By Allan Grant
Don Howell
In the three articles covering the Alan Killigrew years I wrote my observations from memory, old scrapbooks and a little bit of advice from a range of Saints diehards over the years. 1956 was the turning point for the Saints and it would be wrong to remember players only from my point of view as a 7yr old with little knowledge of the politics and happenings at the club. My quote in my first article 1956 the beginning of a new era simply states:
“Don Howell a 29 game red haired winger. I remember him 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.”
Don Howell is far from a traitor. He is a loyal Saint supporter and is truly a Saint for Life.
Don is a Saint through and through and was most reluctant to leave the club at the beginning of ‘56. He had forged strong friendships with many of the players and felt that he would be a part of the 1956 team when Killa arrived. Unfortunately for Don he was not part of the favoured group so was delisted by Killa, finding himself at Collingwood.
He ended up playing 17 games for Collingwood between 1957 and 1958. My childhood memory, from where my comment traitor comes from, is steeped in a memory of Round 7, 1957 when the Saints took on Collingwood at Victoria Park.
Up to round 7 we were showing a bit of promise. We had knocked the Swans off at the Junction by 29 pts, gone down to the Dogs in round 2 after being in it all day, lost at Brunswick St to the Roys by 23 points, beaten a handy Shinboners unit by 17 points at home, lost by only 29 points at the MCG to the Redlegs by far the best team in the competition and eventual Premiers, and then in round 6 would have beaten the Cats if not for inaccurate kicking. As was my usual pastime this now 7 yr old ventured out to what I remember was a rare sunny Victoria Park. I can tell you the Pies supporters were exactly as they are today, so the trip to Collingwood was always an awesome experience, but this day there was a certain confidence that we could win it.
We opened up well and were 5 pts in front at quarter time but I remember turning to my Dad and complaining bitterly how well Don Howell was playing for the Pies. Dad merely shrugged and said “Bloody good player, wish he was still with us”
At three quarter time we were still in it but Collingwood overran us by 31 pts at days end and Don Howell in my eyes was clearly in their best. My Collingwood uncles Jack and Leo Kennedy rubbed it in for days about how good Don Howell was. He and my uncles were not my favourite people for some weeks.
Don Howell didn’t leave the Saints voluntarily – he was pushed and when his career finished at the Pies he drifted back to his mates and the club he loved. He took up significant roles in the past players group and to this day is an active Saint, regularly down at the club. At the Hall of Fame night only 2 weeks ago when all the past players gathered for the group photo, prominent and proud in the group was Don Howell, still a Saint for Life.
Brian Gleeson, who I did get a chance to say hello to at the Hall of Fame was one of Don Howell's friends in the early days at the Saints, his recollections below are a fantastic view of the Saints in the early fifties.
“Don Howell and I boarded together at Mrs Bishop's home in Robe Street, St Kilda when we both arrived at the Club at the commencement of 1953. I moved out six months later when my parents came to Melbourne and set up a home in Elwood.
We were young naive country kids, especially me. Our third housemate, Peter Cramm, who was a Pharmacy student from Casterton, was also trying out at St Kilda, Don and I had to rely on Peter's girl friend to get us partners for the St Kilda Ball that year.
Don joined an insurance company led by (maybe owned by) St Kilda Committeeman, Les Stark. He studied accountancy and made a good career for himself, later becoming a senior international manager, then Australian CEO of a large toy company.
Don had many skills as a footballer, but somehow did not impress Killigrew and his 1955 advisers, that he was ideal for the new era resurgence of the Saints team. Collingwood were pleased to take him on board, and he did play especially well against his old team. And yes, he has not only been a loyal supporter, but also an active sponsor of the Saints for many years.”
Geoff Jones
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 . He played 14 games in 1954 and 1955 and was highly regarded by many at the club.
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, Bill Gleeson, Bob Watt, Alan Callow, Chesty Mulhall, Mike Giblett and Geoff Jones.
Various references can differ but I am now confident that this is the 17 who survived Killigrews 1956 purge of the Saints list of players. Some say that only 16 survived but Alan Callow who some argue did not, is listed in the Encylopedia of AFL Footballers as being on the list in 1956. I am always glad to hear from anyone to update my knowledge of the era. Geoff Jones was one of the players Killigrew felt would be a strong contributor to the resurgence of the Saints and was one of the 17 retained.
Brian Gleeson remembers Geoff:
“He was a handy footballer. He was possibly the best rover in the VFA when he joined the Saints from Sandringham as a mature age recruit. If I remember correctly, Geoff had previously suffered some knee trouble before arriving at St Kilda, and this may have limited him reaching full potential and was also the ultimate cause of his exit from the game.”
Geoff was selected in Round 1 1956 when we were belted by about 10 goals at Arden St by the Shinboners, but Geoff was handy that day so was again selected in Round 2 where we had a crack against the Dogs but failed by 28 points. Jones was again prominent. In round 3 we ventured down to Princess Park where Geoff was selected in the forward pocket next to first gamer Bill Young. Geoff recalls that the newspapers of the day discussed the match up of Bill Young and Carlton’s Bruce Combden and although Bill kicked 3 goals or so some of the Carlton players thought Bill was too light and frail to be a success. Geoff particularly remembers George Ferry, Carlton legendary Full Back remarking at an after match get together that he was scared to tackle Bill Young hard, as he looked so frail.
Carlton beat us by 22 points at Princes Park that day but Geoff was again in the best and selected again next to Bill Young against Essendon at Windy Hill for round 4.
Geoff playing a very serviceable game, watched Bill Young have numerous shots at goal for 5 behinds and 2 out of bounds. The Saints had at least 34 shots at goal for a score of 9 goals 23 behinds. The Dons with 27 shots at goal kicked 18 goals 9 behinds to win well on paper but not so comfortably on the park.
Round 5 1956 saw Geoff again selected to play the Hawks at the junction. He had established himself as a regular in a Saints side, which, although not winning games was showing heart and fight. Geoff was an essential part of that new spirit and was finally enjoying being a regular player in the Saints team.
In Round 5 he was severely injured and was taken from the field with the knee injury that had dogged his career. At age 26 his career was over. He never played again. The honour roll at St Kilda has a long list of players whose careers were cut short in their prime. Geoff Jones had finally gained his place as a regular in the Saints side only to be cruelly cut down by injury.
Geoff, like Don Howell never left the Saints. He took up leadership roles with the past players group and to this day is a regular at the club. Like Don Howell when the players group assembled for the Hall of Fame photo Geoff Jones took his place proudly in that group of Saints players. Geoff Jones is truly a Saint for Life.
I attended the Hall of Fame and I had a chat with a few past players. I only wish I had caught up with Don Howell to tell him that once a Saint always a Saint and his contribution to the club over the years has been outstanding, he never was a traitor! I hope he can forgive the 7yr old who thought him that. The same goes for Geoff Jones, I wish I had met him as I had inadvertently left him out of the 17 Killigrew survivors in 1956 but his contribution to the club over the years has also been outstanding. I would have liked to tell him that.
There are some in the media and elsewhere who question the culture of St Kilda. They don’t know the club, they don’t know the players and they have certainly not met men the calibre of Don Howell and Geoff Jones, both Saints for Life.
