How do you define a cult hero?

The Saints have had more than their share over the years, occupying a special place in the hearts of the red, white and black faithful.

The cult heroes are a distinct group apart from the superstars like Robert Harvey, Tony Lockett, Nick Riewoldt, Lenny Hayes, Trevor Barker, Nathan Burke, Stewart Loewe and co that have been famous across the pages of history.

The cult heroes usually have distinctive traits that endear them to us  – it may be because they are really big or really small, maybe a memorable haircut or a buccaneering style of footy that is their trademark.

It’s fair to say that in many respects Peter 'Spida' Everitt and Stephen Milne are cult figures, but they had long and glittering careers and were also genuinely famous for long-term contributions.

Here’s a quick selection of cult heroes that strike a chord.

Austinn 'Aussie' Jones

He was a two time All-Australian and had 226 games for our St Kilda, but Aussie Jones never had an easy ride. Overlooked as a senior player by several other clubs who considered him to be too small, Aussie thrived when given a chance by St Kilda, and his electrifying pace was a feature of the era. Who could ever forget his multi-bounce run that produced the goal of the day in the ’97 Grand Final.

Warren 'Wow' Jones

A second Jones who was different to Aussie in every respect – tattoos, size and speed.

'Wow' Jones played just 31 games with us, starting at 32 years of age after coming from Carlton. But he was beloved not just by fans, but by those young teammates who walked taller when he was playing alongside them. At 200cm, he was an imposing figure and gave every ounce of effort. In one memorable display at Geelong he inspired an unlikely victory and was so physically spent that he briefly fell to his knees in sheer exhaustion.

Con Gorozidis

St Kilda fans were left gasping when they saw a dynamic performance by a kid dubbed 'The Golden Greek', Con Gorozidis, in an under-19s game that was curtain raiser to the Saints-Hawks clash at Moorabbin in 1981.

Within a month, Gorozidis was elevated to the senior side. Exceptionally skilled in all facets of the game, Gorozidis produced some great moments, but he was in the awkward build range  - a little too short for a key position, and not quite fast enough for a flank. Nevertheless, he should have notched more than 29 games and 64 goals, but commitment to training wasn’t a strong point.

Jason Heatley

West Coast gave him just three games at senior level across two seasons, but his dominance in the WAFL convinced St Kilda that he was a great prospect. He was a deadly kick for goal from set shots and in his first season in 1997, Heatley was a vital part of the surge to the AFL Grand Final. His preliminary final return of seven goals straight against North Melbourne was the high point of his career.

Fraser Gehrig

The 'G-Train' was, like Milne and Everitt, more than just a cult figure, and any player who tops the AFL goalkicking twice and passes the century in a season is in the top echelon.

But his whole persona fitted perfectly with St Kilda Football Club and the fans adored him. With that familiar mullet hairdo, he was capable of big marks and long-range goals, and was a matchwinner at full-forward, yet was certainly no stereotype in his approach and manner. He didn’t like the analogy of one commentator who said he was like a carpet snake lazing in the sun, ready to strike suddenly and decisively, but that was a reasonable assessment of his style.

Lazar Vidovic

Even after a quarter of a century, Lazar Vidovic is still baled up by Saints fans who tell him that if he had played in the 1997 AFL Grand Final, St Kilda would have won the premiership.

A knee injury in the last home and away game that year ended his premiership dream and his football career. At 32, he already knew he was in the twilight of his football saga and we can only contemplate what mayhem would have ensued if he had been on the ground in that  ’97 play-off.  Strong and aggressive, he was a tough operator who was genuinely adored by teammates and the crowd in which one diehard shouted the immortal line “Create the loose monster Lazar!” as he bolted through the middle at Moorabbin.

Geoff 'Joffa' Cunningham

Through the darkest days of the 1980s, Joffa Cunningham was a mainstay of the club. As a talented winger he represented Victoria, and with the Saints he could also take a turn at centre half -forward on occasion.

Raised on the often muddy grounds of Ballarat, he revelled in the heavy going and never conceded an inch to the opposition. His buccaneering style and whole-hearted approach won the hearts of a generation of Saints fans.

Greg Burns

Greg Burns had an unflinching and relentless approach to his football and was a centreman of the highest order. A laconic sort of bloke off the field, he was totally ruthless once he ran down the race.

Burns admitted he never saw anything funny about the game, and teammates admired the way that he would always tell the unbending truth within the four walls of the club.

Paddy Ryder

How many times have you heard Saints fans ponder how good it would have been if Paddy Ryder had worn the red, white and black 10 years earlier?

By the time he came to St Kilda, Paddy Ryder had already amassed an imposing profile in 243 AFL games, that earned a club best and fairest at Port Adelaide and All-Australian selection. Making his Saints debut at the age of 33, he played just 38 games with the Saints but left an indelible mark, not only as a ruckman with classic footy smarts, but also as a positive influence on his teammates, especially fellow ruck Rowan Marshall.