By Allan Grant
The Resignation of Alan Killigrew in 1958
As a 9 year old I had no idea of the politics of the club and I report this as my memory allows. My father and Len Stephenson both 3rds committeemen were heard to say at hushed meetings at our kitchen table some of the committee and Killa were at odds. Dad told me Killigrew was going to resign unless two elected committeemen who he felt were against him stood down. Killigrew even stood for election as a St Kilda committeeman. My young mind struggled to take it all in. The dispute ended with both Alan Killigrew and Brian Gleeson winning election to the committee running on the one ticket while Laurie Hallam and John Reilly were also elected standing on another ticket. It was a stand off. John Reilly then resigned but Laurie Hallam would not, so Alan Killigrew resigned and took up the appointment as coach of Sturt in Sth Australia.
We kids couldn't understand it; he was a God to us. It was a crippling blow to the Saints faithful and 1959 loomed with a rudderless St Kilda and a demoralised group of supporters and dare I say players
Alan Killigrew 1956-1958 had turned an ordinary team into a respected football club in 3 short years. He had attracted great players to the club and had developed a team spirit at St Kilda not seen for years. His team, although experiencing a hiccup in it's preparation in 1958 was poised for a run at the Finals for the first time in nearly 30 yrs and the interminable St Kilda football club inner circle disputes had put a sudden stop to that impetus. The next Coach would have to be a miracle worker. Even as a 9 yr old I felt we had two chances of success, Buckleys and Nunn.
The appointment of Jim Francis as Coach of the Saints
A bitter wrangle had also broken out at Carlton over the coaching role with many of the Blues committee pushing for Captain Ken Hands to take over the coaching. This led to the sacking of Carlton Coach Jim Francis who had coached the Blues with moderate success from 1956 to 1958. Following Killigrew's resignation Jim Francis was appointed Coach of the Saints following his sacking by the Blues.
As loyal Saints we were all hopeful as Jim came to us with a good reputation, but it was with heavy heart we prepared for the 1959 season.
The 1959 List
- Leo Garlick- A 20 yr old lightly built winger in his first season. John Coffey who wore the No 1 in 1958 takes Jumper 17.
- John Mc Millan . A 20 yr old 6ft 6 gangly recruit from Hamilton. John replaces Brian Molony who played 41 games with the Saints from 1956.
- Robert Kupsch who played 22 games from 1957-58 was registered as No 3 in 1959 and 1960 but did not play a senior game.
- Geoff Feehan
- Lester Ross. 22yr old small forward, Ross is recruited from Moe. Barry McIntyre is not listed but is to return to the side briefly in 1960.
- Roger Head. 19 yr old Head arrives from Haileybury College via Black Rock. Paul Dodd is not listed as he fights a back injury, which threatens his career. He is to return to the side later.
- Brian Walsh
- Alan Morrow
- Roy Apted. 21 yr old solid defender Apted is recruited from Nth Launceston. John Mulrooney completes his tenure at the Saints after 36 games over 3 yrs.
- Neil Roberts
- W. Bill Stephenson
- Harold Davies
- Not issued
- Alan Jeans
- W. Bill Young
- Verdun Howell. 22 yr old Howell will play his first full season after a fantastic debut in the latter part of 1958.
- John Coffey. Frank Hanrahan leaves the club after 17 games in 3 yrs.
- Ray Walton
- Eric Guy
- Bud Annand
- Brian McCarthy
- Les Gregory, 20 yr old Gregory is recruited from Wangaratta. Bruce Andrew moves to number 34.
- Brian Muir
- Lance Oswald
- T.Jess. Not a lot is known about this player who is not recorded as playing a senior game. He replaces an equally unknown player D. Talbot who is also not recorded as playing a senior game.
- G. Dellar. A listed player who failed to debut in the VFL. Lindsay Cooke departs after 5 games in 2 yrs.
- Jimmy Guyatt
-
Jimmy O'Brien - Bill Coady
- Brian Gleeson. The Saints continue to list Brian in the hope he recovers from injury.
- Phil Stephens
- Laurie Stephenson. 19 yr old Laurie the brother of Bill is recruited from Sale. K. Wood moves on after not representing the club in the Firsts.
