Kildonan
Premium Platinum
I have always followed the Saints. I'm not sure when the love affair started but it was sometime in the early sixties. (Yes I am ancient). I have a photo of myself aged 4 wearing a Saints jersey. This was 1964. My father followed Richmond and we went to the footy on occasions to watch them play. We frequently went to Junction oval because it was easy to get to.
There is a time when kids make choices that become significant throughout their life. Often these decisions are the safe one where you choose something along the same line as your parents choice. Other choices are polar opposites to your parents choices. Rarely is there anything in-between.
At this stage in this boys life, I chose the polar opposite team to Richmond - the energetic, enthusiastic Saints. My younger brother chose Richmond - and so began a lifetime of brown-nosing dad. (Neither follow Richmond anymore - both support the Lions).
The Saints had their glory time - my hero was Daryl Baldock. I didn't actually go to the Grand Final, but we went to the parade and I got to see my heroes up close.
By 1969 we moved to Queensland and the ensuing years were dry for a Saints starved lad in Queensland. As a late teenager, a mate and I started an annual trip to Melbourne where we left the lovely warm winters of Brisbane and spent up to a month in sleety Victoria catching as many Saints and Kangaroos matches as possible.
Then in 1983 I moved to Melbourne and worked there for 18 months before getting a very nice job offer from my former boss back in Brisbane.
I stuck with that job for 15 years, then had a break and met my fiance, Karen. We moved to Mackay and started a new life together. Karen had her own interests but she intentionally tried to adopt some of mine. The one she found most easy to share with me was my love for the Saints.
Karen and I arrived in Mackay January 2001.
Can you remember what was going on with the Saints at that time?
We had just got two new recruits that were making the headlines - Roo and Kosi. We were chasing a new coach - Malcolm Blight. We had just undergone one of the most profound cleanouts in AFL history and chased trades that would reshape the club and its future.
I suppose one could draw a parallel with the Saints new future and Karen and my new future.
The Saints were deplorable in 2001. The one shining light that Karen and I shared was the emergence of this skinny little player promoted off the rookie list. He showed us pure delight in everything he did. He was a child playing a mans game but he was having lots of fun and we were vicariously sharing in that uncomplicated fun. Stephen Milne allowed me to enjoy the Saints disappointing 2001 season.
Do you remember the sacking? The caretaker coach, the seach for a new coach. The bounty of the 2001 draft.
2002 was meant to be much better, but injuries to senior players meant that we had to play kids. It gave them a leg up for later seasons but we were again expected to accept the poor results. Milney was again a highlight. Karen and I would laugh at his antics and remark at his potency - he was deadly in front of goal.
In 2003 the Saints had a break-even year (11 wins, 11 losses) with wins over highly ranked Adelaide and Brisbane. After the win against Brisbane we had a drop in form. Injuries to a few key defenders showed up our lack of depth. The improvement being shown by all players but especially the younger brigade augured well for the future. The Saints finished the season with four impressive wins and a narrow loss to Geelong. Karen and I were getting more enthusiastic over the off season - and I started to spend a fair bit of time getting enthusiastic on the footy forums extolling the bright future of the Saints.
In 2004 the Saints started like a bull at a gate, winning the Wizard Cup, then going on to win the first ten in a row of the H&A season before coming back to earth somewhat. Then followed a recovery that saw them fail by a goal in a genuine push for a Grand Final berth. The early season success focused a lot of attention on the Saints. For the first time since 97/98 they became the hunted. They had a long season of intensity and gained finals experience. The attacking game of the Saints was very successful and we were able to carry a specialist forward pocket like Milne even if he wasn't kicking goals. But he was easily carrying his own weight.
In 2005 the Saints were preseason favourites for the flag, but the first half of the season was dominated by injuries. Just past the half way mark of the season, St Kilda remained out of the top eight and many had decided that they couldn't figure in the finals. They proceded to win 8 of the next 9 H&A games, their only defeat being against Fremantle at Subiaco with a kick after the siren. That game saw a number of players injured and was contraversial due to remarks made supposedly by one of the umpires officiating the match. They played the qualifying final in Adelaide against Adelaide FC and won, then returned to Melbourne with a week off before playing Sydney in the preliminary final. I think this was Milney's best year - he kicked 61 goals. I can't express how much the common admiration for Milney linked Karen and myself through our footy enjoyment. Karen and I drove from Mackay to Melbourne with three kids in tow - to watch the prelim - only to see them lose. We had hoped to watch the Saints in the GF as well, but alas it was not to be
We did get to see Milney and the boys training. We also met Rob Harvey and Aaron Hamill and our kids had their photos with these fantastic guys.
