Australian Football

Saints make their point - 1966 VFL Grand Final

Victory over Hawthorn in the final home and away match of a very evenly contested 1966 season secured the double chance for St Kilda going into the finals; had the Saints lost, they would have finished fifth.

The double chance proved invaluable as St Kilda went down to Collingwood by 10 points in a tumultuous second semi final. Saints skipper Darrel Baldock was still experiencing discomfort from a knee injury sustained in the third to last home and away round, while effervescent blond ruckman 'Big Carl' Ditterich (left) had been suspended for the entire finals series, but St Kilda managed to overcome both these impediments admirably as they overpowered Essendon in the preliminary final by 42 points to earn another crack at the Magpies.

In the week preceding the grand final the media spotlight was firmly on the Saints, and more specifically on Baldock's knee. Unknown to the newshounds, however, Baldock actually aggravated his knee injury during the team's final training session prior to the match. Allan Jeans, aware of what had happened, immediately brought the training session to an abrupt and premature halt, but he did so in such a manner as to make it seem predetermined. The press were fooled. Come grand final day, however, Baldock was in considerable pain when he lined up at centre half forward. Early on, he took a mark a long way from goal from which he kicked truly, but "It felt like my knee went further than the ball".

Nevertheless, nothing was going to prevent 'the Doc' from making his contribution to the St Kilda cause, and nothing, it seemed, was going to get in the was of St Kilda's quest for that elusive first premiership.

That was the theory. Before the day was over, however, Collingwood would have presented quite a persuasive - if ultimately fruitless - counter-argument.

The Teams

COLLINGWOOD

ST KILDA

1st Quarter

3 mins St Kilda's mercurial half forward flanker Allan Davis is awarded a free kick at centre half forward after being held when not in possession of the ball. His low trajectory flat punt travels to the goal square where Kevin 'Cowboy' Neale displays perfect anticipation as he stands a couple of metres to the rear of the waiting pack, and marks easily. Playing on, he prods the ball over the goal line with his left foot from a distance of less than a metre.
St Kilda 1.0; Collingwood 0.0

5 mins Baldock and Potter vie for possession at centre half forward for St Kilda, with the Saints skipper using his body cleverly to unbalance his opponent and snatch up the ball. Running on in the direction of half forward left, Baldock bounces the ball, whereupon he is immediately tackled by Potter. Umpire Crouch gives a resounding blast on the acme thunderer and, highlighting a major difference between football in the 1960s and the early years of the 21st century, pays a free kick to Baldock for holding the man. (At this stage in the game's development, a player bouncing the ball was deemed not to be in possession of the ball during the time it was out of his hands.) Making light of the fact that he is more than 50 metres from goal, Baldock throws all his weight behind an elegant, perfectly executed torpedo punt that sails right through the centre of the goals at near goal post height.
St Kilda 2.0; Collingwood 0.0

14 mins Garry Wallis (right) marks for Collingwood just to the rear of the centre circle, and his drop kick forward - the 6th of the match so far - scarcely gets off the ground but still travels some 30 metres before bouncing, once, high into the air, and being grabbed by Tuddenham. Turning onto his left foot, Tuddenham just manages to get boot to ball before being knocked over by Bingley. Fortunately for the Magpies, his kick floats forward the bare minimum markable distance, straight onto the chest of Gabelich who, from roughly 50 metres out, directly in front, just manages to squeeze his kick inside the right goal post for full points.
St Kilda 2.1; Collingwood 1.1

22 mins At half forward left for Collingwood, adjacent to a 25 metre long banner straddling the perimeter fence which reads 'THE MAN IN WHITE IS ALWAYS RIGHT', Len Thompson (left) soars high to win the tap at a boundary throw in, only to see the ball bounce straight to St Kilda centreman Ian Stewart. The reigning Brownlow Medallist's left foot kick is ill directed, however, and Magpie wingman Peter Patterson marks comfortably on the chest near the centre of the ground. Patterson returns the ball with interest via a low, raking left foot drop punt which comes off the hands of a pack of players just ahead of centre half forward and is pounced on by Gary Wallis. Swerving adroitly on to his left foot, and simultaneously avoiding an onrushing defender, Wallis fires off a quick, low snap shot which bounces just over the goal line, centimetres way from the outstretched hands of St Kilda defender Sierakowski, who has dashed across from the left back pocket in an effort to intercept. Unable to halt his momentum, Sierakowski hurtles on and brushes lightly past the stationary figure of goal umpire Stevens, who hovers melodramatically on the spot for about 3 seconds before collapsing to his knees as though pole axed. As medical staff rush to his assistance from all corners of the ground the 50 year old Stevens, officiating in his last ever game of League football after a 20-year career, staggers to his feet, and executes a tottering, semi-circular trot back to his position in the centre of the goals, before collapsing to his knees once again. Shrugging off the attentions of the medical staff, he bravely clambers once again to an upright position before engaging in an exaggeratedly extravagant flag-waving routine to confirm Wallis' goal. As he trots back to his position, Sierakowski looks bemusedly back in Stevens' direction as if to say "but I hardly touched you!"
St Kilda 2.2; Collingwood 2.1

The remainder of the quarter is dominated by a wayward St Kilda which is only able to supplement its tally with minor scores.

