History of the St Kilda Football Club facts for kids

The St Kilda Football Club, known as the Saints, is a professional Australian rules football team. They are based in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. The club plays in the Australian Football League (AFL). This is the top league in the country.

The club started in 1873. Its name comes from the Melbourne suburb of St Kilda. The Saints were one of the first teams in the Victorian Football Association (VFA) in 1877. In 1897, they also helped start the Victorian Football League (VFL). This league later changed its name to the Australian Football League (AFL) before the 1990 season.

The club does not say it is linked to earlier St Kilda football clubs (1858–1864 or 1872). However, it does have a connection to the South Yarra Football Club. The St Kilda Football Club was formed by players from South Yarra who lived in St Kilda.

The Saints' Early Years

Starting in St Kilda: 1872-1876

In 1872, players from the South Yarra Football Club who lived in St Kilda decided to train in their own area. These players were some of the best on the team. For the 1873 season, they completely separated from South Yarra. They formed a new team, the St Kilda Football Club, based in St Kilda.

At first, the club struggled to get enough players. In 1875, they even played as a combined team with the Melbourne University Football Club. This happened after the South Yarra club stopped playing between 1873 and 1875.

Joining the VFA: 1877–1896

In their early days, the Saints played at a place called the "Alpaca Paddock." This was near the St Kilda railway station. The club quickly grew to 60 members. They showed they could be more than just a junior club. By the end of their first season, the Saints even managed a draw against the top team, Carlton.

The club faced tough times. Once, only 12 St Kilda players showed up for a game in Bendigo. Another game started 90 minutes late because the ball burst while being inflated! Despite these challenges, St Kilda was one of the first teams to join the Victorian Football Association (VFA) in 1877. That year, they became only the second team to travel interstate. They beat Adelaide and then a combined South Australian team.

By 1879, the club was at its lowest point. After missing a game, all their future matches were cancelled. St Kilda dropped down to junior ranks for six years. They returned to senior competition in 1886. The club decided to join with a nearby team, Prahran. St Kilda kept its colours, name, and ground. They also gained several Prahran players. Even then, St Kilda was known for being able to play amazingly well on certain days and beat the best teams. They also had some of the best players in football, like Alf Smith.

St Kilda played as a senior club in the VFA from 1877 to 1879, 1881 to 1882, and 1886 to 1896. Then, they moved to the Victorian Football League (VFL) in 1897.

Early VFL Years: 1897–1915

St Kilda's first years in the VFL were not very successful. They finished last in nine of their first 14 seasons. In 1899, St Kilda scored the lowest score ever in a VFL/AFL match: just one point against Geelong.

In 1907, the St Kilda team surprised everyone by winning their first six games. This helped them reach the finals for the first time, finishing third. They lost to Carlton in their first VFL final. In 1908, they finished third again and made the finals, but lost to Carlton once more.

Grand Final Appearance: 1913 Season

In the 1913 season, St Kilda finished fourth and made a strong run to the finals. They defeated Fitzroy in the Preliminary Final, reaching the Grand Final for the first time in club history.

The Grand Final against Fitzroy was tough. St Kilda didn't score a goal by half-time. They were 25 points behind at the last break. Suddenly, St Kilda came to life and kicked four goals, getting within one point. They charged forward again, but a hurried shot for goal only scored a point. Fitzroy then kicked two more goals to win by 13 points.

World War I Break

After disappointing seasons in 1914 and 1915, the St Kilda team took a break in 1916 and 1917 because of World War I.

Resuming After the War: 1918–1939

The club started playing again in 1918 and did well. They made the finals in fourth place but were eliminated by Collingwood.

Results declined in the early 1920s, with the club finishing last in 1920 and 1924. However, St Kilda became more competitive in the following years. Colin Watson played brilliantly in 1925, winning the Brownlow Medal. This award is for the best and fairest player in the league.

The St Kilda team made the finals in 1929 but lost to Carlton. Financial problems meant the club struggled from 1931 to 1933.

The mid-to-late 1930s saw the club often competing for finals spots. They finally made the finals again in 1939. This was after winning eight games in a row and having their best season record so far. They won their first finals match since 1913, beating Richmond. However, they lost to Collingwood in the Preliminary Final.

The Mid-Century Years: 1940–1959

The success in the 1939 finals did not lead to a long period of wins for St Kilda. The club struggled a lot in the 1940s. They won only 34 games and had 4 draws out of 174 matches. This was a very low success rate. The club finished last seven times between 1943 and 1955.

