JOSH Bruce’s bag of six goals last Saturday may have bought back nostalgic memories for St Kilda supporters fond of the number 27.
MATCH REPORT: Bruce's super six sinks Suns
Any St Kilda fan worth his or her salt would instantly think back to Barry Breen’s point to win the premiership for the Saints in 1966.
An 18-year-old Breen collected 18 disposals and kicked five behinds wearing the number 27 that day (Breen also wore numbers 41, 4 and 17 throughout his career).
Before Breen, full-forward Peter Bennett wore 27 for the Saints. While Bennett played 103 games for St Kilda and topped the club’s goal-kicking five times, he is better known for captaining the Australian water polo team at the 1952 Helsinki Olympics and being named vice-captain for the 1956 Melbourne games.
More recently, George Young and current Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge donned the number 27 guernsey for St Kilda, while Rod Owen played 60 games for the Saints throughout the 1980s with 27 on his back.
Before Bruce, Owen was the last Saint to boot six or more goals in a game wearing 27, a haul of seven in round three, 1988 leading St Kilda to a 26-point victory over North Melbourne.
Rod Owen kicked 103 goals from 60 games for St Kilda before moving to Melbourne and then Brisbane. (Photo, 1990)
A 16-year-old Owen arrived at the club at the same time as 17-year-old Tony Lockett with Owen considered to be the more talented player. A standout performance as a teenager in a 1983 pre-season game had supporters licking their lips with excitement. However Owen never really lived up to the early hype, while Lockett remains one of the greatest players of all time.
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In 1978, George Young kicked a career-best 10 against Fitzroy at Moorabbin. A brilliant but not overly tall forward, Young also played cricket for Western Australia and scored a century on debut.
Other Saints to have played 100 or more games wearing 27 are Jason Blake and Jim Guyatt.
Blake wore 39 in his first year at the club, but then switched to 27 and forged a successful career as a key defender and occasional ruckman, playing 219 matches.
Where are they now? Jason Blake
Guyatt was also predominantly a defender and formed a highly competent half-back line with Neil Roberts and Eric Guy in the early 1960s.
Bruce’s six-goal haul may just be the beginning for the athletic left-footer, but he isn’t the first accomplished Saint to wear the number 27 and make a name for himself.
Josh Bruce tackles GWS's Nick Haynes in round one.
Player Sponsorships are still available in 2015. For more information contact Brad Holland on (03) 8765 4324 or bradh@saints.com.au. Player Sponsorships start from $1,950 and are a great way to support the club and rub shoulders with players at numerous events.
