TWENTY years go, St Kilda historian Russell Holmesby documented his top 20 Saints of all time. Before the days of social media and comment streams at the foot of online articles, the list wasn't as widely publicised as it would have been in today's world.
Since then, the Saints have played in four Grand Finals and produced some of the greatest players of the modern era, leading Holmesby to extend his list by five.
This is Russell Holmesby's top 25, ranking number four.
Click HERE to view the ORIGINAL top 20.
Click HERE to view players ranked 25-21.
Click HERE to view players ranked 20-16.
Click HERE to view players ranked 15-11.
Click HERE to view players ranked 10-6.
No. 5: Nick Riewoldt
WHO WILL BE RANKED NO.3? Find out Monday 12 January.
4. Robert Harvey (17)
Born: August 21, 1971
Debut: Round 19, 1988
Games: 383
Goals: 215
Height: 181cm
Weight: 86kg
The dual Brownlow Medallist was universally regarded as one of the modern game's greats. He covered an amazing amount of territory and opposing sides often alternated taggers on him because no one individual could keep with him for more than a quarter. His twinkle-toed evasion in packs was a great natural talent.
He was a remorseless individual on the training track and coach Stan Alves would tell him to go inside for a rest only to find out that Harvey went for a long run around the streets. Measures of his excellence were club best and fairest awards in 1992, 1994, 1997 and 1998 and three E.J. Whitten Medals for Victoria's best player in state games.
His father Jeff was the son of Merv Harvey who played one Test for Australia. Robert was therefore the grand-nephew of Test great Neil Harvey. His father Jeff once said that Robert had the "Harvey waddle".
VIDEO: Robert Harvey inducted into Saints Hall of Fame
Harvey ran his first Melbourne marathon at the age of 13 and made his League debut as a skinny 16 year-old in 1988. In the 1990 pre-season he added 10 kgs to his 70 kg frame and eventually built to 89 kgs. As a kid Harvey was reluctant to try out with St Kilda and was also hesitant to try out for the Teal Cup side.
He preferred to stay with his mates at Seaford. When he arrived at Moorabbin as a kid he thought he was wasting his time. As the numbers were culled one of the others in the team was Shane Warne.
Harvey during the 1997 AFL Grand Final.
Harvey played his first under-19 game in the back-pocket and advanced from the thirds to the firsts in a matter of weeks. He missed 12 games because of a broken ankle in 1989 then became the most intensive trainer at the club and it had the damaging side-effect of causing shin splints and back trouble. Then there were thigh and hamstring injuries from which he would come back too soon.
The free-spending Fremantle chased him late in 1995, but he resisted. At the start of 1997 before each game skills coach Peter Banfield would write on Harvey's hand "kick long". He tried to eradicate the 20-metre toe-poke to a teammate which may have originated when passing to Tony Lockett in his younger days.
He modified his game in 1997 according to Alves who said that he no longer thought he had to grind an opponent into the ground by being on the ball all day. In later years he gave teammates a rare insight to his mental approach by saying that there was a point, usually early in the first quarter, when midfield opponents had a confrontation in which one would emerge with a broken spirit and he always made sure it was not him. His elusiveness and ability to change direction at full pace were a rarity.
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When he won his 1997 Brownlow in controversial circumstances he said it was a "hollow victory" because Chris Grant had been ruled ineligible, but Harvey was a true champion and he netted most of the media awards for the year. His follow-up Brownlow in 1998 sealed his reputation beyond any doubt. In 2001 he was appointed captain of the Saints under new coach Malcolm Blight, but the season ended prematurely when he badly injured a knee in mid-season and required a reconstruction.
Harvey is presented the 1997 Brownlow Medal by 1996 winners Michael Voss and James Hird.
A shoulder injury in mid-2002 brought another early ending to his season and he handed over the captaincy. When some sceptics were writing him off Harvey returned to the fray in 2003 playing every game and showing vintage form in earning All-Australian selection for the eighth time. His coach Grant Thomas said that Harvey's spell in the coach's box had made him aware of the need to help those around him and his play had directly helped Lenny Hayes and Luke Ball.
Harvey played every game in 2003 and ran second in the best and fairest. He admitted after the season that if injuries had struck again he probably would have retired. He continued to be a fine player in 2004 despite advancing years and was exceptional in his 300th game - the preliminary final which St Kilda lost.
He single-handedly won the Saints a final against Adelaide and even in his final seasons he was still the one that others looked to in times of real pressure. He played every game in 2006 and ran fourth in the best and fairest. He had a memorable game in his 350th appearance for the Saints against West Coast in Perth and continued to be a vital player, running seventh in the 2007 best and fairest and sixth in his final year.
Harvey was St Kilda's best and fairest in 1992, 1994, 1997 and 1998. He represented Victoria eight times and was chosen as an All-Australian in 1992, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999 and 2003.
Harvey is chaired off following his 383rd and final AFL match.
