The Saint’s in 1959. A year of glory, hope and despair!

The appointment of Jim Francis as Coach of the Saints

A bitter wrangle had broken out at Carlton over the coaching role with many of the Blues committee pushing for Captain Ken Hands to take over the coaching. This led to the sacking of Carlton coach Jim Francis, who had coached the Blues with moderate success from 1956 to 1958. Following Alan Killigrew’s resignation Jim Francis was appointed Coach of the Saints.


The Recruits

Leo Garlick was a 20 yr old lightly built winger. He was to play 11 games in his first season. John McMillan, a 20 yr old 6ft 6 gangly recruit from Hamilton arrived. John played 16 games in the season and was popular with fans despite his ungainliness. Lester Ross was a 22yr old from Moe. He was close to the best player at the club after 10 games but never played again. I still remain unaware of what happened. He was an overnight sensation who burst onto the VFL scene and disappeared as quickly as he arrived. 19 yr old Roger Head arrived from Haileybury College via Black Rock, but was to take more than two seasons to settle. Roy Apted, a 21 yr old solid defender was recruited from Nth Launceston, but was to play only 5 games in 1959. Verdun Howell was to play his first full season after a fantastic debut over 6 games in the latter part of 1958. Les Gregory a 20 yr old was recruited from Wangaratta. Laurie Stephenson, the 19 yr old brother of Bill, was recruited from Sale and Peter Burns was added to the Saints list after graduating from the Under19’s.Terry Burgess from City South Launceston was another to come on board.

Missing from 1958

Perhaps the biggest loss was the great Paul Dodd who did not manage a game because of injury. Although he tried several later comebacks, this was effectively the end of a short but brilliant career. Lindsay Cooke, Ron Taylor, John R Hayes, Bob Kupsch, John Mulrooney, Brian (Muncher) Molony, RayBarrett, Frank Hanrahan, Milne McCooke, Bruce Andrew and Jack Roberts were delisted or retired.

The Season

The Saints opened up with a game at the junction against the Bulldogs and we led all day to record a 20-point victory. The season had opened brightly and the stars Roberts, Howell, Morrow, Stephenson and co were shining. Next week we ventured to Windy Hill which proved to be an unhappy place once again when a slick Essendon gave us a belting by 36 points.

In round 3 we were off to Arden St to face the shinboners. We thought we were a good matchup for them, but after a good start they got on top and fell over the line to beat us by 5 points. The jungle drums of supporter discontent were surprisingly beating, but the wise heads asked for time and a few home games.

Down at the junction there is a football ground and that’s where the mighty Saints staged the upset of round 4 knocking off the’58 Premiers Collingwood by 27 points. 39 points in front at three quarter time, the Saints kicked 2 goals 5 in the last stanza to the Pies 4 goals 5, running out comfortable winners. Jimma Bayliss, a long time Saint supporter of the era, was seen to lose his teeth into the rows of supporters below as he cheered his beloved Saints to victory. The boys were back in town and the faithful were well and truly behind the boys and the coach. Collingwood were in the doldrums and we all felt good!

The line up that day was: 

Backs: Jimmy Guyatt, Verdun Howell, Brian Muir.
Half Backs: Brian Walsh, Neil Roberts, Eric Guy.
Centres: Leo Garlick, Lester Ross, Ray Walton.
Half Forwards: Laurie Stephenson, Bill Stephenson, Alan Jeans.
Forwards: Alan Morrow, Bill Young, Jimmy O’Brien.

Rucks: Bud Annand,
Phil Stephens.

Rover: Lance Oswald
19th. Lindsay Fox
20th. Les Gregory

At the Junction v the Hawks in round 5 we were 17 points down at the last change. The last quarter was one you would never forget as the Saints constantly attacked, kicking 4 goals 10 behinds to the Hawks 2 goals 1, to sneak in by 4 points. A win is a win and in that terrifying last quarter the terraces were frantic as the Saints faithful erupted. We were doing well and in round 6 we were at Punt rd versus Richmond who were struggling, but never a club to underestimate at home. The Tigers jumped us early, but couldn’t kick straight. We couldn’t fire at all and only managed 2 minors for the term, while the tigers kicked 2 goals 8. It was even at half time, but the Saints kicked away in the second half to record a 23-point victory and we were in the four. The Saints were back in town big time and the bandwagon was well and truly rolling. Supporters unseen for 10 yrs were out of the woodwork and on board. The terrace faithful were standing that little bit taller.

In round 7 we hosted the Lions who could not get on the scoreboard, as they posted a terrible 7 goals 26 behinds, as we fell in by 7 points kicking 13 goals 9. A win is a win and the faithful marched on. Over to the Swans we went in round 8 to play off for the Lake Premiership and they reminded us to not get too cocky as they belted us by 53 points, but we were still in the four and although the pride was dented, we hoped this to be only a hiccup. The next game clinging onto 4th place, we watched as the Cats arrived in their team bus dispirited after being knocked off by Ken Hand’s Carlton the week before. We duly dispatched them by 37 points after an 8 goal second quarter, which the Cats could never make up.

