For the Love of the Jumper- The Red White and Black.

Number 17

There are many Saints players who have worn the number 17 jumper during their career who are champions. Below, I have selected a Saints team purely of players who have worn the number 17 at any point of their career. I have also provided my personal assessment of the top 3 players who have carried the number 17 for the red, white and black.

For the Love of the Jumper - Saints “The Jumper Number 17” team of the Decades.

Backs: Des Nisbet, Bruce Phillips, Ernie Loveless.

Half Backs: Ray Cross, Gordon Dangerfield, Tom Meehan.

Centres: Doug Rayment, Rod Keogh, John Coffey.

Half Forwards: Herbert (Bill) Woodcock, Barry Breen, Pat Hartnett.

Forwards: Alan Killigrew, Peter Bennett, Brian Wilson.

Rucks: Brian Sierakowski, Roy Cazaly.
Rover: Peter Kiel.

Interchange: Stephen Powell, Aaron Fiora, Jimmy Milne. Arthur Ludlow.


Others: Mordecai Bromberg, Les Meek, Jamie Lamb, Chris Stone, Ray Harper. Harry Grigg, James Taylor, Chris Wittman, Tim Allen, Don Butling Murray Johnstone, L.Jack Lord, Billy Cole, Syd Hayhow, Pat.G Kennedy, Vic Nankervis, John Delanty, Vin Hogan, Jack Loes, Justin Plapp, Ernest Cazaly, Reg Ellis, Colm Begley.
Note: Current number 17 Nicholas Winmar is still to debut. Hopefully at some point in the not too distant future he can take his place in this team.

The best three Saints players to have worn the Number 17 jumper.

1. Barry Breen, 300 games, 1965-82, No 4, 1972-82
I have chosen Barry Breen as the best Saints player to pull on the Number 17.
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 Daryl Baldock left the Saints, Breen took over the number 4 and the centre half forward position. 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.

2. Bruce Phillips, 115 Games 1947-1955
I just loved Bruce Phillips. I turned 5 in the year he retired but I can still remember him clearly some 55 years on. Bruce Phillips was recruited from Camden like so many Saints of the 1950s. He failed as a forward, but found greatness as a full-back. He only played a dozen games in his first three years, but in the last round of 1949 was tried at full-back with immediate success. He won the Saints' best and fairest the next year, won the Herald Best Player award, played in the state side and ran equal third in the Brownlow. Phillips had uncanny anticipation and liked to charge out in front of opposition full-forwards and send a long kick downfield. Phillips represented Victoria in 1953 and injured his knee in a 1956 practice match. He had not even turned 27, but his career was over. This is sadly a story that can be told about many Saints of the 50s and 60s. Bruce Phillips was one of my childhood heroes. He fully deserves recognition as a Saint’s great.

3. Roy Cazaly, St Kilda 99 Games 1911-1920. South Melbourne 99 Games 1921-1927
I have named Roy Cazaly in the 13 and 14 team and now the 17. References are conclusive he wore all three numbers. It was not uncommon in the early part of the 20th century for players to change numbers often. Up there Cazaly" became an Australian idiom during World War II and was later immortalised in a chart-topping song. The saying was first used by fellow South Melbourne ruckman Fred "Skeeter" Fleiter when he wanted Cazaly to go for a mark or a hit-out. He stood only five feet 11 inches and weighed 12 and a half stone.

He did not want to play for South, or St Kilda for that matter, and only had eyes for Carlton. After a few reserves games he became disenchanted when Carlton did not look after a shoulder injury. In 1913 he played in the Saints' losing grand final side. Cazaly was a fine player for the Saints and was voted the team's best player in 1918. He was captain in 1920, but the club's constant in-fighting became too much and he asked for a clearance to Carlton, but instead was swapped to South.
More detailed information about Roy Cazaly can be found in the article “Number 13”.


The Team of the Decades Number 17
Assessment

This is a very good team with strength speed and class across all lines. The backline boasts Bruce Phillips at full back supported by Des Nisbet. The half back line of Cross, Dangerfield and Tom Meehan is a solid no holds barred barrier. The centreline with the rugged Rod Keogh supported by onballers Rayment, Coffee, Wilson, Killigrew, Cazaly and Kiel is a very strong one. At half forward Barry Breen would be strong in the air and with the tough and rugged Bill Woodcock supporting him he would be given plenty of room to move. At full forward Peter Bennett would kick his share of goals. Brian Sierakowski in the ruck would battle hard. This side does not have a recognised first ruck and we are lucky to have Sierakowski as he only wore the “17” once in the 1965 finals. Having said that there is a strong ruckman in Artie Ludlow on the bench and with modern day rotations he would be the second ruckman.

Overall this is a very even strong team. If we allow Alan Killigrew to be Captain Coach which I am inclined to do, who knows how good it could be, particularly if he instilled into this team his never say die philosophy. We will of course never know, but I have a sense that this combination would be a great team.

References
The Encyclopedia of AFL Footballers Russell Holmesby and Jim Main Crown Content. Excerpts about the players are sometimes directly transcribed from this great resource. It is available on Saints.com.
Every Game ever played. Compiled by Stephen Rodgers. Viking O’Neill
Saints.com.au
The Courage Book of VFL Finals. Compiled by Graham Atkinson. Wren