ST KILDA will make a return to the Junction oval on Monday for an open training run.

The Saints will have a light session beginning at 5.30pm as they prepare for their round one clash with Melbourne, before signing autographs for fans.

The Junction Oval, officially named St Kilda Cricket Ground, was the Saints home for 564 VFL matches from 1897-1964.

While the venue has since been a first class cricket venue and an amateur football ground, the Junction Oval remains the sporting heartbeat of the bayside region.

Situated at the junction between St Kilda Road and Fitzroy Street and adjacent to the Albert Park Lake, the ground saw 257 St Kilda wins.

Bill Mohr booted a record 397 goals in just 98 games at the ground, while Harry Lever and Fitzroy’s Garry Wilson each played 108 matches there.

The Junction Oval is no longer directly affiliated with St Kilda Football Club, with Linen House Centre in Seaford the Saints elite training facility. Moorabbin remains the club’s community hub after hosting 254 games from 1965-1992.

Fans are invited to attend from 5pm, while the merchandise truck and a membership marquee will be in attendance.

St Kilda Football Club suggests fans enter from the Fitzroy Street side rather than Kings Way.

DID YOU KNOW?
- St Kilda also played 16 away games at the Junction – 13 against Fitzroy and three against South Melbourne.
- In its last home game at the venue in August 1964, the Saints defeated Geelong by 12 points in front of over 37,000 fans.
- The current capacity of the ground is 8,000.
- Melbourne’s Fred Fanning holds the VFL/AFL record for most goals in a match, booting 18 in round 19, 1947 at the Junction Oval.
- 34 years later, Grant Thomas collected 38 disposals against Fitzroy – a St Kilda Football Club record at the ground.
- St Kilda moved to Moorabbin Oval mostly motivated by its desire to operate its own venue, rather than be the tenant for the owner St Kilda CC.
- The first ever women’s football match was played at the Junction in 1921
- The Junction hosted three Grand Finals in 1898, 1899 and 1944.

You can follow Tom Morris on Twitter: @tommorris32