Medal, but the side did not progress as expected in 1988 and 1989. Through its topsy-turvy history St Kilda has managed some constants. Some of the finest players in the game's history have worn red, white and black guernseys, and the loyalty of Saint fans through thick and thin has been a quality unequalled by any other Club. Even in the worst years St Kilda has managed to upset the odds with wins against higher-ranking teams or in adverse circumstances. In 1990 St Kilda appointed Ken Sheldon as coach, and in tandem with Football Manager, Peter Hudson, he set about taking St Kilda the extra step to a finals berth. Powered by the strong marking forward line featuring Tony Lockett and Stewart Loewe, the team made it through to the 1991 finals. When Danny Frawley led the side onto Waverley Park for the Elimination Final against Geelong, it marked the end of an 18-year drought. In a game regarded as one of the best finals of the modern era, St Kilda went own by just seven points. Lockett booted nine goals in the game to finish with a season's tally of 127 - a new Club record. St Kilda looked to improve on that effort in 1992 and, in the first week of the finals, rolled Collingwood on a cold and wintry day at VFL Park. Hopes of greater success disappeared the following week against Footscray, but it had been a landmark season in many ways. Lockett again extended the Club record with 132 goals for the year, and players such as Nathan Burke, Robert Harvey and Nicky Winmar strengthened their reputations as being among the best players in the game. It was only the fourth time in the Club's history that St Kilda had made the finals in successive years. During the 1992 season, St Kilda agonised over the decision to play home games at Waverley Park. After protracted debate, members voted in favour of the move and St Kilda left their playing home of 27 years. The 1993 season started in promising fashion, but injuries and other problems marred performance in the middle of the year, and the Saints slipped down the ladder to 12th position, two wins away from a finals berth. Stan Alves replaced Ken Sheldon as coach for the 1994 season, but the Club struggled early in the year when injury and suspension hit key players. It was a frustrating and disappointing year and things began in similar vein in 1995, with six losses in a row in the first six matches of the year. A strong finish to the season gave hope of better things to come. With the departure of Tony Lockett to Sydney, St Kilda embarked on a youth policy in 1995 and the dividends started to come late in that year and early in 1996. St Kilda's run in the 1996 Ansett Cup night series caught the public's imagination and, in the Grand Final against Carlton, the Saints notched a soul-stirring victory. Sadly, the Saints were not able to maintain the consistency in the home and away season and a couple of late season losses cost the Club a finals berth. A highlight was Robert Harvey’s win in the 1997 Brownlow Medal Count. The pre-season burst had helped the Club achieve record membership levels, illustrating, yet again, that St Kilda had a huge following which knew the magic of the red, white and black. Some of the finest players in the game have worn the Saints' colours, and the loyalty of St Kilda fans through thick and thin has been a quality unequalled by any other club. Even in its worst years St Kilda has been able to upset the odds against higher-ranking teams or in adverse circumstances. The fairytale ended when St Kilda went down to Adelaide in the Grand Final. St Kilda picked up in 1998 where they left off late in 1997. The side won 11 of its first 14 games and, at that stage of the year, moved to top spot on the ladder. The Saints looked set to march into another Grand Final, but a dramatic drop in form meant that they only just managed to scrape into the finals. Despite a nail-biting two point loss in the first final against Sydney, the Saints were still in the race, but were bundled out by Melbourne. Stan Alves was replaced as coach by Tim Watson at the end of the season and, for a time in 1999, it seemed that the Saints were about to regain their standing. The wheels fell off in bizarre fashion when St Kilda appeared to be romping away from Hawthorn at Waverley Park. A 63 point turnaround wounded the Saints and they never recovered. With only three wins in the last 12 weeks of the year, the team slid from third to tenth place. The move of home games to Colonial Stadium was seen as the start of a new era for the Club, however, from the opening round of 2000, the team just could not click and slumped to a wooden spoon. Tim Watson’s resignation late in the year was the trigger for a changing of the guard across the board, and Andrew Plympton followed suit by stepping down as President after a reign, which had seen the Club’s financial situation turned around completely. Incoming President, Rod Butterss, and his administration were able to score a coup by signing Malcolm Blight as coach and initiating trade deals that secured Aaron Hamill, Fraser Gehrig, Steve Lawrence and brought other fresh blood into the team. Champions Stewart Loewe and Nathan Burke both reached the milestone of 300 games during the year, but that was one of the rare highlights in 2001. Blight’s coaching stint ended controversially 15 weeks into the season and he was replaced by Grant Thomas as caretaker coach. Thomas was subsequently appointed to the position on a full-time basis at the start of 2002. St Kilda had a horror run with injuries early in 2002, but later recovered its poise to indicate it had a bright future with a talented band of youngsters. At the end of the season Stewart Loewe retired after a club record 321 games and the baton was handed on to talented youngsters such as Lenny Hayes, Nick Riewoldt and Justin Koschitzke. As had so often happened in the past, the Club had resurrected itself when it had seemed down for the count. Some of the finest players in the game’s history have worn the colours, and the loyalty of St Kilda fans, through thick and thin, has been a quality unequalled by any other club. Even in its darkest years St Kilda has been able to upset the odds against higher ranking teams or in adverse circumstances. In short, you can never write the Saints off! 