The 1950 season started well, with the club winning its first five games. But they faded later and finished ninth. The 1950s brought some improvement compared to the 1940s.

In 1955, Alan Killigrew became coach. He made big changes, bringing in many new players. Killigrew helped change the team's attitude, making them more competitive. In the late 1950s, St Kilda aimed for finals but didn't quite make it. The club had three Brownlow Medal winners in a row: Brian Gleeson in 1957, Neil Roberts in 1958, and Verdun Howell in 1959.

In 1958, St Kilda won the Consolation Night Series competition. This was a night tournament played after the regular season. St Kilda defeated Carlton in the final.

The Golden Era: 1960–1973

In 1961, Allan Jeans became coach. St Kilda made the final four for the first time since 1939, finishing third. However, they lost to Footscray in the semi-final. In 1963, they had six wins in a row to finish fourth but lost to Melbourne in the semi-final.

After the 1964 season, the club moved to Moorabbin Oval. This move helped them attract more fans from the growing south-eastern suburbs of Melbourne. The move was a success. In 1965, St Kilda finished first in the standings, winning the minor premiership for the first time. Ian Stewart won the 1965 Brownlow Medal.

St Kilda played in the Grand Final against Essendon in 1965 but lost.

Premiership Glory: 1966 Season

The 1966 season started strongly for St Kilda. They thrashed Melbourne and Carlton in the first two rounds. They continued their winning streak, beating North Melbourne, Geelong, South Melbourne, Fitzroy, Hawthorn, and Essendon. Their undefeated run ended in Round 9 against Richmond. St Kilda finished the season with 14 wins and 4 losses, qualifying for the finals in second place. Ian Stewart won his second straight Brownlow Medal.

In the 1966 finals, St Kilda lost to Collingwood in the first semi-final. However, they defeated Essendon in the preliminary final, setting up a Grand Final rematch against Collingwood.

With only a minute left in the Grand Final, the scores were tied. St Kilda's Barry Breen snapped a shot at goal, scoring a behind. This put his team in front by one point. The siren sounded shortly after, and St Kilda won the premiership for the first time! They defeated Collingwood 10-14 (74) to 10-13 (73).

Continued Success: Post 1966

In 1967, Ross Smith won the Brownlow Medal. The Saints continued to make finals appearances. They qualified for the finals in 1968, 1970, 1971, 1972, and 1973.

In 1970, St Kilda defeated South Melbourne in the semi-final but lost to Carlton in the Preliminary Final. In 1971, they reached the Grand Final again but lost to Hawthorn. In 1972 and 1973, they won their elimination finals but were knocked out in later stages.

From 1960 to 1973, St Kilda made it to the finals nine times in 13 years. They played in four preliminary finals and three Grand Finals. They won one premiership and one minor premiership during this period. Coach Allan Jeans retired from coaching St Kilda at the end of the 1976 season.

Challenges and Comeback: 1974–1989

After their successful period, the Saints' performance declined in 1974. They finished tenth, their lowest spot since the 1950s. The club finished last in 1977. Despite a good start and end to 1978, they just missed the finals.

From 1979 to 1986, the club faced serious financial problems and poor results on the field. They remained in the bottom three teams every year. The Saints finished last seven times between 1977 and 1988.

In 1987, with star player Tony Lockett at full forward, St Kilda moved up the ladder. They won nine games. Lockett won the Coleman Medal for kicking the most goals (117) in the home and away season. He also won the Brownlow Medal that same year.

The AFL Era Begins: 1990–2000

The Victorian Football League was renamed the Australian Football League (AFL) before the 1990 season. Under coach Ken Sheldon, St Kilda had a brief comeback. They played in the finals in 1991 and 1992.

The Saints of the early 1990s had great players like Tony Lockett and Stewart Loewe as key forwards. Their midfield was strong with players like Nicky Winmar, Nathan Burke, Gilbert McAdam, and Dean Greig. On their best days, St Kilda could play very high-quality football.

In 1991, St Kilda qualified for the finals for the first time since 1973. Tony Lockett won the Coleman Medal again with 118 goals. However, they were defeated by Geelong in an elimination final. In 1992, they again made the finals, beating Collingwood in an elimination final. But they were then defeated by Footscray in the semi-finals.

After a mediocre season in 1993, coach Ken Sheldon left the club.

Stan Alves Era: 1994–1998

Under new coach Stan Alves, the club's future looked uncertain due to ongoing financial issues. They also lost star forward Tony Lockett to Sydney.