- Lindsay Fox
- Bruce Andrew. Max Nowlan moves to 38
- Graham Minihan
- Peter Burns 19 yr old Burns is added to the Saints list replacing Jack Roberts who moves on after 5 games in 2 yrs
-
B.King (Possibly Brian King) who had been at the club in 1956 but did not play at VFL level after then. Possibly a supplementary player. Peter Clancy moves on after failing to play league football in 1958 after 19 games in 1956/7. - Max Nowlan. Milne McCooke moves on after 13 games stretching from 1955. A great clubman I remember Milne being much admired by the young supporters.
- Ian Synman
-
J Rowe (Supplementary list player) - Ron Kee
- Terry Burgess. 24 yr old recruit from City South Launceston
- Brian Bowe
- Ken Kupsch
Recruits
Leo Garlick, John McMillan, Lester Ross, Roger Head, Roy Apted, Les Gregory, Laurie Stephenson, Peter Burns and Terry Burgess are thought
to have promise. Great things are expected of Verdun Howell who stood out in his 6 games in the latter part of 1958.
The failure of the great Paul Dodd to come back from injury is seen as a big blow but within the club the administration is confident that the Saints can sustain the improvement despite the devastating loss of Alan Killigrew. The players and committee are warming to Jim Francis.
The Season
Round 1. We opened up with a game at the junction against the Bulldogs and led all day to record a 20-point victory. The season had opened rightly and the stars Roberts, Howell, Morrow, Stephenson and co were shining brightly.
Round 2. Once more Windy Hill proved to be an unhappy place and a slick Essendon gave us a belting by 36 points.
Round 3. Off to Arden St we went to face the shinboners. We thought we were a good match for them but after a good start they got on top and
fell over the line to beat us by 5 points.
The jungle drums of supporter discontent were beating but the wise heads asked for time and a few home games.
Round 4. Down at the junction there is a football ground and that's where the mighty Saints staged the upset of the round knocking off the '58 Premiers by 27 points. 39 points in front at ¾ time we kicked 2 goals 5 in the last stanza to the Pies 4 goals 5 still running out comfortable winners. Jimma Bayliss a long time Saint supporter of the era was seen to lose his teeth into the rows off supporters below as he cheered his beloved Saints to victory. The boys were back in town and the faithful were well and truly behind the boys and the coach. Collingwood were in the doldrums and we all felt good!
The line up that great day was:
Backs: Jimmy Guyatt 27 Verdun Howell 16 Brian Muir 23
Half Backs: Brian Walsh 7 Neil Roberts 10 Eric Guy 19
Centres: Leo Garlick 1 Lester Ross 5 Ray Walton 18
Half Forwards: Laurie Stephenson 32 Bill Stephenson 11 Alan Jeans 14
Forwards: Alan Morrow 8 Bill Young 15 Jimmy O'Brien 28
Rucks: Bud Annand 20 Phil Stephens 31
Rover: Lance Oswald 24
19th Lindsay Fox 33
20th Les Gregory 22
Round 5.At the Junction again v the Hawks, who managed, after a close game, to get ahead by 23 points at the last change. The last quarter was a one you would never forget as the Saints constantly attacked kicking 4 goals 10 behinds to the Hawks 2 goals 1 to sneak in by 4 points. A win is a win and in that terrifying last quarter the terraces were a frenzy as the Saints faithful erupted.
Round 6. Down to Punt Rd to take on Richmond who were struggling but never a club to underestimate at home. The Tigers jumped us early but couldn't kick straight. We couldn't fire at all and only managed 2 minors for the term while the tigers kicked 2 goals 8. It was even at half time but the Saints kicked away in the second half to record a 23-point victory and we were in the four. The Saints were back in town big time and the bandwagon was well and truly rolling. Supporters unseen for 10 yrs were out of the woodwork and on board.
Round 7.We hosted the Lions at the junction who could not get on the scoreboard as they posted a terrible 7 goals 26 behinds as we fell in by 7 points kicking 13 goals 9. A win is a win and the faithful marched on.
Round 8. Over to the Swans we went, to play off for the Lake Premiership and they reminded us to not get too cocky as they belted us by 53 points but we were still in the four and although the pride was dented we thought this to be a small hiccup.
Round 9. Clinging onto 4th place we watched as the Cats arrived in their team bus dispirited after being knocked off by Ken Hands Carlton the week before. We duly dispatched them by 37 points after an 8 goal second quarter, which the Cats could never make up.
Round 10. We hosted leaders the Demons at the junction and trailed all day. At the 21-minute mark of the last quarter we were still 19 points down but slammed on 3 quick goals. In the dying seconds the ball came down to the Gaol square and Mocca Morrow took a clear mark 5 yards out but the Umpire inexplicably signalled play on and the ball was swept away as the siren sounded. Down by a point and we slipped out of the four as the Demons went to top place. The terraces grew ugly as the man in white ventured up the race.