| ||
| ORIGINS OF THE NAME ST KILDA | ||
|
For all those who incorrectly pronounce St Kilda as Saint Kilda, read this article from the Age a few years back:- "What's in a name? In a strange kind of way, the myth behind St Kilda's name tells you more than the reality. According to legend, St Kilda was a monk who became the patron saint of pariahs - the despised and outcasts of society. Anyone who knows anything about the St Kilda Football Club could relate to that. It's a good story, but that's all it is. Sadly, the truth is not as exotic, even if there is a tinge of the bizarre. St Kilda is a desolate outpost, part of a remote archipelago about 200 kilometres off the west coast of Scotland, and was given its name by mistake. Had it not been for a bloke who couldn't read properly, we could have been cheering on "Sakilda" against Adelaide this weekend. According to documents in the State Library, St Kilda was actually called "Sakilda" or "Sakilder", a Scandinavian word which described a row of shields, the archipelago's appearance as it was approached by ships. But fate intervened in the form of a crease in a map. Back in the 1600s, a Dutchman who was making a copy of the map of the area mistook the first 'A' in Sakilda as a 'T', or missed it altogether because of the fold mark. It appears there is a link to modern times, given the Saints fans' inability to use both eyes properly. The island, not unlike Moorabbin Oval (for visitors, anyway), was a bit of a dive. Very cold. Very wet. The entire population lived a backward, poverty-stricken existence, living mainly off birds and fish, with some reports claiming the people started to evolve slightly different ankles because of all the rock climbing. The treacherous seas condemned the island to virtual isolation. Consequently, there were problems getting ministers and teachers to the island. Years could pass before there was any visit by ship. Authorities decided to relocate the population to mainland Britain in the 1930s. Victoria's St Kilda was named after a schooner, The Lady of St Kilda, which moored in Port Phillip Bay off the district in July 1841. The History of St Kilda (the suburb, not the club) could have been referring to the footy team when it said of the ship: "She survived many storms. She was sun-blistered and weather-beaten, too . . . her bottom was full of barnacles and she was on sale by barter." In what was undoubtedly a forerunner to Saturday nights at the St Kilda Social Club, there was also a small mutiny before the ship left for Canton, when three drunk seamen refused the captain's orders and then became unruly when they were refused alcohol. No wonder local authorities were a little reluctant to adopt the name. The region was first referred to as 'Green Knoll' ("Oh how I want to be at the Green Knoll" doesn't quite have the same ring to it, does it?) and then 'Fareham', before the current name was adopted. Posted by Mr X from the West - Saintsational Fan Forum - 30th May 2003
| ||
| THE ST KILDA MAILBOAT | ||
|
. . . There are various theories as to how the St Kilda off Scotland got its name. The islands are said to have been inhabited by Norwegians from the 9th to the 15th centuries, and as there is an excellent fresh water spring, the name may originate from the Nordic name for spring, "kilde".
According to documents in the State Library, St Kilda was actually called "Sakilda" or "Sakilder", a Scandinavian word for a row of shields, the archipelago's appearance as it was approached by sea. A Dutchman in the 1600s allegedly made a mistake in copying a map and mistook the first 'a' in "Sakilda" for a 't' or missed it al together because of a crease mark. Whatever the real story, everyone is agreed that there was never a Saint Kilda. The Article St Kilda Historical Series/skhs.org.au/21Jul04 | ||
| HISTORY OF THE ST KILDA SHIELD | ||
|
1933 - Earning the Shield
In all its years of existence it is doubtful if the St Kilda Football Club has ever recorded such a remarkable victory as it did on May 27, 1933 against North melbourne at the Junction Oval ... The winter of 1933 saw Melbourne suffering the effects of the economic depression ... This dependence of many players naturally led to desperation on the field that occasionally manifest itself in vicious and bruising encounters in the first four matches of 1933. St Kilda had not tasted success and their fifth round opponents North melbourne had only one win and a draw ... At the long interval Cave (gash over left eye) had been joined in the medical rooms by champion full-forward Bill Mohr (fractured ribs) and acting captain Clarrie Hindson (broken fibula) Continuing with only 16 men the Saints suffered another blow when rover 'Tiger' Bence crashed into a team mate and left the field suffering from concussion ... the home crowd booed incessantly as North persisted with their battering tactics. Amazingly, the Saints led by 16 points a the final change, but most spectators thought that they would be unable to sustain their gallantry to the end with only 15 men on the field (one of whom, Jack george was propped up on one leg in the forward pocket). A rousing cheer propelled the never-say-die Saints at the start of the final quarter and they responded with two quick goals ... deafening roars greeted each St Kilda attack ... In the end St Kilda's sheer will to win overpowered North and the siren sounded to give the Saints a soul-stirring victory. Jubilant fans carried the brave 15 from the ground ... After the match the committee struck medals for all members of the team and the shield on those medals was later incorporated into the St Kilda guernsey. It has been there ever since to remind generations of red, white and black fans and players of the spirit that overcame all obstacles decades ago. From Southern Saints 1986 - Posted on Saintsational Fan Forum by 'Hawkesbury Saint' 10th April 2008
|
|
See also: ST KILDA Part One: 1873 to 1929 John Devaney - fullpointsfooty.net ST KILDA Part Two: 1930 to 2006 John Devaney - fullpointsfooty.net Includes images, player profiles and historical information |