The St Kilda Football Club will call the MCG home this Saturday night when it hosts Essendon to celebrate its 150th year anniversary.
St Kilda first played at the MCG way back on June 22, 1889, with Carlton defeating the Saints in front of a crowd of 6,000 people.
That number will be significantly higher when the Saints step onto the hallowed turf this Saturday night against the Bombers – two clubs that have met only once in a VFL/AFL Grand Final (1965).
The Saints have played a number of memorable fixtures here at the ‘G, dating back to the first Grand Final they played in, which was way back in 1913 against Fitzroy in front of a crowd of 59, 556.
Fast forward to 1966, the year the Saints would become premiers by the narrowest of margins.
Barry Breen’s winning point against Collingwood is possibly the most iconic moment in the Club’s history.
After a number of Grand Final appearances over the decades to follow, the Saints would find themselves back at the MCG on the last day in September in 2009, narrowly defeated by Geelong before going on to make the Grand Final again 12 months later.
While it is a memory that stirs up heartache for fans - the image of Saints and Collingwood players slumped to the ground after the final siren of the drawn 2010 AFL Grand Final depicts a moment forever remembered in MCG history – scores level, no premiers crowned.
An eerie feeling with 100, 016 fans left stunned, in pure disbelief.
This image sits in the Melbourne Cricket Club Committee Room and the Members’ Reserve among an array of iconic moments at the MCG in its 170 year history.
Despite neither team holding the premiership cup aloft that day, one of the Saints’ favourite sons, Lenny Hayes, was awarded the Norm Smith Medal following an admirable effort, befitting for someone of his calibre.
On Saturday night against Essendon at the MCG, the Saints will pay homage to the 1966 premiership team, with the current side to run out in a guernsey that has been specially designed based on what was worn the day they defeated Collingwood to become premiers for the only time in the club’s history.
St Kilda’s history at the MCG:
First match at the MCG: June 22, 1889: Carlton def. St KildaFirst League (VFL/AFL) match at the MCG: May 29, 1897 (VFL Round 4): Melbourne 11.10 (76) def. St Kilda 7.4 (46)
First League (VFL/AFL) win at the MCG: July 25, 1903 (VFL Round 14): St Kilda 9.7 (61) def. Melbourne 4.8 (32)
Games played at the MCG (From 1897 until now - the conclusion of Round 2, 2023): 231 VFL/AFL matches at the MCG
Highest VFL/AFL score on the MCG: 21.18 (204) v Melbourne on May 6, 1978 (VFL Round 6)
Goal of the Year: 1997 - Austinn Jones v Adelaide, 1997 AFL Grand Final
Mark of the Year: 1992 – Nicky Winmar v Essendon, Round 16
.jpg)