In 1994 and 1995, St Kilda finished near the bottom of the ladder. However, in 1996, St Kilda won the 1996 Ansett Australia Cup pre-season competition. They defeated reigning premiers Carlton by 58 points in the final. Nicky Winmar won the Michael Tuck Medal as the best player in the final. Despite this pre-season success, the team finished 10th in the 1996 premiership season.

St Kilda's home jumper in 1997.

In the 1997 season, St Kilda had a very consistent year. They finished first at the end of the regular season, winning the minor premiership for the second time in club history. Robert Harvey won the Brownlow Medal that year.

In the 1997 finals, St Kilda defeated Brisbane and then North Melbourne to reach the AFL Grand Final. They played against Adelaide. St Kilda led at half-time, but Adelaide played much better in the second half and won the Grand Final.

In 1998, St Kilda again reached the Ansett Australia Cup Final but lost to North Melbourne. In the 1998 Premiership season, St Kilda started strong, winning 11 of their first 14 games. However, their form dropped at the end of the season, and they finished sixth. Robert Harvey won his second straight Brownlow Medal. St Kilda was defeated in the finals by Sydney and then Melbourne. At the end of 1998, Stan Alves was no longer the coach.

Tim Watson Era: 1999–2000

St Kilda's performance declined in 1999, winning only 10 games. In 2000, the club moved its playing home to Docklands Stadium, Melbourne. They still kept their training base at Moorabbin. Success was limited, and in 2000, St Kilda won only two games. Coach Tim Watson resigned at the end of the year.

Grant Thomas Era: 2001–2006

In 2001, Malcolm Blight became the senior coach. He was sacked after only 15 rounds. Grant Thomas then became the caretaker coach. Thomas brought a new way of coaching to the club, focusing on "man-management" and using business ideas.

In 2001, St Kilda finished 15th. In 2002, Thomas was appointed full-time coach. The Saints still struggled, finishing second last. However, in 2003, the team started to improve. They played exciting football and just missed the finals, finishing 11th.

The 2004 season began with the club winning the 2004 Wizard Home Loans Cup. They defeated Geelong in the final. Robert Harvey won the Michael Tuck Medal for best on ground. In the 2004 Premiership season, the club won a record ten games in a row. They finished third and made the finals. Full-forward Fraser Gehrig won the Coleman Medal for kicking the most goals (90). In the finals, St Kilda lost to Brisbane but then defeated Sydney. They were knocked out in the Preliminary Final by Port Adelaide in a close game.

In the 2005 Premiership season, the Saints finished fourth and made the finals again. Fraser Gehrig won the Coleman Medal again (74 goals). St Kilda defeated Adelaide in the Qualifying Final but lost to Sydney in the Preliminary Final. In the 2006 Premiership season, the club finished sixth and qualified for their third straight finals series. However, they lost to Melbourne in the Elimination Final. After this, Grant Thomas was no longer coach. On October 11, 2006, Ross Lyon was appointed as the new coach.

Ross Lyon Era: 2007–2011

Ross Lyon became the coach of the St Kilda Football Club for the 2007 season. He brought in new assistant coaches and players.

Building the Team: 2007–2008 Seasons

Lyon's first season as coach in 2007 started with a win. The Saints won four of their first seven games. However, injuries hit the club hard. Lyon was sometimes criticized for his defensive playing style. Despite missing the finals, the Saints finished the year strongly.

In 2007, St Kilda traded well, gaining players like Steven King, Charlie Gardiner, Adam Schneider, and Sean Dempster.

The St Kilda Football Club Season 2008 began with the club winning the NAB Cup. They defeated the Adelaide Crows in the final. Jason Gram won the Michael Tuck Medal. Despite this good start, the Saints had a mixed first half of the season. However, they improved greatly and secured a spot in the finals. Lyon's coaching style focused on accountability. He even dropped star players like Nick Dal Santo and Stephen Milne for not meeting standards. This was a turning point, as the Saints won their next four games. In the 2008 Premiership season, St Kilda finished fourth and qualified for the finals.

In the 2008 finals, St Kilda lost to Geelong in a qualifying final. They then defeated Collingwood in the semi-finals. However, they lost to Hawthorn in the preliminary finals and were knocked out.

Strong Performance: 2009 Season

St Kilda had an amazing 2009 season. They won their first 19 games in a row! This included big wins over West Coast, Fremantle, Port Adelaide, and Collingwood. They broke their previous club record of 10 consecutive wins set in 2004.