I thought the Saints were the best team in 2005, we should have won the premiership that year, but for some poor selections of injured / unfit players and a bit of bad luck. So I looked to 2006 to recoup the premiership we should have had. We started out poorly and came good to make the finals. We were eliminated by MELBOURNE !! Again - it was due to injuries rather than not being good enough. This was the year that Grant Thomas was sacked. Milney had a poorer year than usual - the era of specialist small forwards was dying a painful death. Player rotations, midfielders running 20k +, higher demands and expectations meant that a team with a specialist small forward essentially had one less player to rotate through the midfield - giving opposition teams an advantage in running power. Milney was pushed into rotations but wasn't very good - his career was on the line.
2007 - This was always going to be a year where we adjusted to the new coach and learned a new gameplan. We started out ordinary and came home with a wet sail - auguring well for a 2008. Before the coach was even selected Milne was suggested as a trade and even was thought to be a real chance to be delisted before Lyon stepped in and told them he was a needed player. 2007 was another ordinary year for Milney. He did improve as a midfielder but simply wasn't as good as other players at it. His stats showed steady improvement but he wasn't terribly effective. Karen and I would often guage a match as one we're going to win if Milney got a goal early. So rarely was it that we won without him contributing that we took it almost as a superstitious omen - Milney's got a goal - we're going to win
2008 - The year it all came together - or it was supposed to be.
Disaster so far for the Saints. All indicators suggest that the Saints are on the decline. Karen and I are frustrated by our lack of success and we rue Milney's inability to contribute via a passing game. He was once the leagues highest goal assist player. Now he can rarely hit a player on the chest. As an adult player - he plays the safe way - the way he has been taught year after year until it has finally begun to stick. He is kicking drop punts instead of the improvised kicks off the side of his boot as was the trademark of his "childhood". He is playing a conventional game instead of his instinctive game. He gets more stats and at the same time he is less dangerous and less entertaining.
I wish for the old Milney. I want him back. The kid whose Christmases all came at once - every time he kicked a goal.
I know the game has changed. Coaches have devised defensive structures to negate the Riewoldt leading game, they've even nullified the average small forward crumbing game but they never really had an answer for the Milney game.
There is a time when kids make choices that become significant throughout their life. Often these decisions are the safe one where you choose something along the same line as your parents choice. Other choices are polar opposites to your parents choices. Rarely is there anything in-between.
At this stage in this boys life, I chose the polar opposite team to Richmond - the energetic, enthusiastic Saints. My younger brother chose Richmond - and so began a lifetime of brown-nosing dad. (Neither follow Richmond anymore - both support the Lions).
The Saints had their glory time - my hero was Daryl Baldock. I didn't actually go to the Grand Final, but we went to the parade and I got to see my heroes up close.
By 1969 we moved to Queensland and the ensuing years were dry for a Saints starved lad in Queensland. As a late teenager, a mate and I started an annual trip to Melbourne where we left the lovely warm winters of Brisbane and spent up to a month in sleety Victoria catching as many Saints and Kangaroos matches as possible.
Then in 1983 I moved to Melbourne and worked there for 18 months before getting a very nice job offer from my former boss back in Brisbane.
I stuck with that job for 15 years, then had a break and met my fiance, Karen. We moved to Mackay and started a new life together. Karen had her own interests but she intentionally tried to adopt some of mine. The one she found most easy to share with me was my love for the Saints.
Karen and I arrived in Mackay January 2001.
Can you remember what was going on with the Saints at that time?
We had just got two new recruits that were making the headlines - Roo and Kosi. We were chasing a new coach - Malcolm Blight. We had just undergone one of the most profound cleanouts in AFL history and chased trades that would reshape the club and its future.
I suppose one could draw a parallel with the Saints new future and Karen and my new future.
The Saints were deplorable in 2001. The one shining light that Karen and I shared was the emergence of this skinny little player promoted off the rookie list. He showed us pure delight in everything he did. He was a child playing a mans game but he was having lots of fun and we were vicariously sharing in that uncomplicated fun. Stephen Milne allowed me to enjoy the Saints disappointing 2001 season.
Do you remember the sacking? The caretaker coach, the seach for a new coach. The bounty of the 2001 draft.