QUARTER TIME: St Kilda 2.5 (17); Collingwood 2.1 (13)

2nd Quarter

1 min 30 secs A boundary throw in takes place in St Kilda's right forward pocket, and Saints ruckman Morrow, with clever use of the body, removes Gabelich from the contest and manages to catch the ball on the full before feeding Cooper with a quick hand pass. The beanpole St Kilda half forward's kick travels some 15 metres across the face of goal (and perhaps twice that far vertically), before coming down in the safe hands of Griffiths, who finds himself in more space than he has any right to expect, and goals with no difficulty.
St Kilda 3.5; Collingwood 2.1

5 mins Midway between right centre wing and half forward right for Collingwood, Patterson is awarded a free kick after being accidentally tripped by Morrow. His right foot drop kick travels to within 35 metres of goal where it is contested in the air by Murray and Graham, the latter of whom manages to effect a solid spoil from behind. Chasing after the loose ball, Graham reaches it a split second ahead of Murray, which is just enough time for him to throw it on to his left boot and steer a high kick into the teeth of the goal square. As the ball drops back to earth, Saints defender Sierakowski seems to be in prime position to mark, but a loss of concentration or sudden attack of nerves causes him to completely miss the ball, which bounces instead to Ray Gabelich, standing less than a metre from the goal line. Gabelich is instantly wrapped up in a tackle, but as he is brought to ground he just manages to drop the ball onto his boot and prod it a bare metre and a half over the line an ungainly but priceless 6 points.
St Kilda 3.5; Collingwood 3.3

16 mins In the centre of the ground, Ted Potter drops a potential 'sitter' of a mark, allowing the ball to bounce off his chest to Griffiths, who scarcely has time to think before being sent sprawling, courtesy of a perfectly timed hip and shoulder bump from the Magpie centre half back, which knocks the ball loose. Collingwood's centreman Tully is first upon it, and he promptly feeds the running Patterson with a deft, low handball. Patterson has sufficient time to measure his options before firing off a low, 20 metre pass to Tuddenham, who marks easily. Playing on quickly, Tuddenham sinks his boot into a well judged right foot punt kick which comfortably eludes the goal line pack to register a major score.
St Kilda 4.6; Collingwood 4.4

22 mins Sierakowski endeavours to run the ball from full back in the direction of the right back pocket boundary, only to find himself confronted by 2 Collingwood defenders. He handballs forward in the direction of Ross Smith, but Hutchesson intercepts and deflects the ball to Thompson, who quickly relays it by hand to Tuddenham. Seeing Richardson in the clear, the Collingwood skipper finds that player with a bullet like handball and, from deep in the left forward pocket, about 5 metres to the left of the left behind post, Richardson casually splits the centre, à la Daicos, with a low right foot drop punt that breaks from leg to off after bouncing just in front of the goal line. For the last 10 minutes of the match the Magpies have been playing much more aggressively, cohesively and purposefully than their opponents and should, arguably, be much more than single straight kick in front.
Collingwood 5.6; St Kilda 4.6

23 mins The Saints win the ensuing centre clearance and mount their first coherent attack for roughly 10 minutes. Ian Stewart's high left foot kick bounces near centre half forward and is gathered by Kevin Neale who, running to the left across goal, takes a bounce and is promptly tackled, whereupon umpire Crouch has no hesitation in awarding him a free kick for holding the man. From a distance of 45 metres on a 20 degree angle, 'the Cowboy' makes no mistakemistake. "We could be back here next week!" declares Channel 7 match commentator Mike Richardson, not for the last time.
Collingwood 5.6; St Kilda 5.6

26 mins Len Thompson marks in the goal square and almost misses everything with his resultant set shot.
Collingwood 5.7; St Kilda 5.6

Thompson's behind proves to be the last score of a frenetic, untidy, and giddily exciting first half.