A Round 14 game against Geelong broke the record for the largest crowd at an AFL game at Docklands Stadium, with 54,444 fans. St Kilda won that close game. Their winning streak ended in Round 20 against Essendon. They finished the season with 20 wins and 2 losses, earning their third minor premiership.

Grand Final Appearances: 2010 Season

St Kilda reached the final of the 2010 NAB Cup competition but lost to the Western Bulldogs.

The Saints qualified for the 2010 AFL finals in third position. This was their fourth best regular season record ever.

St Kilda defeated Geelong in the Qualifying Final by four points. This was the club's first ever finals win against Geelong. They then defeated the Western Bulldogs in the Preliminary Final to reach their second Grand Final in a row.

In the 2010 AFL Grand Final on September 25, the Saints played against the Collingwood Football Club. The match ended in a draw, 10.8 (68) to 9.14 (68). This was only the third drawn Grand Final in league history. St Kilda midfielder Lenny Hayes won the Norm Smith Medal for the best player in the match.

In the Grand Final replay, held on October 2, Collingwood won by 56 points.

In December 2010, the club received the keys to their new training and administration building in Seaford. This new facility helped the Saints achieve a record profit for the 2010 season. The club also set new records for membership and attendance.

2011 Season

St Kilda reached the semi-finals of the 2011 NAB Cup competition. They started their 2011 premiership season with a one-point loss to Geelong.

St Kilda qualified for the 2011 AFL finals series for a club-record fourth season in a row. They defeated North Melbourne in the last round of the regular season.

St Kilda played in an elimination final against Sydney but lost. After this game, coach Ross Lyon left the club to join Fremantle. Scott Watters was announced as the new coach in October 2011.

New Coaches: 2012–2019

Under new coach Scott Watters, the Saints showed some improvement in the 2012 season. They won three of their first five games, including a big 92-point win against the Gold Coast Suns. They finished ninth on the ladder, just missing out on the finals.

The 2013 season was historic for the St Kilda Football Club and the AFL. They played their first home and away season match outside of Australia. This game was held in Wellington, New Zealand, on April 25 (Anzac Day). The Saints hosted the Sydney Swans in cold and slippery conditions but lost the match.

St Kilda won five matches in 2013 and finished 16th. On November 1, Scott Watters was no longer coach. On November 14, Alan Richardson was announced as the new senior coach. The Saints also gained new players like Shane Savage, Luke Delaney, Josh Bruce, and Billy Longer. They also drafted young talents like Jack Billings, Luke Dunstan, and Blake Acres.

St Kilda started 2014 with two wins in a row. However, they then lost 11 games in a row. On July 15, Lenny Hayes announced he would retire at the end of the season. The Saints then had a big upset win against Fremantle. They finished the season with 4 wins and 18 losses, earning their first wooden spoon since 2000. With the first pick in the draft, St Kilda selected key forward Patrick McCartin.

In 2015, the club still struggled but showed potential. A highlight was coming back from an eleven-goal deficit to win against the Western Bulldogs. Key forward Josh Bruce also had a great year, kicking 50 goals. In 2016, the club started to challenge for the top 8. They won twelve games, including against Geelong and the eventual premiers, the Western Bulldogs. However, they finished ninth, just missing the finals.

In 2017, St Kilda again aimed for the top 8. A big win against Richmond was a highlight. However, a mid-season drop in form and late-season losses meant they missed the finals, finishing 11th. The year also saw the retirement of club legends Nick Riewoldt, Leigh Montagna, and Sean Dempster.

The 2018 season saw a big drop in the club's performance. The Saints finished 16th with only four wins and a draw. More experienced coaches joined the club, including Brett Ratten and Brendon Lade. The 2019 season started well with four wins from five games. But the Saints again had a dip in form, losing 9 of their next 11 matches. Coach Alan Richardson resigned. Ratten took over as caretaker coach and was later appointed permanent senior coach.

Brett Ratten Era: 2019–Present

Despite the coaching change, the Saints ended the 2019 season positively. Several high-profile players asked to be traded to the Saints. During the trade period, St Kilda gained Dougal Howard and Paddy Ryder from Port Adelaide, Bradley Hill from Fremantle, Zak Jones from Sydney, and Dan Butler from Richmond. Players like Jack Steven, Josh Bruce, and Blake Acres were traded to other clubs. The Saints also added former player Sean Dempster as a fitness coach. In the shorter 2020 season, the Saints won 10 of 17 games. This allowed them to qualify for their first finals series since 2011.