Allan Jeans, St Kilda Legend, first Saints premiership coach and one of the game’s true greats, has passed away at the age of 77.

Allan had suffered a long illness and died peacefully at a nursing home in Lynbrook where he resided with his devoted wife Mary.

He was a man whose contribution to the game of Australian Rules Football is immeasurable. He had a huge positive influence over players and people at the St Kilda, Hawthorn and Richmond clubs where he coached.

His involvement with St Kilda began when he was recruited from the New South Wales town of Finley in 1955. He was a strong, courageous and quick-thinking half-forward and ruck-rover who played 77 games between 1955 and 1959 before his playing career was curtailed by a bad rib injury, sustained in an accidental clash with teammate Tom McKay.

Fate directed him into the St Kilda’s coaching post. He had been appointed as coach of Bendigo club Sandhurst for the 1960 season, but could not get a transfer as a policeman so he decided to stay with the Saints. He played two reserves games early in 1960 but the injury limited his movements and when the reserves coaching position opened up late in the year when Brian Gleeson had to resign because of work commitments, Jeans decided to take it on.

He recounted later: “I must have impressed a few people. I was going to go to the country the following year.”

St Kilda’s senior coaching post was suddenly available at the end of 1960 with the club looking to replace Jim Francis. Jeans was chosen at the age of just 27, one of the youngest non-playing coaches in the game’s history.

It was no easy task to take control of a group where he had been vice-captain just two seasons earlier and where several players were older than him. But Jeans not only took on the job with relish, he had quick success, raising the Saints to their first finals appearance since 1939.

He credited the wisdom of Len Smith for helping him in his formative years - “I think Len and Norm Smith took me under their wing” he said later on.

Jeans said that preparing for his first final was no easy matter with no-one at the club having finals experience. He hopped aboard a train and visited Len Smith on the other side of town. One of his most treasured possessions was the exercise book containing Smith’s thoughts on the game, and a letter Smith wrote to him after the Saints had lost the 1961 semi-final. It said in part; “Your lads will no doubt be upset by the criticisms and Allan may I suggest that then is the time they need their coach and words of thanks for their efforts. Words of encouragement will bring you closer to the players than ever and you will be rewarded next year.”
Due to a variety of factors 1962 did not bring those rewards but St Kilda was on the right track and in 1966 the ultimate reward came with St Kilda’s first flag. Jeans coached the Saints during their most productive era, reaching the 1965 and 1971 finals as well as the famous 1966 play-off. In 16 seasons under his guidance, St Kilda played in nine finals series - a remarkable turnaround for a club which prior to his coaching reign had not contested a final for 22 years.

The coaching bug could not be easily shaken off and in 1980 he was convinced to take on the Hawthorn job. He came into a club amid the turbulence of a player strike on his first night and with the backdrop of Don Scott walking out over a contract dispute. History tells us that he was able to coach the side to the 1983, 1986, and 1989 premierships. He retired at the end of 1990, but within a year was back in harness for one season at Richmond.

Despite his standing in the game, Jeans was never one to push himself forward in retirement. In recent months Jeans was visited by the current coaches of the clubs where Jeans had won premierships. Both Ross Lyon and Alistair Clarkson revered him and no doubt benefited from his wise counsel. While his physical health had deteriorated due to the continually worsening lung disease that was hereditary, Jeans was still razor sharp mentally to the very end as he discussed football with a wide range of football people ranging across Gary Ayes, Peter Keenan, John Newman and Ron Barassi and many others including his great friend John Kennedy.

His unique sayings and style of delivery always commanded respect and admiration.

Allan Jeans was truly, and uniquely, a Legend.