Round 11. At the hoodoo ground Princes Park a seemingly dispirited Saints did not give much of a yelp as the Blues knocked us off by 45 points. A dejected Jim Francis watched his young Saints slip further out of contention at the hands of his previously beloved Blues.
Round 12. We ventured out to Western Oval and came up against the inevitable tough game against the scraggers. Footscray opened well with the breeze kicking 5 gls 6bh to 2 gls 4 bh in the first stanza but we came back strongly with the breeze to lead by 14 points at the major change. The dogs kicked 4gls 6 to 2 straight goals in the third term to leave us up by 4 points coming home with the wind. Although wasteful in front kicking 2 gls 5 we managed to run out winners by 11 points.
Round 13. Essendon at the junction and we kept in touch with the finals with a strong 14 point victory over the Dons. We were hanging in and giving the supporters some hope but with 5 rounds to go we could not afford a lapse if we were to be there in September.
Round 14. Our September hopes lessened as a spirited Nth Melbourne knocked us off by 10 points at the junction. Down by 46 points at ¾ time we rattled on 6 gls 6 to 1 solitary goal in the final term. The terraces stood bowed as the Saints faithful tried to understand the contrast in the play from the first three quarters to the last.
Round 15. Collingwood had improved as the season went on and this game at Victoria Park would determine if the Saints or
the Pies were 4th after Round 15. We ventured to our other hoodoo ground with high hopes of repeating the earlier encounter. Collingwood
jumped us early but we fought back to be close to level terms at half time. In the second half the Pies were too strong kicking 7 gls 7 to 4 gls 2 to run out 25-point victors. The Collingwood faithful gave us the traditional farewell from the Park and as I dragged myself into my Dad's Saints beribboned VW Beetle, I longed for that day in the future when we would give the Pies the comeuppance they so deserved.
Round 16. We had won 8 games and if we won the last 3 we would finish on 11 and have a good chance of making the finals. We had to win all three. We had to play Hawthorn, Richmond and Fitzroy and at our best we felt we could account for all three. We all ventured out to Glenferrie Oval on a shocker of a day and had a shocker of a match. The close confines of Glenferrie did not suit us and the rugged tough Hawks wiped out our early lead to win by 36 points. We scored 1 goal 4 only after quarter time and that was all in the third quarter. We had blown it! The finals looked over.
Round 17. Lowly Richmond travelled to the junction and was duly sent home with a whipping. We ran out easy winners by 26 points but there was no hope of a finals berth.
Round 18. Fitzroy were equal with us on 9 wins but had a draw and percentage up their sleeve. Fitzroy had a slim chance but the Saints had no hope of featuring in the finals action. We travelled to Brunswick St and watched the Roys power home to win by 42 points. It was some consolation when the scores came in to realise the Gorillas had missed out as well.
The Wrap up to 1959.
Jim Francis' first year was a mixture of glory, hope and despair. The Saints promised so much but staggered at crucial times. The Saints faithful had mixed feelings about Jim Francis, still missing the incredible Killigrew who had set up so much. In hindsight Jim Francis in taking over a club in disarray had achieved a fair bit. Two more wins than in '58 and right in the hunt for the finals until the latter half of the season, he had done enough to warrant another chance. But another few disappointments were to follow. Verdun Howell had been magnificent at Full Back all season and the Saints faithful believed he had a chance of Brownlow glory. We all sat around the Radio to listen to the count. At the final tally of votes Bobby Skilton and Verdun Howell were locked together. After a count back Bobby Skilton was declared the Brownlow medallist for 1959. After wins in 1957 and 1958 I was convinced that a Saint and particularly Howell would win. I was devastated although I recognised what a great champion Bobby Skilton was. It was great when Verdun Howell was declared a Brownlow Medallist retrospectively. He was a great champion who deserved the highest honours.
The Night series was yet to be played and we thought we were a good chance after a strong year. The first match at the Lake Oval sent me home to pull out my Cricket Bat as the Hawks rolled the Saints by 52 points. It was an inglorious display and had all the hallmarks of a team, which had had enough.
There was still some joy as Essendon belted the Pies by 38 points in the First Semi so Collingwood after winning 10 games in a row was unceremoniously bundled out of the finals. I bloody well enjoyed reading the Sporting Globe that night.
Next The Jim Francis Years 1960
