In a milestone event for the Club and in front of 900 guests, three more Club champions were also added to the Hall of Fame honour roll with versatile Ken Walker, defender Ian Synman and ruckman Jeff Sarau all inducted into the Hall of Fame in addition to Lockett’s illustrious 183 game career at Moorabbin being recognised.
From St Kilda’s initial Hall of Fame induction in 2003, there are now 41 members including four Legends. The Saints Hall of Fame is overflowing with premiership winners, Club Captains, Brownlow medallists, Club Best & Fairest winners, state representatives, champion coaches and highly regarded administrators.
Current 2010 St Kilda senior players were also in attendance to celebrate over 137 years of the Club’s long and proud history.
Tony Lockett spent 11 years at the Club (1983-1994) and kicked 898 goals and today is remembered as one of the all-time great full-forwards to have played AFL.
A country boy from Ballarat, Lockett’s vice-like marking and overwhelming strength quickly rocketed him to stardom. In only his second season at the Saints, he gave a hint of things to come with 77 goals and in 1987 he booted 117 goals to head the goalkicking and became the first prolific full-forward to win a Brownlow.
In 1991 he kicked a remarkable 127 goals and his efforts earned him another Coleman Medal. Lockett’s tremendous form lifted St Kilda to its first finals appearance in 18 years. The following year Lockett topped his previous goalkicking tally achieved the year before, booting 132 goals, which included a new Club record 15 against Sydney.
First of the three inductees into the Saints Hall of Fame for 2010 was Ken Walker (Years played - 1938-1945). A tall all-rounder from Preston, Walker broke into a strong Saints side at a young age. He played 109 games and kicked 81 goals during his seven year career. A brilliant mark and a long kick, Walker’s versatility allowed him to play in any key position and during his one state game, Walker played as both a centre half-forward and full-back for Victoria.
As a defender, Ian Synman (Years played - 1958-59, 1961-69) was the second Saint to be inducted. Synman played 123 consecutive games for the Saints (154 in total) including the famous 1966 Grand Final. Renowned as a sturdy and dependable backman from Melbourne Grammar School, Synman played in St Kilda's under-19s flag in 1957 and secured a regular position in 1961 at centre half-back.
The third inductee for the evening was Jeff Sarau (Years played - 1973-83). Sarau played 226 games for the Saints and was characterised as a lion-hearted ruckman. Sarau was the junior in an experienced ruck line-up, but developed into a fine ruckman in his own right. Thriving on the responsibility of being the No.1 ruckman, Sarau won the Saints Best and Fairest awards in 1975 and 1977.
St Kilda Football Club also announced past player Neil Besanko and current player Steven Baker as the two most recent Life Members of the Club.
St Kilda’s Steven Baker was drafted in the 1998 National AFL Draft, 2nd round selection (No. 27 overall) from South Colac/Geelong U18. Since making his debut in 1999, Baker has currently played 191 games and kicked 34 goals. In 2005 he won the Club’s Best & Fairest award.
Recruited from Mentone, Besanko started in the Under 19’s in 1967 and made his debut for the Saints in 1968. Neil played 149 games for the Club and established himself as a strong and determined backman.
St Kilda’s Hall of Fame committee
Ross Smith - Chairman, Life Member, former player and coach, St Kilda Hall of Fame member, 1967 Brownlow medallist
Greg Westaway - St Kilda Football Club President
Russell Holmesby - Official Club historian, Life Member
Neil Roberts - Life Member, former player, St Kilda Hall of Fame member, 1958 Brownlow medallist
Allan Jeans - Life Member, former player, Premiership coach, St Kilda Hall of Fame Legend
Danny Frawley - Life Member, former player and longest serving Club captain, St Kilda Hall of Fame member, Richmond coach (2000-04)
John Beveridge - Life Member, St Kilda Recruiting Advisor, long time Football department Administrator
With such talent to choose from, the job for the Hall of Fame Committee is not an easy one, with the Committee having the task of selecting the inductees via a process that involves meeting a selection of certain criteria ranging from games played to Club achievements to VFL/AFL honours.
2010 Hall of Fame
Legend
Tony Lockett
Inductees
Jeff Sarau
Ian Synman
Ken Walker
Current Hall of Fame members
· Darrel Baldock - Legend (2003)
· Ian Stewart - Legend (2007)
· Allan Jeans - Legend (2008)
· Trevor Barker
· Harold Bray
· Barry Breen
· Nathan Burke
· Greg Burns
· Gary Colling
· Bill Cubbins
· Jack Davis
· Carl Ditterich
· Ian Drake
· Keith Drinan
· Wels Eicke
· Danny Frawley
· Brian Gleeson
· Daryl Griffiths
· Verdun Howell
· Graham Huggins
· Barry Lawrence
· Stewart Loewe
· David McNamara
· Bill Mohr
· Alan Morrow
· Bob Murray
· Brian Mynott
· Kevin Neale
· Des Nisbet
· Lance Oswald
· Travis Payze
· Bruce Phillips
· Neil Roberts
· Ross Smith
· Colin Watson
· Nicky Winmar
Player profiles © The Encyclopedia of AFL Footballers by Russell Holmesby and Jim Main
