The 70's...time to reminisce

[Cardio Carl]

As we go into a lull with little activity, could I ask a few of the Saint's Posters their memories of some players from the 70's, not the best in ability, but in memory and perhaps where are they now?

My favorites were:

#21 Russell Reynolds

Dashing Half Back Flanker - very skilled - I believe back in WA however has a bad illness.

#27 George Young

Full Forward - Great mark and kick also I believe back in WA

#1 John Bonny

#8 Glen Elliot

#23 Tweedale
I believe the 'weed' may have stifled his career - but was a good midfield player

#15 O'Keefe
Very clean with the hands and very smart - did not reach full potential

Look forward to any other posters thoughts.

Trott, Ross Smith, Gault, Menzies, Carter, etc

[Kildonan]

Sadly for me I left Victoria in 1969 to live in Queensland.
I thought that I would never see my beloved Saints again, and to all intents and purposes that was almost true for about 10 years (you'd see a highlights package on the winners on channel 2 every now and then, but channel 7 rarely telecast the Saints live on a Saturday).

Have a look at this fantastic list from 1977, this is when I next saw the Saints play live, and again after that like once or twice a year until 1983 when I moved back to Melbourne to live for two seasons after which I returned to Queensland.

The 1977 list

1. Trevor Barker

2. Rex Hunt

3. Bruce Duperouzel

4. Barry Breen

6. Mark Greene

7. Rodney Hughes

8. Glen Elliott

9. Val Perovic

10. Carl Ditterich (Captain)

11. Neil Besanko

12. Gary Colling

13. Peter Bell

14. Jim O'Dea

15. Geoff Cunningham

16. Gary Lofts

17. Mark Carlon

18. Kevin Neale (Vice Captain)

19. Phil Stevens

20. Ian Baker

22. Alan Hassell

23. Russell Tweedale

24. Bill Cannon

26. Colin Carter

27. George young

28. Shane Gains

29. Russell Greene

30. David Ellis

31. Jeff Sarau

32. Robert Muir

33. Gerard Cahir

34. Graeme Bond

35. Paul Callery

36. Robert Elliott

37. Stephen Watt

38. Doug Booth

39. Bill Mildenhall

40. David Blackburn

41. Michael Reidy

42. Wayne Judson

43. Dominic De Vanderscherin

44. Craig Williams

45. Grant Thomas

46. Maurice O'Keefe

47. Ian Young

48. David Shepard

49. Stephen Curtain

50. Jeff Dunne

[Persevering Saint]

StKildonian (or anybody really), how was GT as a player in that line-up? I have to admit, I have a hard time visualising him pre-Ukrainian-crash-diet.

[Kildonan]

Thomas wasn't a flashy player by any stretch of the imagination. He was a solid dour CHB type. He could play. Good hands, ordinary kick, could go for a run every now and then too.

I think he played for Victoria two or three times - so I'm not the only one who thought he could play.

[Ritchie8]

#27 George Young

Full Forward - Great mark and kick also I believe back in WA


I met George at a pub here one day! seemed like a top bloke even if he was pissed as haha! but hey so was i!

[Kildonan]

As a real youngster I had the duffel coat with sewn on numbers (Daryl Baldock was my hero) then later in the '70's Trev Barker and Jeff Dunne were my favourites, then Lockett, Stewie Leowe, Burkey and Banger.

[north of the river]

Sadly for me I left Victoria in 1969 to live in Queensland.
I thought that I would never see my beloved Saints again, and to all intents and purposes that was almost true for about 10 years (you'd see a highlights package on the winners on channel 2 every now and then, but channel 7 rarely telecast the Saints live on a Saturday).

Have a look at this fantastic list from 1977, this is when I next saw the Saints play live, and again after that like once or twice a year until 1983 when I moved back to Melbourne to live for two seasons after which I returned to Queensland.

The 1977 list

1. Trevor Barker-Legend - guy we would have all liked to have been

2. Rex Hunt -Look at him now

3. Bruce Duperouzel - very gutsy inside player

4. Barry Breen - legend

6. Mark Greene - can't remember

7. Rodney Hughes - can't remember

8. Glen Elliott - champ Centreman

9. Val Perovic - did his bit for us - no regrets getting him - seen him on a couple of footy trips and I tell ya if ever you see him go up and talk to him - it will be you walking away not him - loves chatting and very appreciative - top bloke

10. Carl Ditterich (Captain) - legend

11. Neil Besanko - lack of skill made up by fantastic pace - some of his run out of half back past at Moorabbin just sensational

12. Gary Colling - solid

13. Peter Bell - looked more like a maths teacher than a VFL player

14. Jim O'Dea - Solid player..like to leave it there

15. Geoff Cunningham - great speed, good penetrating kick into forward line - I think Winmar ended up with his wife?

16. Gary Lofts - solid, not spectacular

17. Mark Carlon - who?

18. Kevin Neale (Vice Captain) - Legend - my mum would have left the old man if the chance came

19. Phil Stevens - solid

20. Ian Baker - could have been better with the vibes on him

22. Alan Hassell - who?

23. Russell Tweedale - went all right, but I agree with Carl - this guy and O'keefe left due to 'smoking'..crikey, the Saints heirachy were years ahead of the West Coast board on this type of discipline

24. Bill Cannon - Who?

26. Colin Carter - dashing wingman, loves a punt down at mentone

27. George young - Peter Hudson type mark and kick

28. Shane Gains - who?

29. Russell Greene - should never of let him go

30. David Ellis - who?

31. Jeff Sarau - yeah, withstood the onslaught of some big men from other clubs however dominated at Moorabbin

32. Robert Muir - Legend -

33. Gerard Cahir - Wh?

34. Graeme Bond - SPeedy and good skill

35. Paul Callery - his efforts in packs where unreal

36. Robert Elliott - underatted player - I thought went very well of HB

37. Stephen Watt - mmm

38. Doug Booth - solid backman

39. Bill Mildenhall - alright from BP - did the job

40. David Blackburn - who

41. Michael Reidy - who

42. Wayne Judson - legend

43. Dominic De Vanderscherin - Who?

44. Craig Williams - Who?

45. Grant Thomas - great at CHB despite giving away inchs

46. Maurice O'Keefe - I thought he was #15 as well - anyway as per above

47. Ian Young - who

48. David Shepard - who

49. Stephen Curtain - who

50. Jeff Dunne - good player

Thanks Stkildonan - when Carl raised the post I was struggling to remember some of the players - your list has helped somewhat, as there are some names I have forgotten.

But yeah, check the list, what a load of characters that really made our club up in those days.

Excuse me from adding my thoughts as per "-" next to StK players listed. As Carl said, interesting to see where they are now.