Number 4
There are many Saints players who have worn the number 4 jumper during their career who are champions. Below, I have selected a Saints team purely of players who have worn the number 4 at any point of their career. I have also provided my personal assessment of the top 3 players who have carried the number 4 for the Red, White and Black.
As always many of the players named are legends for the Saints but the number 4 carries special significance as the great Daryl Baldock wore it to lead the mighty Saints to our only Premiership in 1966.
"The Jumper Number 4" Saints Team over the Decades
Backs: Jack Scanlon / Bill Cubbins / Geoff Feehan
Half Backs: Joel Smith / Harry Lever / Wal Gunnyon
Centres: Lloyd Jones / Vic Cumberland / Paul Morwood
Half Forwards: Barry Breen / Daryl Baldock / Ernie Sellars
Forwards: Clinton Jones / Tony Lockett / Ken(Chesty)Mulhall
Rucks: Col Williamson / Andrew Thompson
Rover: Wels Eicke
Interchange: Bob Hay / Hec Yeomans / Tasman Roberts / Tommy Lane
Other players to wear the Number 4 jumper include: Bill Osborne, Les R Jones, C. Tom Jones
The best three Saints players to have worn the number 4 jumper.
1) Daryl Baldock, 119 games, 1962-68
The Doc played his first game for the Saints against the Pies in Round 3, 1962 at Victoria Park. We won and I was there. This was a momentous occasion as we rarely won there and a win by 25 points on an Easter Monday was the best Easter present a 12 year old boy could get. Daryl Baldock went on to lead the Saints to a Premiership in 1966. He won the Saints Best and Fairest 3 times in 1962, 63 and 1965. From Centre Half Forward he topped the Club goal kicking 4 times and was the Saints skipper from 1963 to 1968. In 1987 he took over as coach and lifted us from a dismal 2 wins in 1986 to 9 wins in his first year. Ill health plagued his 3 year tenure as coach and the Club did not sustain any improvement. He is a Saints legend.
2) Tony Lockett, 183 games. 1983-94, No 4 1988-94
Tony Lockett is arguably the greatest Full Forward ever. In 1987 he scored 117 goals and was the first Full Forward to win a Brownlow Medal. Injury and suspension prevented further centuries until 1991 when he kicked 127 goals followed by 132 in 1992. He did not add to his tally of centuries until he transferred to Sydney where he posted tons in 1996 and 1998. Tony Lockett won the Saints Best and Fairest in 1987 and 1991.
There may be some debate over whether Tony Lockett should be regarded as the best number 4 in front of Daryl Baldock but as a supporter who watched them both play, in my opinion for sheer wizardry and overall talent, Baldock stands alone.
3) Barry Breen, 300 games, 1965-82, No 4, 1972-82
I have chosen Barry Breen as the 3rd best Saints player to pull on the number 4. He edges out Cubbins and Cumberland who are both giants of their era but wore the number 4 on limited occasions. They will be recognized in the best three in other teams. Barry Breen won us a premiership when he kicked the winning score in the dying moments of the game. As a 17yr old and still at De La Salle College in Malvern he made his debut for the Saints in 1965. Some time after Baldock left the Saints Breen took over the number 4 and the Centre half forward position. He played wearing the number 4 for 10 seasons. He captained the Saints in 1979 playing at Full Back where he played well. He played a then record 300 Games and was a great player for the Club.
Summary
This is a team blessed with a fantastic forward line equal to, if not better than any other. Baldock, Lockett and Breen together in the one team are a dream for any Saints supporter. Ernie Sellers and his extraordinary ability to kick goals would only add to the team’s ability to score freely.
The speed, ability and guts of the on ballers Cumberland, Thompson, Eicke, Joel Smith and Clint Jones would mean the ball would be constantly thrust into the forward line. This team would have the ability to change running players Eicke and Smith off half back a luxury similar to the Saints use of Aussie Jones in 2005 and now Jason Gram.
If in the rare occasion the ball got down back, this team has two giants of their era Cubbins and Lever in the key back positions. The talls are well served as Williamson, Mulhall, and Feehan were all strong ruckmen who gave their all. This number 4 team is an outstanding side and a great example of the great players that have represented the Red, White and Black over the decades.
References
"The Encyclopedia of AFL Footballers" Russell Holmesby and Jim Main, Crown Content
"Every Game Ever Played" compiled by Stephen Rodgers, Viking O’Neill
"Western Saints- West of Moorabbin" Website
"Saints.com.au"
"The Courage Book of VFL Finals" compiled by Graham Atkinson, Wren
If you would like to contact Allan please send him an email to takeitforgranted@hotmail.com
