The torment of 14,975 days ago when we were level ...

[Enrico_Misso]

… with Hawthorn

On Sat Sep 25th 1971 we had one premiership apiece.
Comparisons were made then between the two clubs and how their futures both looked bright.

But the two clubs went down very different paths.

1971 was a game we should have won.
But we didn't.
After being well placed at 3/4 time they ran us down to win by 7 points
To lead us 2-1

Worse was to follow
1976 3-1
1978 4-1
1983 5-1
1986 6-1
1988 7-1
1989 8-1
1991 9-1
2008 10-1
2012 ? 11-1

So this Saturday after a span of 14,980 days they could win 10 Premierships whilst we have languished with adding to our one.
What happened?
Was it the zones?
Was it bad recruiting?
Was it mismanagement?
Was it luck?
I don't know but it's a comparison that torments me.

I often wish we could wind the clock back to 1971 3/4 time and replay that momentous incident packed quarter again.
If we had hung on, how would it have affected the paths taken since then.
Maybe we would be the one who had rattled on 10 flags in 41 years?

A desperately sad tale of what might have or could have been.

[whiskers3614]

And North didn't have any at that time.
How many now?
please don't let Footscray become extinct!

[mr six o'clock]

I sometimes think its bad luck .
We've had allot of champion players in that time , but for some reason the bounce of the ball ( think 2010 ) doesn't go our way !

[bigcarl]

It will turn. Whether we're all around to see that glorious day is the question.

[Sainternist]

Because we're cursed.

God, I hate "the happy team" which is Hawthorn. They always seem to luck out. Hope the Swines beat the c*nts on Saturday. Living in the Eastern suburbs, it would be nice to see every second person (a poos&wees flag flyer) bum out.

Grew up in the 80's, where at school, every Tom, Dick or Harry barracked for them or Essenscum.

[andrewg]

Tail wagging the dog. always champion players never a champion team. One day though.......

[hungry for a premiership]

An era will come, one day, an era will come where we win multiple premierships and cast off the shackles of our inglorious history.


I just hope i'm alive to see it.

[Bowey Boy]

I think we finally got the "Frankston Zone" just before zones were abolished for the draft. Lucky we got Jody there.

[plugger66]

I thought premierships were decided mathematically. That is what Enrico has told us previously.

[saintspremiers]

Tail wagging the dog. always champion players never a champion team. One day though.......

Yep, spot on.

We've won quite a few Brownlows for a struggling club haven't we??

[SaintPav]

A still taken from late in the third quarter of the 1971 Grand Final. Note scoreboard in the background.

[SaintPav]

So this Saturday after a span of 14,980 days they could win 10 Premierships whilst we have languished with adding to our one.
What happened?
Was it the zones?
Was it bad recruiting?
Was it mismanagement?
Was it luck?
I don't know but it's a comparison that torments me.

I often wish we could wind the clock back to 1971 3/4 time and replay that momentous incident packed quarter again.
If we had hung on, how would it have affected the paths taken since then.
Maybe we would be the one who had rattled on 10 flags in 41 years?

A desperately sad tale of what might have or could have been.

WHY? WHY? WHY? WHY? WHY?

At least GC had a happy ending.

[Stillwaiting]

A still taken from late in the third quarter of the 1971 Grand Final. Note scoreboard in the background.

I was only about 6 when that all happened so I have no recall of it, and I wont look at any losing gf`s, so that pic is the first time I have realised we were that far in front that late in the game. Thats more gut renching than I thought.

[prwilkinson]

Yeah, interesting comparison. Always think about Hawthorn and St.Kilda being brother/sister clubs but they've gone on to achieve great things. Always have seemed keen to trade players between both clubs as well. Didn't the saints miss out on picking up Leigh Matthews by just a street or two?

[suss]

Surely Allan Jeans has something to do with the answer.

[bobmurray]

Oh Well....what can we do...other than lament....

