In times when teams line up wearing a heritage jumper it is interesting to note the predominantly white jumper worn by the players of the era. It is also interesting to see the socks predominantly black with the hoops at the top of the sock. Some players preferring to accentuate the all black sock with small Red and White stripes while others highlighting the hoops. It is of great interest when we think of the recent debate regarding hooped or all black socks.
Another interesting item not often thought about today is the crest, which was introduced in 1933, following the bravest of Saint’s victories with an injury-depleted side. In 1954 the crest was separate to the jumper and sown only onto official Football Club jumpers. The crest was generally not available for supporter’s jumpers. It was treated with great respect, something very special to the players.
The photo has seen the passing of time and like many things collected 50 yrs ago it is not in mint condition but it has survived the many changes of house and being thrown in various attics and battered suitcases over the years. This 1954 side was not a great team winning 4 games and drawing 1 in the season but it is my team, the team I have followed for over 50 yrs, they are the Red, White and Black the mighty Saints of 50 years ago. Some of the players are Saints legends, great champions of the past and it is great to be able to reflect on their accomplishments in their 50th anniversary year.
The players from the Back left are:
Bob Watt - 46 Games for the Saints from 1952-57. Bob was probably picked in the Back Pocket ruckman role for this game, as he was a dour defender and follower. About 6.2 and 13 stone 4 he played the secondary ruck/defender role well. Recruited from Caulfield City he survived the 1956 purge of players and went on to play two seasons with the great Alan Killigrew.
Neil Roberts - 169 games from 1952-1962. Just a young man of 21 yrs in this photo Neil was selected at Centre Half Back for this 1954 game after his early years in the forward line. In 1955 Neil won the Saints Best and Fairest and a place in the Victorian Team representing the Vics 11 times. He went on to Captain the Saints, win the Brownlow Medal in 1958 and led the Saints to the finals in 1961 after 22 years in the wilderness. He is truly a Saints legend.
Mike Giblett - 17 Games 1954-1956. 20 yr old Mike was in his first season as a follower in 1954. At 6.1 and 13 stone 6 he played in the ruck. Alternating in the back pocket with Bob Watt in this particular game. Mike was one of the many players recruited from Camden in the 1950s.
Jim Ross - 139 Games 1946-1954. Standing a touch over 6.1 and at 13 stone Jimmy Ross was all class. Jim played Centre Half Forward like it is played today. He won three best and fairest awards and to this day no Sainter has won more. He left at the age of 26 in 1954 to take up coaching in Tasmania. He topped the Goal kicking for the Saints in 1954 with 34 goals. He is a Saints legend.
Dave Bland - 37 Games 1951-1955. Dave was a player to stand out in my memory. He was for the era a tall ruckman standing about 6ft 4. Coming in at 15 stone he was also large and a tad uncoordinated. He was for the era a true tap ruckman with not a lot of mobility. The supporters on the terraces were rarely kind to Dave who in my little boy’s opinion was a Saints hero just the same.
Ray Houston - 33 Games 1952-1955. Ray looked bigger than his stats suggest. He is listed as 6.2 and 13.7 but I suggest he was a bit taller than that. A rarity for the time Ray was recruited from Sydney. An honest Ruckman he gave 4 yrs of service to the Saints.
Bruce Phillips - 115 Games 1947-1955. Bruce played at Full Forward in this game in 1954 although he had found his niche at Full Back in 1950 when he won the Saints Best and Fairest in the Full back role. In that same year he played for Victoria and came third in the Brownlow. In 1954 the Saints coach Les Foote was playing Bruce up forward in games as Neil Roberts and Keith Drinan were strong in defence and Bruce’s extraordinary skills were hoped to be able to lift the side. Bruce was forced to retire from football in 1956 after injuring his knee in a practice match. This was a tragedy for Bruce and the St Kilda footy club as Bruce was only 27 yrs of age.
Centre Row from left:
Max Mollar - 82 Games 1952-1955. Max was a Halfback Flanker. He won a Victorian Guernsey on the half back line in 1954 so he was having a stellar year when this photo was taken. At 5ft.10 and 12 stone 5 he was a solid defender popular with the supporters. Max was also recruited from Camden like many other Saints players of the era.
Alan Callow - 32 Games 1953-1956. A winger from Camden, Alan was small of stature at only 5ft 8+. He managed to survive the 1956 purge of players and played one year under Killa in 1956.
