Ian H Stewart
One of the game's greatest ever footballers.
St Kilda 1963-70 127 games 25 goals. Richmond 1971-75 78 games 55 goals. (b: 30 Jul 1943 179 cms 79.5 kgs). One of the game's greatest ever footballers. He joined the Saints without any fanfare and the shy Tasmanian even purchased his own training guernsey rather than ask for one. He was totally fearless and his style of marking while backing into a pack became a trademark. He suffered a bad knock in his first game but was able to battle on. He soon moved from the wing to take over the centre role from state man Lance Oswald. Other clubs became aware of his great talent and he was frequently a target. The secret of his game was immaculate balance and perfection in foot passing. Whether cornered in a pack or clear of his opponents Stewart was always able spot a teammate further afield and land a pass on his chest. Most of his passes found his skipper and fellow Tasmanian Darrel Baldock with whom he formed one of football's great partnerships. The pair seemed to sense each other's moves and had perfect football harmony. Stewart won the club's best and fairest in 1964 and surprised the football world when he won the 1965 Brownlow. Twelve months later there was no surprise when he won another Brownlow to cap a year in which he won All-Australian selection was club best and fairest and was one of the best afield in the flag win. Stewart was made skipper in 1969 but stood down after a year and before 1970 he did not train with the club for several weeks. Although he came back to the fold he had an unhappy year and at the end of the season he was swapped sensationally with Billy Barrot. At Richmond he continued to play brilliantly and won his third Brownlow in 1971 and also collected the club best and fairest. He combined brilliantly with another Tasmanian Royce Hart. Because of injury he started on the bench in the losing 1972 grand final side but played in a premiership side in 1973. He retired in mid 1974 and was briefly talked out of it for a few games in 1975. Stewart coached South from 1976-77 then took on the Carlton coaching job briefly before a shock resignation and returned to the Swans as coach from 1979-81. He later took up a managerial role at St Kilda to complete the full circle.
Player profile © The Encyclopedia of AFL Footballers by Russell Holmesby and Jim Main
66 Flag
Kevin Milligan
Saints Hall of Fame memorable moments
I was a 12 year old kid in '66 when the Saints won the grand final for the first time and had been given a ticket to sit in the Richmond members stand by my school football coach Syd Dockendorff (former Richmond and Footscray player in the '30s).
Mum dropped me off at Mordi station and I caught one of those old red rattlers to Punt Rd. Crossing the bridge from the station to the MCG was awesome. I felt carried along by an army of red, white and black supporters, marching shoulder to shoulder.
I found my seat, watched Ian Stewart being presented with the Brownlow, stood for God Save The Queen and roared with excitement, along with 100,000 other fans as the anthem was sung.
The rest of the game was a mix of blurred images: Cowboy dominant but inaccurate: Sierra magnificent in defence; Ian Cooper amazing on the wing; John Bingley tying up Tuddy: Ross Smith roving beautifully and Stewie at his creative best.
Then that defining moment as Barry Breen, some 20 yards or so away from me, dribbled the ball through for a point and we were in front by as much. The next minute seemed to last an eon as Tuddenham took the ball from the kick-in, raced down the field and hoisted a long torpedo into the 'Pies forward line. The ball appeared frozen in time as Bobby Murray soared majestically to mark. He kicked long to the wing and my hero Allan Morrow clutched the ball in his strong hands.
The siren sounded. The noise was deafening as he threw it jubilantly into the air.
I read in the newspaper the next day that grown men were reduced to weeping and that septegenarians were quoted saying that they could now go joyfully to their graves.
saintkev
Kevin Milligan
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