As we approach this week’s vital clash against Richmond, it is timely to recall a day when St Kilda showed incredible resilience.

When the under-siege Saints trudged off Waverley Park at half-time of their 1975 clash with the Tigers, they could be excused for thinking all was lost. 

The red, white and black had just endured a second quarter which produced just three behinds against Richmond’s seven majors. 

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St Kilda had kicked woefully for goal, with Kevin ‘Cowboy’ Neale the only man to kick true in the first two quarters. 

The 9.8 to 1.8 scoreline looked to be the basis of an easy day for the Tigers, who had won the previous two flags.

This was usually the scenario that Richmond relished, as they rarely lost games when they had such a big lead. 

But as The Sun’s Peter Simunovich wrote: “Richmond cracked, crumbled and finally collapsed” in the final hour. 

Russell Greene and Paul Callery scored goals in the opening two minutes to stir the embers of a revival. 

A key figure in the remarkable turnaround was the brilliant and often unpredictable Allan Davis, who was on the bench until half-time.

Given a free hand by coach Allan Jeans in a ruck-roving role, Davis stunned Richmond, working in concert with half-forward Barry Breen and Callery through the centre.

St Kilda cut Richmond to pieces in a devastating seven-goal-to-three third term. 

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Even then, the Tigers still held a four-goal lead at the final change.

St Kilda had the scent of an upset in their nostrils, and through their sheer persistence and rediscovering of cohesive teamwork, the normally rock-solid Richmond defence crumbled.

The Saints’ strongly built centre-half back, Russell Reynolds, played a magnificent game to out-bump and out-mark star Tiger centre half-forward, Royce Hart.

Meanwhile, the Saints poured on another six goals to run away to a 12-point win. 

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The 13-goal second half had come while Richmond could scrape through just four goals in reply.

Editor of the Saint magazine, Jules Feldman, was moved to wax lyrical in Biblical terms. 

Jules’ colourful prose enhanced a great St Kilda memory as he lauded the inspiration provided by coach Jeans at half-time.

MIRACLES 1975

It came to pass on that time when there was celebration of a day when a monarch first saw the light that the people did gather at Waverley even in a stadium rising higher than that tower which was in Babel to witness combat between mighty warriors known as Tigers and those who wore the halos of Saints.

There were among them followers of the Tigers who did raise a banner so that all could see, upon which were inscribed holy words.

And these were the words. "God help the Saints."

And in the first quarter of that combat the Tigers smote the Saints with all their might and the holy ones were laid low.

Then it came to pass in the second quarter that the Tigers were terrible in their glory and the Saints did lose their halos and their spirits seemed departed even unto the grave.

And there was much weeping and wailing in the Stadium for it was grievous in the sight of many. 

But the High Priest spake unto the Saints and uttered pearls of shining wisdom. 

And lo, in the third quarter, eighteen Saints stepped on the field of battle and girded up their loins. 

And the Tigers followed, extolled by shouts and songs of praise. 

Then the Lord lifted up the hearts of all the Saints - yea even those who were on the field of battle, and those who had stayed long and strong in support. 

And the Lord DID help them in the third quarter so that their spirits arose from the dead and the sound of those who sang their praise was now loud upon the earth, yea, louder than those trumpets that, in ancient time, did herald the fall of the walls of Jericho. 

Then cameth the fourth quarter and the Saints arose in their strength even like that unto Samson - yea every one of them. 

And they were even stronger of thigh and fleeter of foot than of yore and rose high above the Tigers so that their heads touched the clouds. 

And from the skies came a storm of goals and the Tigers were no longer yellow and black mouthing fearsome oaths, but pale shades of grey and very silent. 

And then there was heard a blast from heaven and the Tigers slunk from the field of battle. 

And the scribes did write upon their parchments that it was a miracle of the Lord. 

And the prophets, who had spoken for the doom of the Saints stilled their voices for theirs was an arrogance and did not please the Lord of Hosts. 

And loud in the land there was jubilation and even those who did not support the Saints but others, did sing in their praise and did shout "Come on Saints". 

For truly it was a miracle and the Saints did find the favour of God, and He helped them. 

From the Eleventh Match of Oracles, Book of Miracles, Football 1975.

ST KILDA   1.5   1.8   8.11   14.18 (102)
RICHMOND   2.5   9.8   12.11   13.12 (90) 

GOALS: Neale 3, Colling 2, Davis 2, Barker 2, Young 2, Greene, Sarau, Callery
BEST: Reynold, Elliott, Breen, Sarau, Callery, Davis, Young

COACH: Allan Jeans