I would like to nominate a St Kilda footballer to the Saints Hall of Fame. The gentleman I speak of is that dynamic centre man of years gone by and that is Mr Lance Oswald. Not only is Lance a true St Kilda champion but also a great VFL icon.
My memories of Lance are quite vivid, I can remember quite clearly my father taking me to the Junction Oval to watch the Saints play under that barn storming coach, Alan Killigrew, who I might say could incite the St Kilda grandstand to fever pitch, just by standing up out of the coach's box and waving a St Kilda towel above his head, (a la Kevin Sheedy).
I can remember my Dad sitting me on his shoulders whilst standing in the outer, and what I saw was this man Oswald at the centre bounce of the ball, break open the pack and either give off a match wining hand pass to that dogged half back Eric Guy who was running past from the back line, or send a spearing drop kick hitting the full forward of the day right on the chest.
The Saints have been known for its quality of centre men, such as, Stewart, Burns, Elliot G, Trott, etc. One could not mention both Lance Oswald and Robert Harvey in the same breath, as they are from different eras but the fact remains they are both true St Kilda champions, not only that they are true ambassadors for the game.
Thanking you for the opportunity to have my say on who should be in the Saints Hall of Fame.
Graeme Richards ('G')
