One of the driving influences behind him coming to the Saints was Bob Wilkie who played 117 games between 1940-42 and then after the war between 1945-1951. Coincidentally I was lucky enough to play school football with their sons John Killigrew and Bob Wilkie junior at CBC St Kilda thus ensuring I was lucky enough to meet both these great men. Everyone knows Alan Killigrew’s contribution to St Kilda but, few outside the club would understand the enormous contribution Bob Wilkie made to the club as a player, administrator, past player and passionate supporter. Bob Wilkie was truly a Saint for life.
On arrival in 1956 Alan Killigrew turned the Saints upside down. Players were sent on their way and a number of new players were recruited. Those kept from the 1955 list were Brian Gleeson , Neil Roberts, Harold Davies, Keith Drinan, Ron Fountain, Allan Jeans, Neville Linney, Graham Minahan, Jack McDonald, Max Stephenson, Allan Mennie, Milne McCooke, Bill Gleeson, Bob Watt and Allan Callow. Players deleted from the list had been at the club for a season or two for only a few games, with a couple of notable exceptions.
Les Foote had captain coached the Saints for two seasons but had been unable to lift the club from the bottom of the ladder. His time had come, despite adding the Saints best and fairest to his long list of football honours.
Bruce Phillips had been recruited from Camden, way back in 1947. Like Bob Murray he had failed to impress over a couple of years until in late1949 he was tried at Full Back. In 1950 he was the Saint’s best and fairest, represented the State and ran third in the Brownlow. He continued this fine form as the best Full Back in the league until in a practice match in 1956 he injured his knee and never played again. He was jut 26. This blow devastated new coach Killigrew on the eve of his first season. Keith Drinan was called upon to fill the void at Full Back and although he was near the end of his great career, he gave his all in the key post throughout 1956 and ’57.
Of the 20 plus players to leave the Saints at the end of 1955 beside Foote and Phillips only 3 had played more than 10 games. These three were Ray Huston a Ruckman who had played 33 games in 4yrs, Bruce McLennan who played 46 games between 1950 and 1955 and Don Howell a 29 game red haired winger who I remember very clearly as the traitor who transferred to Collingwood. Although I was just 6 yrs old I was certainly taught to dislike the Magpies at an early age. I remember my Uncles Jack and Leo Kennedy trying to bribe me to switch allegiance to the Pies. Substantial sums of money were involved but I was having none of it.
1956 saw the recruitment of some key players in the campaign to play finals football again. Although more were to arrive in 1957 and 1958 the following key players were to join the 15 left from 1955 to form the nucleus of the Saints drive to the 1961 finals.
Bud Annand. Recruited from Castlemaine. A great bloke who made up for a lack of skill with a great big heart. He played 106 games from 1956 till 1962.
Paul Dodd. A great little rover from East Ballarat. He played only 57 games from 1956 till 1962. He represented Victoria and was another St Kilda tragedy. Serious injuries restricted the number of games he played.
Brian McCarthy. From Yarrawonga played 74 Games from 1956-1961.
Bill Young. Bill was recruited from Stratford and played 94 games from 1956 – 1961 and I saw every one of them. People today have no idea how idolised he was by Saints supporters. He was small for a full forward but he just knew where the goals were. He was leading goal kicker for the Saints from 1956 till 1960 and he is still credited as the inventor of the banana kick.
Brian Walsh. A reliable back pocket, Brian played 131 games from 1956 - 1964. He was recruited from Ormond Amateurs and in 1956 had the honour of representing Australia at the Olympic Games in the Australian Rules exhibition sport playing as an Amateur. In the same side as Brian was Lindsay Gaze Australian Basketball Olympian.
A Saints side of 1956 could read as follows: With apologies to the 16 players who played at least one game in 1956 that I have left out.
Backs: Brian Walsh Keith Drinan Bud Annand
H.Backs: Neville Linney Neil Roberts Harold Davies
Centres Graham Minihan Alan Dale Brian McCarthy
H Forwards: Allan Jeans Brian Gleeson Ron Fountain
Forwards: Ray Barrett Bill Young Jack McDonald
Rucks: Brian Muir
Bill Waldron
Rover: Paul Dodd
19th: Max Stephenson
20th: Milne McCooke