2002 was meant to be much better, but injuries to senior players meant that we had to play kids. It gave them a leg up for later seasons but we were again expected to accept the poor results. Milney was again a highlight. Karen and I would laugh at his antics and remark at his potency - he was deadly in front of goal.
In 2003 the Saints had a break-even year (11 wins, 11 losses) with wins over highly ranked Adelaide and Brisbane. After the win against Brisbane we had a drop in form. Injuries to a few key defenders showed up our lack of depth. The improvement being shown by all players but especially the younger brigade augured well for the future. The Saints finished the season with four impressive wins and a narrow loss to Geelong. Karen and I were getting more enthusiastic over the off season - and I started to spend a fair bit of time getting enthusiastic on the footy forums extolling the bright future of the Saints.
In 2004 the Saints started like a bull at a gate, winning the Wizard Cup, then going on to win the first ten in a row of the H&A season before coming back to earth somewhat. Then followed a recovery that saw them fail by a goal in a genuine push for a Grand Final berth. The early season success focused a lot of attention on the Saints. For the first time since 97/98 they became the hunted. They had a long season of intensity and gained finals experience. The attacking game of the Saints was very successful and we were able to carry a specialist forward pocket like Milne even if he wasn't kicking goals. But he was easily carrying his own weight.
In 2005 the Saints were preseason favourites for the flag, but the first half of the season was dominated by injuries. Just past the half way mark of the season, St Kilda remained out of the top eight and many had decided that they couldn't figure in the finals. They proceded to win 8 of the next 9 H&A games, their only defeat being against Fremantle at Subiaco with a kick after the siren. That game saw a number of players injured and was contraversial due to remarks made supposedly by one of the umpires officiating the match. They played the qualifying final in Adelaide against Adelaide FC and won, then returned to Melbourne with a week off before playing Sydney in the preliminary final. I think this was Milney's best year - he kicked 61 goals. I can't express how much the common admiration for Milney linked Karen and myself through our footy enjoyment. Karen and I drove from Mackay to Melbourne with three kids in tow - to watch the prelim - only to see them lose. We had hoped to watch the Saints in the GF as well, but alas it was not to be
We did get to see Milney and the boys training. We also met Rob Harvey and Aaron Hamill and our kids had their photos with these fantastic guys.
I thought the Saints were the best team in 2005, we should have won the premiership that year, but for some poor selections of injured / unfit players and a bit of bad luck. So I looked to 2006 to recoup the premiership we should have had. We started out poorly and came good to make the finals. We were eliminated by MELBOURNE
!! Again - it was due to injuries rather than not being good enough. This was the year that Grant Thomas was sacked. Milney had a poorer year than usual - the era of specialist small forwards was dying a painful death. Player rotations, midfielders running 20k +, higher demands and expectations meant that a team with a specialist small forward essentially had one less player to rotate through the midfield - giving opposition teams an advantage in running power. Milney was pushed into rotations but wasn't very good - his career was on the line.2007 - This was always going to be a year where we adjusted to the new coach and learned a new gameplan. We started out ordinary and came home with a wet sail - auguring well for a 2008. Before the coach was even selected Milne was suggested as a trade and even was thought to be a real chance to be delisted before Lyon stepped in and told them he was a needed player. 2007 was another ordinary year for Milney. He did improve as a midfielder but simply wasn't as good as other players at it. His stats showed steady improvement but he wasn't terribly effective. Karen and I would often guage a match as one we're going to win if Milney got a goal early. So rarely was it that we won without him contributing that we took it almost as a superstitious omen - Milney's got a goal - we're going to win
2008 - The year it all came together - or it was supposed to be.
Disaster so far for the Saints. All indicators suggest that the Saints are on the decline. Karen and I are frustrated by our lack of success and we rue Milney's inability to contribute via a passing game. He was once the leagues highest goal assist player. Now he can rarely hit a player on the chest. As an adult player - he plays the safe way - the way he has been taught year after year until it has finally begun to stick. He is kicking drop punts instead of the improvised kicks off the side of his boot as was the trademark of his "childhood". He is playing a conventional game instead of his instinctive game. He gets more stats and at the same time he is less dangerous and less entertaining.
I wish for the old Milney. I want him back. The kid whose Christmases all came at once - every time he kicked a goal.
I know the game has changed. Coaches have devised defensive structures to negate the Riewoldt leading game, they've even nullified the average small forward crumbing game but they never really had an answer for the Milney game.