By round 10 we were a confident group as we hosted leaders, the Demons at the junction and trailed all day. At the 21-minute mark of the last quarter we were still 19 points down, but slammed on 3 quick goals. In the dying seconds the ball came down to the goal square and Mocca Morrow took a clear mark 5 yards out, but the umpire inexplicably signalled play on and the ball was swept away as the siren sounded. Done by a point we slipped out of the four as the Demons went to top place. The terraces were ugly as the man in white ventured up the race. This match was the turning point of the season.

At our traditional hoodoo ground Princes Park, a seemingly dispirited Saints did not give much of a yelp as the Blues knocked us off by 45 points in round 11. A dejected Jim Francis watched his young Saints slip further out of contention at the hands of his previously beloved Blues.

We then ventured out to Western Oval for the inevitable tough game against the scraggers. Footscray opened well with the breeze kicking 5 goals 6 to 2 goals 4 in the first quarter, but we came back strongly with the breeze to lead by 14 points at the major change. The dogs kicked 4 goals 6 to 2 straight goals in the third term, to leave us up by 4 points coming home with the wind. Although wasteful in front kicking 2 goals 5, we managed to run out winners by 11 points.

In round 13 v Essendon at the junction, we kept in touch with the finals with a strong 14 point victory. We were hanging in and giving the supporters some hope but with 5 rounds to go we could not afford a lapse if we were to be there in September.
Next, our September hopes lessened as a spirited Nth Melbourne knocked us off by 10 points at the junction. Down by 46 points at three quarter time, we rattled on 6 goals 6 to 1 solitary goal in the final term. The terraces stood bowed as the Saints faithful tried to understand the contrast in the play, from the first three quarters to the last.

Then in round 15 we headed to Victoria Park. Collingwood had improved as the season went on and this game would determine if the Saints or the Pies were 4th after Round 15. We were at that dreadful ground with high hopes of repeating the earlier encounter. Collingwood jumped us early, but we fought back to be close to level terms at half time. In the second half the Pies were too strong, kicking 7 goals 7 to 4 goals 2, to run out 25-point victors. The Collingwood faithful gave us the traditional farewell from the park and as I dragged myself into my Dad’s Saints beribboned VW beatle, I longed for that day in the future when we would give the Pies the comeuppance they so deserved. You know you can never forgive or forget! Can we?

After round 15 we had won 8 games and if we won the last 3 we would finish on 11 wins and have a good chance of making the finals. We had to win all three. We had to play Hawthorn, Richmond and Fitzroy and at our best we felt we could account for all three. We ventured out to Glenferrie Oval on a shocker of a day and had a shocker of a match. The close confines of Glenferrie did not suit us and the rugged tough Hawks wiped out our early lead to win by 36 points. We scored just 1 goal 4 after quarter time, all of which was scored in the third quarter. We had blown it! The finals looked over.

Lowly Richmond travelled to the junction and was duly sent home with a whipping. We ran out easy winners by 26 points, but there was no hope of a finals berth.
The last game was against Fitzroy who were equal with us on 9 wins, but had a draw and percentage up their sleeve. Fitzroy had a slim chance, but the Saints had no hope of featuring in the finals action. We travelled to Brunswick St and watched the Roys power home to win by 42 points. It was some consolation when the other scores came in to realise the Gorillas had missed out as well.

The Wrap up to 1959

Jim Francis’s first year was a mixture of glory, hope and despair. The Saints promised so much, but staggered at crucial times. The Saints faithful had mixed feelings about Jim Francis, still missing the incredible Killigrew who had set up so much. In hindsight, Jim Francis in taking over a club in disarray had achieved a fair bit. Two more wins than in ’58 and right in the hunt for the finals until the latter half of the season, he had done enough to warrant another chance. But another few disappointments were to follow. Verdun Howell had been magnificent at Full Back all season and the Saints faithful believed he had a chance of Brownlow glory. We all sat around the radio to listen to the count. At the final tally of votes Bobby Skilton and Verdun Howell were locked together. After a count back, Bobby Skilton was declared the Brownlow medallist for 1959. After wins in 1957 and 1958 I was convinced that a Saint and particularly Howell, would win. I was devastated, although I recognised what a great champion Bobby Skilton was. It was great when Verdun Howell was declared a Brownlow Medallist retrospectively. He was a great champion who deserved the highest honours.

The night series was yet to be played and we thought we were a good chance after a strong year. The first match at the Lake Oval sent me home to pull out my cricket bat, as the Hawks rolled the Saints by 52 points. It was an inglorious display and had all the hallmarks of a team, which had had enough.

There was still some joy as Essendon belted the Pies by 38 points in the First Semi, so Collingwood after winning 10 games in a row was unceremoniously bundled out of the finals. I bloody well enjoyed reading the Sporting Globe that night.

Next 1960. Jim Francis. Make or break!