In the Beginning - 1956

Alan Killigrew, born 27th January 1919, was a student at CBC St Kilda when he was recruited to the Saints in 1938. He won St Kilda’s best and fairest in 1940 and represented Victoria in that same year. In all, he represented the Saints in 78 games. After World War 2 he contracted tuberculosis, which affected his spine and put an end to his football career. Coaching then became his passion and in 1956, Alan Killigrew arrived at St Kilda after a coaching stint in Ballarat, and set about laying the foundations for the Saints re-entry into the finals in 1961.

One of the driving influences behind his move to the Saints was Bob Wilkie, who played 117 games between 1940-42, and then after the war, between 1945-1951. Everyone knows Alan Killigrew’s contribution to St Kilda, but few outside the club would understand the enormous contribution Bob Wilkie made to the club as a player, administrator, past player and passionate supporter. Bob Wilkie was truly a Saint for life.

Upon arriving at the club in 1956, Alan Killigrew instantly turned the Saints upside down. Players were sent on their way and a number of new players were recruited. Those kept from the 1955 list were Brian Gleeson, Neil Roberts, Harold Davies, Keith Drinan, Ron Fountain, Allan Jeans, Neville Linney, Graham Minahan, Jack McDonald, Max Stephenson, Allan Mennie, Bill Gleeson, Bob Watt, Geoff Jones and Allan Callow. Milne McCooke was kept on the list, but failed to play a game in 1956. Other than a couple of notable exceptions, the players omitted from the list were those who had played just a handful of games and had only been at the club for a season or two.

Les Foote had captain-coached the Saints for two seasons but had been unable to lift the club from the bottom of the ladder. His time had come, despite adding the Saints best and fairest to his long list of football honours.

Bruce Phillips had been recruited from Camden way back in 1947. Like Bob Murray, he had failed to impress over a couple of years, until in late 1949 when he was tried at full back. In 1950 he was the Saint’s best and fairest, represented the State and came third in the Brownlow. He continued this fine form as the best full back in the league, until in a practice match in 1956, he injured his knee and never played again. He was just 26. This blow devastated new coach Killigrew on the eve of his first season. Keith Drinan was called upon to fill the void at full back and although he was near the end of his great career, he gave his all in the key post throughout 1956 and ’57.

Of the 20 plus players to leave the Saints at the end of 1955, beside Foote and Phillips, only 3 had played more than a handful of games. These three were Ray Houston, a ruckman who had played 33 games in 4yrs, Bruce McLennan, who played 46 games between 1950 and 1955, and Don Howell, a 29 game red haired winger who was cleared to Collingwood. We hated the thought of a Saint going to the Pies. Although I was just 6 yrs old, I was certainly taught to dislike the Magpies at an early age. I remember my Uncles Jack and Leo Kennedy trying to bribe me to switch allegiance to the Pies. Substantial sums of money were involved, but I was having none of it. Of course Howell who was to return to the Saint’s later as a sponsor, and very active past player, proved to be a very good player at the Pies much to my disappointment.

1956 saw the recruitment of some key players in the campaign to play finals football again. Although more were to arrive in 1957 and 1958, key players were to join those left from 1955 to form the nucleus of the Saints drive to the 1961 finals. Recruits included:

Bud Annand: Recruited from Castlemaine. A great bloke who made up for a lack of skill with a great big heart. He played 106 games from 1956 till 1962.

Paul Dodd: A great little rover from East Ballarat. He played only 57 games from 1956 till 1962. He represented Victoria and was another St Kilda tragedy. Serious injuries restricted the number of games he played.

Brian McCarthy: From Yarrawonga played 74 Games from 1956-1961.

Bill Young: Bill was recruited from Stratford and played 94 games from 1956 - 1961 and I saw every one of them. People today have no idea how idolised he was by Saints supporters. He was small for a full forward, but knew where the goals were. He was leading goal kicker for the Saints from 1956 till 1960, and is still credited as the inventor of the banana kick.

Brian Walsh: A reliable back pocket, Brian played 131 games from 1956 - 1964. He was recruited from Ormond Amateurs, and in 1956, had the honour of representing the VFL/VFA at the Olympic Games in the Australian Rules exhibition sport, VFL/VFA versus the VAFA. In the same side as Brian was Lindsay Gaze, (VFA)Australian Basketball Olympian, and interestingly the VAFA side was captained by Geoff Hibbins who played 32 games with the Saints between 1952-1954.

The Saints side of Round 12, 1956 read as follows:

Backs: Bruce Murray, Keith Drinan, Bill Waldron.
H.Backs: Brian Walsh, Neil Roberts, Harold Davies.
Centres: Graham Minihan, Alan Dale, Ivan Baumgartner.
H Forwards: Alan Jeans, Brian Gleeson, Jack McDonald.
Forwards: Bud Annand, Bill Young, Peter Clancy.

Rucks Brian Muir, Neville Linney.
Rover Paul Dodd.

19th and 20th: Brian (Muncher) Molony, Norm Thompson.

1956 was a turning point not in wins on the board, but respect!

The Saints had finished last in 1955 with one win. Apart from Neil Robert’s sensational 3rd place in the Brownlow, we were a laughing stock. Losses were by huge margins and the Saints were regarded as a club with no heart. Bob Wilkie and others convinced the committee to go after Alan Killigrew, and armed with a tape of a Killigrew’s half time address at a Ballarat grand final , they were able to convince the committee Killigrew was the man for the job. It is folklore that Bob Wilkie, Graham Huggins and Alec Peak visited Ballarat with this new fangled tape machine to record Killigrew’s pre game address, but they were unable to work it, and finally got it operating in time for the half time rev up. This tape was played on Channel 9 when Alan Killigrew died some years ago. It is a legendary piece of Saint’s history and a copy transferred to CD is now in the Saints heritage museum. This was donated to the Saints by Bob Wilkie jnr.

Alan Killigrew refused to accept defeat, he hated it and set out to instil pride in the players through 1956. Although they only won 4 games for the year, there were no walkovers, the side fought out all the games and they gained a new respect.
A newspaper article of the era described in some detail St Kilda’s improved performance for the season. It pointed out they were no longer being annihilated week after week, but led Collingwood into time on, gave Geelong a huge fright at Kardinia Park and then unexpectedly broke through for a huge win against Nth Melbourne in Round 12. Bill Young starred kicking 8 goals and then booted 6 more in a thrilling win against the “Dogs” at Western Oval, in Round 13.


The Saints had gained some long lost respect. Supporters who braved the terraces week after week had been given new hope. There was a little spring in the step of this 7 yr old as he looked forward to the next season. As he went home to paste the images of his 1956 heroes into his scrap book he looked forward to 1957. It was indeed a new beginning!

Next 1957- The journey continues.