HALF TIME: Collingwood 5.7 (37); St Kilda 5.6 (36)

3rd Quarter 1 min It's 'stacks on the mill' approximately 25 metres directly in front of the Collingwood goal, with umpire Crouch eventually declaring "It's mine!" Len Thompson wins the ensuing ruck contest and directs the ball to Potter, who punches it out into the clear in the direction of Tuddenham. pouncing quickly on the ball, Tuddenham is able to off load a quick snap shot which perfectly bisects the uprights to extend Collingwood's lead.
Collingwood 6.7; St Kilda 5.6

3 mins A boundary throw in in the right forward pocket for St Kilda eludes the competing ruckmen and is picked up by Terry Waters. The former Dandenong player is dragged off the ball as he endeavours to sink the slipper and Daryl Griffiths dashes in to collect before shooting out a handball to Darrel Baldock (right), who is running across the face of goal from right to left. It is hard not to experience a sense of déja vu as Baldock bounces the ball and is immediately tackled by Tuddenham, whereupon the umpire awards the Saints skipper a free for holding the man, much to the disgust of Alan 'Butch' Gale in the Channel 7 commentary box. Heedless, of Gale's scorn, Baldock casually goals with a high spiral punt kick, which paradoxically elicits approbation from Gale who declares "At least it'll make for a closer game for the spectators!"
Collingwood 6.7; St Kilda 6.6

6 min Running back in the direction of the Collingwood goal, St Kilda centreman Ian Stewart gathers up a loose, bouncing ball, swings 'round on to his favoured left foot and just manages to get a kick away before Des Tuddenham arrives on the scene and collides heavily with Stewart's left thigh. Stewart's kick, however, has already found its target in Cooper who, according to commentator Mike Richardson, has marked so often and so spectacularly as to "make the man on the flying trapeze look a real dill". Cooper is a good 55 metres from goal but his kick not only comfortably makes the difference but is straight as a die, recapturing the lead for St Kilda for the first time since midway through the 2nd quarter.
St Kilda 7.7; Collingwood 6.7

8 mins After cleverly using his body to out-position Waters, St Kilda full forward Neale marks strongly on the front edge of the goal square. However, just as Thompson had done during the previous quarter, Neale mis-times his kick completely and only just manages to secure a behind for his side.
St Kilda 7.8; Collingwood 6.7

12 mins Midway between half back left and left centre wing, Cooper takes yet another mark for St Kilda and propels a high drop kick towards the centre of the ground, where the ball comes off hands to Breen. The young half forward's ungainly looking left foot kick floats towards centre half forward where two Collingwood defenders spoil one another's attempts to mark, allowing the ball to bounce on a further 15 or so metres, straight into the hands of Neale. In seeming slow motion, Neale rotates on to his left foot and, making a nonsense of his earlier set shot débacle, snaps truly from a distance of 45 metres.
St Kilda 8.9; Collingwood 6.8

22 mins After Ray Gabelich (left) gets away with a blatant flick pass, Mike Williamson expresses a certain amount of sympathy for the umpire. "How can Crouch be expected to see 'round Gabelich's broad form?" he asks, to which Ted Whitten retorts "He sees 'round me OK when I try it!"

31 mins Having been held when not in possession of the ball by Bob Murray, Wayne Richardson effortlessly goals from centre half forward.
St Kilda 8.9; Collingwood 7.11

When the three quarter time sirens sounds 30 seconds later there has been no addition to the score.

THREE QUARTER TIME: St Kilda 8.9; Collingwood 7.11

4th Quarter

4 mins Bingley picks up the ball to the immediate right of the centre circle and his high torpedo punt travels toward centre half forward, bounces high over the heads of a pack of players, and is punched on towards the St Kilda goal by Griffiths. Moran is first to reach the loose ball, and he has time to straighten up, take aim, and fire a low, deliberate kick through the vacant goal square and just over the goal line for a six-pointer.
St Kilda 9.10; Collingwood 7.12

8 mins Henderson replaces Hutchesson for Collingwood.

11 mins From a boundary throw in at half forward left for Collingwood Gabelich palms the ball to Tuddenham who, anticipating the inevitable tackle, handballs in front of himself. The tackle duly arrives, giving rise to the inevitable free kick for holding the man. Tuddenham still has it all to do as he is at least 55 metres from goal. However, he sinks his boot into a perfect spiral punt which lands deep in the goal square before, courtesy of Len Thompson's solid shepherd on Bob Murray, bouncing over the line for a goal.
St Kilda 9.13; Collingwood 8.12

16 mins Tuddenham, tapping the ball ahead of himself towards the boundary line midway between left centre wing and half forward left, receives a shove in the back from Bingley, and steers the resultant free kick towards a pack of half a dozen players at centre half forward. All the players bar Ian Graham (right) leap high, endeavouring either to mark or spoil, but it is the 1964 Copeland Trophy winner who, despite remaining rooted to the ground, judges the flight of the ball best and takes the grab. His goal-bound kick never deviates and once again, in the parlance of a later era, it is 'game on'.
St Kilda 9.13; Collingwood 9.12

St Kilda coach Allen Jeans' response is to throw virtually his whole team, with the exception of three forward line players, onto the ball. "Not good tactics," remarks Ted Whitten, sagely.