At least we've been in a few Grand Finals since 71, albeit as losers, those Bulldog losers haven't been in one since 61...that's be even worse....

I don't think we'll see one, unless we live to 2066....

[SaintPav]

Surely Allan Jeans has something to do with the answer.

throw in some piss poor decisions, poor management and not the greatest club culture which probably went pear shaped when Jeansy left in 1976.

The good news is, we're back on track.

[noob]

Jeez 1971 must have been the most heartbreaking of losses. Up by 4-5 goals near 3 quarter time. Can't believe it. It's 10 to zero premierships since then. Amazing stat.

[Sick Nal Danto]

I'm actually laughing and the sadness that fills inside me, why o why

[bobmurray]

Jeez 1971 must have been the most heartbreaking of losses. Up by 4-5 goals near 3 quarter time. Can't believe it. It's 10 to zero premierships since then. Amazing stat.

We were 20 points up at 3/4 time....lost by 7........
scores

Hawthorn... 2.2.14......4.4.28.......5.7.37......12.10.82
StKilda.......2.1.13......4.6.30.......8.9.57......11..9.75

[SaintWodonga]

Only if we had a brownlow medalist centreman... Oh we did, only he won his 3rd that year at Richmond... I think he would made up the 7 point difference, poor decision when he left.

[samuraisaint]

Jeez 1971 must have been the most heartbreaking of losses. Up by 4-5 goals near 3 quarter time. Can't believe it. It's 10 to zero premierships since then. Amazing stat.

Mate, 97 - up by 25 near half time against Adelaide (that would be like being five goals up against Freo now)

2009 - level in time on

2010 - don't go there


and hey - 2004 prelim - Guerra can't get onto his right, we lose, Port win the next week. Guerra plays in a Flag four years later.

I really hope the Swans beat them on Saturday or their supporters are going to be insufferable.

[samuraisaint]

Only if we had a brownlow medalist centreman... Oh we did, only he won his 3rd that year at Richmond... I think he would made up the 7 point difference, poor decision when he left.

Yes, I was thinking about that today when I read about Ian Stewart. I also heard that Richmond were won of the few sides to beat Hawthorn that year too. Probably because of Stewart.

You might say the same thing about Ball in 2010 too. They certainly wouldn't have beaten Hawthorn in the prelim last year without him.

[Stephen Theodore]

Not only were we up by 20 points in 1971, the weather on that day was similar to 2009 G.F. against Cats. Should have been enough, except for a guy called Keddie. Colling (i think) had kept him to a couple of kicks playing off half forward, and he was moved to Full Forward for last quarter. Cant remember if Colling went with him or not, but the rest as they say is history. Long ride home that night on the train.

Have been to them all (except 1966) and 1971 still stings just as hard as 97,09,10 & 10. nearly forgot 1965, had the pleasure of that beauty to.

[Dr Spaceman]

Not only were we up by 20 points in 1971, the weather on that day was similar to 2009 G.F. against Cats. Should have been enough, except for a guy called Keddie. Colling (i think) had kept him to a couple of kicks playing off half forward, and he was moved to Full Forward for last quarter. Cant remember if Colling went with him or not, but the rest as they say is history. Long ride home that night on the train.

Have been to them all (except 1966) and 1971 still stings just as hard as 97,09,10 & 10. nearly forgot 1965, had the pleasure of that beauty to.

And you should know

St Kilda
B: 42 Wayne Judson 6 Bob Murray (vc) 18 Kevin Neale
HB: 12 Gary Colling 13 Barry Lawrence 29 Neil Besanko
C: 26 John Manzie 8 Glenn Elliott 7 Stuart Trott
HF: 15 Jeff Moran 17 Barry Breen 23 Stephen Theodore
F: 10 Carl Ditterich 19 Allan Davis 1 John Bonney
Foll: 2 Brian Mynott 20 Travis Payze 3 Ross Smith (c)
Reserve(s): 31 Rod Galt 25 Stephen Rae
Coach: Allan Jeans