Jack McDonald - 113 Games 1948-1956. A half Forward /Winger also from Camden Jack had blistering pace and was a great kick. He led the goal-kicking three times but liked a punt so much he took himself off to the races after being dropped rather than play for the twos, so had his moments.
Les Foote- 33 Games for the Saints as Captain - Coach in 1954-55. Les had been an absolute champion in his 134 games with Nth Melbourne from 1941-51. At 27 he left the shinboners to play with NSW team Berrigan. At 29 yrs of age he was lured to coach bottom team the Saints. Although he won a Saints Best and Fairest he was unable to lift the Saints from the cellar and departed at the end of 1955.
Keith Drinan - 134 Games 1944-1957. Keith is a Saints legend one of the greatest Full Backs the club has seen. He skippered the Saints from 1951- 1953 and then again from 1956-1957. Keith pulled on the “Big V” on 8 occasions and won the Saints Best and Fairest twice. A fine player and man Keith was revered by all and sundry as a scrupulously fair player with great ability. He led the Saints through difficult times and was the first man Alan Killigrew turned to when he needed an inspiring leader when he took over the side in 1956. Keith was the last ex-serviceman from World War 2 to play VFL football.
Neville Linney - 43 Games 1953-1957. Neville was an enigma. He had the potential to be the best and indeed he represented Victoria right at the beginning of his career at only 20 yrs of age. Neville failed to live up to expectations and found himself in trouble with his peers, the club and eventually the law.
Ron Derrick - 3 Games 1954 - 1955. Ron was playing his first or second game with the Saints when this photo was taken. He played two years for the Saints but could not find a place in the team.
Peter Bennett - 103 Games 1944 and 1947- 1954. Peter Bennett first started at the Saints in 1944 but war service intervened and he didn’t resume until 1947. He often kicked bags of goals and he was the Saints leading goal kicker in 1947, 1948, 1950, 1951 and 1953. Peter Bennett was unusual in that he combined playing football at the elite level with an elite Olympic sport Water Polo. Peter is a dual Olympian representing Australia at Helsinki in 1952 and Melbourne in 1956. He Captained the Australian Water Polo Team at Helsinki in 1952.
Front Row from left:
Harold Davies - 85 Games 1953-1959. Harold was a skilled footballer who represented Victoria as a half back flanker. He went on to win the Saints Best and Fairest and in 1957 the year Brian Gleeson won the Brownlow he polled 14 votes in a stellar year.
Graham Minihan - 77 Games 1953-1959. I always had a soft spot for Graham; perhaps it had something to do with my mother’s claims that we were related. I have no idea how but he was one of my heroes as a result. Small of stature he was a great player on the wing in a poor team. In 1954 he was beginning to show the sort of form that won him a State Guernsey in 1955. After he retired from the VFA where he played for Mordialloc he wrote for the Sporting Globe for some years.
Geoff Jones - 19 Games 1954-1956. Geoff was recruited from Sandringham aged 23 in 1954. By today’s standards he would be an old recruit but he had carved out a successful career at Sandringham and St Kilda were anxious to improve the quality of their on ball players. He was exactly the same height as Stephen Milne but about 5kgs lighter.
Bruce McLennan - 46 Games 1950-1955. Bruce was back pocket player who spent several seasons at the club mainly playing in defence.
Brian Milnes - 22 Games 1952-1955. In this 1954 side Brian was selected as a Half Back flanker. His 4 seasons with the Saints saw him in and out of the side.
The way the side lined up on that day 50 yrs ago was probably as follows:
Backs: Mc Lennan, Drinan,Houston
H Backs: Linney, Roberts, Mollar
Centres: Mc Donald, Foote, Minihan
H Forwards: Bennett, Ross, Davies
Forwards: Bland, Phillips, Derrick
Rucks: Watt, Giblett
Rover: Jones
19th: Milnes
20th: Callow
The St Kilda Football club has come along way in 50 yrs. Many great players have represented the Saints and several in this side are entitled to be placed in that category. The team gradually improved from 1954 with the legendary Alan Killigrew taking the side to the brink of success with the team finally making the finals 7 yrs later in 1961. This is a team that was struggling but they wore the Red, White and Black and they wore the coveted crest over their hearts as they strove for the mighty Saints. 50 years on they are still remembered for the colours they wore.
Allan Grant
