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Delisted Sam Gilbert

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Terranora is a small town nestled upstream on the Tweed River about 60kms north of Australia’s most easterly point, Byron Bay.

The tiny township, set deep in rugby league country, was the unlikeliest of hometowns for a future Saint.


A local sandy-haired Heath Ledger doppelgänger who loved surfing, golf and the outdoors found himself ripped out of the Tweed Shire and flown to Melbourne with three days’ notice.

So began the footballing career of Sam Gilbert, a boy from the rugby league heartland of Australia and the product of generations of St George Illawara royalty.

Gilbert’s great-grandfather, Herb Gilbert Snr, was one of the pioneers of rugby league in Australia. The inaugural captain-coach of St George, Herb is widely regarded as one of the greatest centres ever to play the game.

Sam’s grandfather, Jack Gilbert, also represented St George, winning a premiership before his career was interrupted by active service with the Australian Army in New Guinea.

Gilbert followed his pedigree, playing rugby league up until the age of 15, when he was convinced by a friend to try his hand at Australian rules football. The dashing defender with the prodigious step fell in love with our game, and just four years later, was drafted by St Kilda.

Famously laidback and sporting a casual authenticity not usually found in elite athletes, “Gilbo” walked into Moorabbin on the back of consecutive preliminary final losses for the Saints.

From the anonymity of the northern NSW coast, he quickly became a key part of one of the most imposing lists ever to wear the famous red, white and black.

Gilbert managed just one game for the Saints in his first season after being selected with pick 33 in the 2005 AFL Draft.

But at 194cm and possessing both a deadly step and punishing tackle in his arsenal – a hark back to his rugby-centric upbringing – Gilbert’s aggressive shut-down style of defence thrived in 2007 under new coach Ross Lyon’s “team defence” game plan.

Gilbert was unusually quick for a player of his height, and his speed and agility allowed him to play further up the ground, spending more time as a rebound defender.

After playing a critical role for the Saints across half-back in both 2009 and 2010, Gilbert was rewarded with an All-Australian nomination in 2009 and a third-place finish in the Trevor Barker Award in 2010.

Now, at 31 years of age, Gilbert is the oldest player on St Kilda’s list and is the last bastion of that far-off era of on-field dominance; he’s the only grand final representative still at the Saints.

This longevity has not been without difficulty, though.

Gilbert endured a slump in form after his 2010 season before being marred by persistent injury in 2013-2015, during what could have arguably been his best years of football.

A hyper-extended leg, a relentless foot injury, a broken hand and multiple stints in the VFL slowed his career, but the rugby league convert was determined to repay the faith shown in him by the club.

In more recent years, Gilbert has become the ultimate team player. He has played as a defender, midfielder, forward, chop-out ruck and wingman. What Alan Richardson asks, Gilbert does without question.

This Saturday sees the 31-year-old become just the 30th player in St Kilda’s 145-year history to play 200 games for the Saints.

The long road to 200 seemed almost unattainable for Gilbert during his injury-ravaged years, but this persistent, loyal Saint deserves the milestone as much as anyone.


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Sam Gilbert came from the ground with injury in the last term, but Richardson was optimistic he would be available to play Fremantle.

"Gilbo's rolled his ankle. We've got a shorter break and a flight this week, so we'll just have to wait and see. He's a bit of a warrior, Gilbo, so he'll do everything right," he said.


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As usual he tried hard against Melbourne. He had 18 disposals and 8 tackles which shows he still has a place in the team . I know some people want him dropped to play kids instead but if he is playing this well it’s hard to drop him.


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Sam is back in the side for the game against Port. Versatile defender Sam Gilbert can play either tall or small, and the 200+ game veteran will add some much-needed experience to a new-look backline in the absence of both Brown and Carlisle.


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Sam found the challenge of playing full back on Riewoldt a bit too much with Riewoldt kicking 4 Goals on him . To be fair the way Richmond delivered to Jack at times I don’t think any full back could have stopped them . Sam had 11 disposals.


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The St Kilda Football Club has today paid tribute to Sam Gilbert for his enormous contribution to the Saints.

Gilbert was informed by the club on Tuesday that he would not be offered a contract to play on in 2019, bringing to an end a 208-game career at the Saints spanning 13 years.

Renowned for his selfless approach, fierce attack on the ball and the opposition, his versatility, courage, and unique ability to side-step opponents, the defender delivered his best on the big occasions.


Gilbert was named among the Saints’ best in both Grand Finals in 2010, helping turn the game in the drawn decider during a brilliant third quarter.


Gilbert said he was proud to have worn the red, white and black for 13 years.

“I want to thank the club for the opportunity to play at the highest level, and for helping shape the person I am today,” he said.

“I have been privileged to be part of the club for the past 13 years, and I’ve loved every minute of it.


“I owe a lot to my coaches, teammates, and the St Kilda staff and supporters, and thank them for their friendship and support.

“I also want to thank my family for their incredible support, in particular my wife Georgie and my new baby boy Oscar.


“I will take my time to weigh up what’s next, but I respect the club’s decision and I hope the boys can achieve something special in the future.”

Senior Coach Alan Richardson described Gilbert as one of the most selfless players he has ever coached.

“Sam always put the team first. I haven’t coached a player who so regularly put their body on the line for their teammates more than him,” Richardson said.

“He has been an incredibly versatile and reliable player in my time at the Saints, but it was his physicality that St Kilda sides have benefited from for more than a decade.

“Even through my discussions with him about our plans for next year, he always spoke about what he could do to help the team and the club. It was never about him.”

Richardson said the Saints’ young defenders needed to step up in Gilbert’s place.

“Gilbo has played some strong footy for us this season, but we also have to balance that with the fact that we have a number of young defenders coming through,” he said.

“It’s up to the young guys to step up and make that position their own next season and play with the same team-first attitude and physicality that Gilbo always did.


“We wish him, Georgie and Oscar all the best for the future.”

The club looks forward to appropriately recognising and celebrating Sam’s contribution to the club at the Trevor Barker Award on Wednesday 19 September.
 

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