The passing of Chris Stone will strike a chord with Saints fans of the early 1980s who recall his distinctive appearance on the footy field.
Chris passed away in Belgium on November 24 at the age of 64 after a long illness.
Chris wore a pair of protective squash goggles following two separate injuries to the same eye – one from a football and one from a cricket ball – in the space of 14 months.
He suffered the football injury in his first senior game for the Saints against Collingwood in 1978 which had started promisingly when he goaled with his first kick in League football. At first he feared he may lose the sight in that eye, but doctors subsequently cleared him to play. The cricket injury was a further setback and he did not return to the Saints senior side until the last three games of 1979.
The Saints had recruited him from local club St Kilda City. He had also been prominent with the Caulfield Grammar football team after having lived in Sandy Bay Tasmania for nine years.
Chris was also an accomplished cricketer who played for the Victorian Schoolboys side as a youngster then spent a decade with District club St Kilda which included 19 games in the firsts side.
Tall for a rover, he had plenty of courage and in 1980 he played 15 senior games as half forward, half-back, centreman or forward pocket as the Saints tried to identify his best role. He played three senior games in 1981, but spent most of the season in the reserves. Between 1978 and 1981 he had played 23 senior games and kicked 12 goals.
He was chased by Port Adalaide for the 1982 season, but was not able to sign with the SANFL club because medical checks found he had tendinitis in his knee. Later in the year he went to Sydney club Newtown.
He moved to Europe many years ago and was a successful businessman in Brussels. He later married Sophie Wilmes who became Prime Minister of Belgium. Sophie stepped aside from ministerial duties in mid 2022 to care for Chris who had been diagnosed with brain cancer.
Saints people of his era remember Chris as a friendly, easy-going bloke with a ready smile and keen sense of humour.
Our sympathies are extended to his wife and children.
Vale, Saint Chris.