18 mins John Henderson picks up the ball at centre half back for the Magpies but is immediately flung to the ground by Ross Smith. Nevertheless, before he hits the deck the former Collingwood skipper manages to toe poke the ball some 10 metres forward along the ground, only to see it intercepted by Jeff Moran, who propels it back in the direction of the St Kilda goal square, where it's marked by Neale. Concentrating assiduously, this time the big South Warrnambool recruit makes no mistake.
St Kilda 10.13; Collingwood 9.12

21 mins The umpire bounces the ball midway between centre half forward and half forward left for Collingwood. An indeterminate ruck contest ensues which sees the ball bounce into the clear before being collected by Henderson, who coolly finds Pitt 20 metres nearer to goal with a precise left foot drop punt. Pitt brings the margin back to a solitary point with a perfectly judged spiral punt kick.
St Kilda 10.13; Collingwood 10.12

23 mins 30 secs Tuddenham's shot on the run from 40 metres out on a 45 degree angle to the left of goal veers away at the last moment to register only a minor score.
St Kilda 10.13; Collingwood 10.13

25 mins From 40 metres out and almost directly in front Wayne Richardson's running shot sails high, wide and (from a St Kilda perspective) handsome, travelling out of bounds on the full near the left behind post. From the resultant boundary throw in, the Saints manage to relieve the pressure.

27 mins 30 secs From right centre wing Cooper's drop kick scarcely leaves the ground as it spears toward centre half forward. Collingwood centre half back Ted Potter drops to his knees in an attempt to mark, but the ball bounces just before it reaches him. A scrimmage quickly develops and umpire Crouch steps in to bounce the ball, whereupon St Kilda ruckman Brian Mynott leaps high to win the tap, only to see the ball intercepted by Potter. With no space to move, Potter is promptly tackled, but nevertheless manages to squeeze out a hand pass which a St Kilda opponent deflects into the path of Saints half forward Barry Breen. In a split second, Breen etches his name forever into the quintessential 'who's who' of football as he throws the ball onto his boot and watches in delight as it tumbles through for arguably the most famous minor score in the game's history.
St Kilda 10.14; Collingwood 10.13

Approximately one minute later as St Kilda full back Bob Murray, having taken a strong saving mark at centre half back, kicks the ball high towards the left centre wing boundary, the siren sounds, and perhaps 80% of the vast MCG crowd erupts in delighted acclaim.

FINAL SCORE: St Kilda 10.14 (74); Collingwood 10.13 (73)

Best for the Saints on the greatest ever day in their history included half forward flanker Ian Cooper, centreman Ian Stewart, back pocket Brian Sierakowski, ruck rover Daryl Griffiths, and 5 goal full forward Kevin Neale. Skipper Baldock was uncharacteristically quiet (although still effective), but not presumably during the club's post match festivities. In an uncharacteristic display of emotion Allan Jeans told his players "Whatever you do, wherever you go, I'll always remember you for this wonderful moment you gave me today".

A triumphant Darrel Baldock, dressed incongruously in the garb of the vanquished foe, celebrates the St Kilda Football Club's finest hour.

Postscript

On the Saturday following the grand final a challenge match between the VFL and SANFL premiers was scheduled to take place at the Adelaide Oval. However, the Saints, perhaps anticipating that their premiership celebrations would still be in full swing, declined to participate¹, and Collingwood travelled to Adelaide in their stead. The 11 season period between 1963 and 1973 proved to be, by some measure, the most consistently successful in St Kilda's history. In addition to its 1966 premiership success, the club qualified for the finals on another 7 occasions, reaching the grand finals of 1965 and 1971, and finishing third in 1970 and 1972. The saints' success rate during this period of 63.6% compares more than favourably with their overall VFL/AFL success rate of around 37%. In 1966, Collingwood supporters who had just witnessed their team's third consecutive grand final loss could have been forgiven for anticipating an imminent change of fortune. Little did they realise that the ensuing two and a half decades would bring four further grand final defeats, three of them from eminently winnable positions, and the birth and rapid escalation of the infamous 'Colliwobbles' theory, which still holds good in the minds of many today. Despite, or perhaps in part because of this, it is arguable that the Collingwood Football Club remains simultaneously Australia's most loved and loathed sporting organisation.

Match Summary

BEST
St Kilda: Cooper, Stewart, Sierakowski, Griffiths, Breen, Morrow, Neale
Collingwood: Waters, Richardson, Thompson, Patterson, Pitt, Tuddenham

GOALS
St Kilda: Neale 5; Baldock 2; Cooper, Griffiths, Moran
Collingwood: Tuddenham 3; Gabelich, Richardson 2; Graham, Pitt, Wallis

ATTENDANCE: 101,655 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground