MARCHING ON
MARCHING ON: It has been a journey full of highs and lows for St Kilda and its loyal fan base. But this week it’s time to reflect on the club’s rich history as it celebrates its 150-year anniversary.
If the measure for success in League football is entertainment, St Kilda would be one of the greatest clubs in the history of the game.
After 150 years, the trophy cabinet down at Moorabbin is the most barren of all the Victorian Football League foundation clubs and even those who came into existence, in some cases more than a century after the Saints were founded, have much more to show for it.
But some of the greatest footballers of all time have worn the red, white and black. Bill Mohr, one of the first star full-forwards in the game. The iconic Roy Cazaly. The matinee idol Neil Roberts. Dual Brownlow medallists Ian Stewart and Robert Harvey. The game’s greatest goalkicker Tony Lockett. The magical Darrel Baldock. The
high-flying Trevor Barker. The venerated Nicky Winmar. The inspirational Nick Riewoldt.
They and countless others are all champions of St Kilda – and whether the Saints were domiciled at the Junction Oval, Moorabbin, Waverley Park or Docklands, they dragged fans through the gates in their tens of thousands to see them play.
Of course, if breaking the hearts of their supporters was an indicator of League football success, then the Saints would be the all-time ladder leader.
Their tale of misery on Grand Final day might be matched only by Collingwood, but at least the Magpies can comfort themselves with the 15 flags they have won in their illustrious history.