Congratulations to the St Kilda Football Club

[sainter]

I just thought I would congratulate everyone associated with the club on the Team of the Century dinner last night.

I think it just goes to show that it doesn't matter how much success a club has had over the years when players and supporters can unite for such a special occasion.

There is a great feeling around the place. The new administration have not only recruited well, but are starting to take some responsibility for some of the errors of the past. Namely taking responsibility for the plight of former players such as Rod Owen who has fallen on hard times and through setting up a trust account for the children of Nicky Winmar.

The return of so many former players was a monumentous occasion for St Kilda. For Neil Roberts to return to the club that he represented so proudly as the new "welfare officer", for Steven Lawrence to return the club the year his Dad was named in the Team of the Century and for someone like Jack Barker to continue volunteering his time to the club and carrying on the spirit of his late son is what football teams are all about.

Who knows what the future will hold for St Kilda. I'm just rapt to be supporting such a great club.



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Fortius Quo Fidelius

 

[AlfAndrews]

Good to read a post by someone expressing faith in their own club without bagging anyone else's.

I think you're in for a big year, sainter. I only wish I could be as confident about my mob.

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**floreat pica**

 

[Dan26]

Sainter,

Did the club organize anyone to produce one of those paintings showing the team of the century in a particular environent?

I'd love to collect some of those paintings. Carlton, Melbourne, and Richmond, all had a painting of the team of the century. Did the Saints have one too?

 

[karnaby]

& the team is:

Backs: Barry Lawrence, Verdun Howell, Kevin Neale

Half-Backs: Trevor Barker, Neil Roberts, Daryl Griffiths

Centre: Nicky Winmar, Ian Stewart, Lance Oswald

Half-Forwards: Stewart Loewe, Darrel Baldock (c),
Wilbur "Bill" Mohr

Forwards: David McNamara, Tony Lockett, Nathan
Burke

Followers: Carl Ditterich, Robert Harvey, Ross Smith

Interchange: Barry Breen, Ian Morrow, Bob Murray, Jim
Ross

It's great to indulge in some reverence of past (& some current) champions. Congrats to those selected and bad luck to those who didn't quite make it, in particular Brownlow Medallists - Colin Watson & Brian Gleeson.

In some ways naming a Team of the Century is a reflection of our history; not enough champion sides, so we can at times get a bit carried away with the cult of the individual.

Hopefully with all our recent changes we can go on and create a bright future that's based on team success. Another Premiership Cup in the next couple of years would be a nice start.

Sainter: ....well put mate.

[This message has been edited by karnaby (edited 06 April 2001).]

 

[karnaby]

Dan - Yes. Prices start at $250, I'm sure the club would be happy to accept your hard earnt dollars. We reckon it goes to a good cause.

 

[Westy Boy]

Great stuff Sainter!

Expanding on what Alf said, full of passion and pride for your club. Hope all goes well for you guys this season and for many after. Premierships don't make clubs great.... it's the supporters and those who put their lives into something that they love and believe in. Once again, well said.

 

[Mouldy Oldie]

Congratulations to the Saints on your team of the century, (good to see at least 5 Tasmanians in there), & you have recruited well this season. As a Lions supporter I was sad to see both Stevie Lawrence & Brett Voss leave us, but wish them both well with the Saints. They are gutsy players.

 

[CURVE]

Congratulations to the Saints on what looks like an excellent team of the Century. I've heard great stories about a lot of the older players in particular Kevin Neale (a bit of a cult figure in ACT football), Baldock and Ditterich.

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Are We Not Men
We Are DEVO

 

[CJH]

What is important is that in the painting, Lockett is prominantly placed, showing his mullett haircut in full glory!

Yeah Yeah!

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Richmond vs Western Bulldogs Preview - Independant Richmond Tigers website

 

[StrengthThroughLoyalty]

what a magic night. bought a bright red bow tie yesterday and donned the dinner jacket and made my way to the casino to meet 20 of my saints supporting mates and wives/girlfriends. booozee boooze boooze the waiters didn't stop filling our glasses, just the way it should be. rod butters spoke well about the history of the club, malcolm blight was magnificent. how he could be so calm speaking to 1500 people was fantastic. he said that we should dare to dream, well i've been dreaming for 30 years perhaps this year maybe next who knows, one thing i do know is that our great club is on the rise.

as the back line was read out the older blokes on our table watched in awe as the names of lawrence, howell and neale were read out. they told us that this back line would have to be one of the tougest ever in the competion. when the name of trevor barker was read out we all went quiet for a moment. he was the hero of my age's generation, when things were at their darkest at moorabbin, he stood out like a beacon. he could do everything, he took speccies and was the greatest tackler i have ever seen, found it easy with the sheilas to apparently. he never played a final but never turned his back on the club despite huge offers. the first standing ovation was for daryl baldock, saints premiership captain, coached the club, and one of the games absolute greats. another standing ovation for plugger easily the best saint i have seen play. allan jeans was also received with a standing ovation and his speech brought goose bumps. no wonder this bloke coached so many grand final and premiership teams.

the whole night was celebrated in a bouyant atmosphere of reverence to past greats of all eras. we all reminisced about our own personal favorites as well as listened to stories of the legendary feats of former champions.

our table won the team of the century footy's so being well pissed i got up and got the signatures of plugger, cowboy neale, and big carl ditterich.

what was noticable was the positive feeling in the room that our magnificent club was moving in a forward direction on and off the field. well done saints on a great night.

 

[mantis]

Excellent post STL, glad you had a great night & congratulations to everyone involved with the Saints, hope this is the 1st step back on the road to success, as long as you don't beat the Bombers.

 

[karnaby]

Thanks STL, you lucky bugger!

Mantis, i think your mob can probably afford to lose the odd game and I'd be perfectly happy for my mob to help with that. June 8 will provide our 1st chance, and if we're lucky &/or good enough to get there, we'd like to repeat the dose in September, thank you very much....

 

[Bernie]

Buckets on a flank ?

 

[Fred]

Great to read the quality posts above. As a matter of interest, I saw all of the players chosen play except McNamara and Mohr, (which I hope is no surprise) and would have no quibbles with any of the selections. People like Oswald are probably less well known than they deserve, but he was brilliant. He left the club to go coaching aged 26 due to Stewart taking the centre position.
It all brings back many great memories.

 

[sainter]

Thanks for you words everyone.

Alf, I get the feeling both our clubs will be on the rise. How far we rise I don't know.

Dan, I think all those paintings are magnificent. In case you didn't see it, ours was in the Herald-Sun and on the AFL website.

STL, excellent post!

Thanks for letting us know how the night was. I couldn't even get down to see the Team of the Century players at training because of a uni exam. Apparently the players will be doing a lap of honour before the game against Geelong on Sunday so I'm sure it will be an emotional day for everyone.

Carn the sainters!

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Fortius Quo Fidelius