The St Kilda former player annual reunion at Trevor Barker Beach Oval last Friday was a roaring success, according to St Kilda Football Club historian Russell Holmesby.

ROD Owen summed it up accurately when he described his fellow taxi passengers on the way to the St Kilda Past Players reunion.

“I reckon you would get enough stories for a book out of our cab!” said Owen with a trademark grin as he explained that he shared the cab with Ricky Nixon and Lazar Vidovic.

Any Saints fan with  a knowledge of the trio would be aware that they had been involved in amazing life journeys which even spilled over to news headlines at times, but on this balmy Friday night in November they were at “home” among kindred spirits at the yearly past players get together.

Lazar Vidovic wears his heart on his sleeve when he says “I love St Kilda and I’ve got red, white and black flowing through the veins.”

The big fellow was a favourite among Saint fans with his rugged style, so it came as a surprise when he mentioned that during his days in North Melbourne’s under-19s and reserves he was told by Denis Pagan and others that he was “too soft”.

“When I came to St Kilda I realised I had to change and when you saw blokes like Jeff Sarau and Alan Morrow around the club you knew that you were expected to go in hard all the time.”


Eric Clarke, Jim O'Dea and David Legge and John Manzie

Morrow, coming up to his 78th birthday, looked as fit as ever and delighted in catching up with old teammates including fellow premiership men Brian Mynott, Kevin Billing, Kevin 'Cowboy' Neale and Jeff Moran. Others from the late 1950s and 1960s era included Tom McKay, John Kilpatrick, Brian “Bear” McCarthy and John McMillan.

Tom told us that he has a grandson currently in the US on a basketball scholarship, and he would dearly love him to convert to Aussie Rules. John Kilpatrick played two senior games with the Saints in 1960 after coming from Hawthorn reserves, and in later times returned to the Hawks where he still helps out on match days. He is enshrined in footy history as being the runner assisting Dermott Brereton after Brereton had been cleaned up at the start of the 1989 Grand Final.   

Morrow’s fellow ruckman and long-time friend Lindsay Fox found time in his busy schedule to drop by and their old skipper Neil Roberts was in fine form, as was his namesake Kevin Roberts.

From a slightly earlier time there was Ken “Chesty” Mulhall who still looks far younger than his 87 years.

One of the truly unheralded heroes of the club in Brian Muir has endured health battles lately, but he was in his element chatting to fellow Saints.

“Moo” had an influence that extended far beyond his 42 senior games. He later coached the under-19s, and served as a selector and committeeman for many years. After that he was driving force in the past players group and has truly devoted a lifetime to the club.


Steve Powell, Justin Koschitzke, Luke Ball and Alan Morrow

Even in the brief time he was away from the Saints as playing coach of East Brighton he had a positive impact by coaching youngsters like Carl Ditterich and Denis Bartley who would go on to play for the Saints.

There was a cross-section from all eras right up to the present day with the just-retired Luke Ball returning to see friends at his original club. He caught up with Justin Koschitzke – a key member of the past players’ committee these days, plus Raph Clarke and Steve Powell.

The 1990s brigade included Nathan Burke, Jamie Shanahan, Dean Greig, Russell Morris, Damen Shaw, Matthew Young and present day player welfare manager Tony Brown.  


Raph Clarke, Georgie Day, John Kilpatrick, Neil Roberts

From the 1970s popular Saints such as Jim O’Dea, Neil Besanko, John Manzie, Colin Carter and Gary Colling swapped yarns. Master of Ceremonies David Legge gave his customary fine performance.

Andrew Cross is a well known figure who these days still contributes by means of sponsorship and his great mate John Favier and Glenn Brown enjoyed chatting about the old days. Silvio Foschini was his usual beaming self and Russell Greene, Bill Mildenhall and Bruce Duperouzel had a great time as well.

Every person in the room has made a contribution. For example Darryl Nisbet who made it to the seniors for one solitary game in 1970. But his connection went much further as he later coached the under-19s and his brother also played in the club’s reserves. Their late father Des, was a 100 gamer and a committeeman and chairman of selectors for many years. The Nisbets have always been true Saints people and that was what this night was all about.