With one match remaining in 2019, Sam Rowe will at last play his 100th career game.
It will be 364 days since Rowe’s last AFL outing, with his form in the VFL and crucial role in several young Saints’ development seeing him earn a spot in the best 22.
But throughout St Kilda’s history, there have been some who haven’t been quite as fortunate in bringing up their own career milestones.
Here’s five Saints who - despite decorated careers - fell just short.
1. Lenny Hayes
297 career games
The No. 7 is chaired off the field in his final game by teammates James Gwilt and Nick Riewoldt.
Lenny Hayes was as tough as they come.
Universally admired for his courage, the three-time All Australian and Trevor Barker Award Winner distinguished himself as one of the club’s most loyal and beloved servants.
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While he’ll forever be immortalised as a legend of the Saints, Hayes fell just short of joining the revered 300 Club.
Two season-ending ACL injuries in 2006 and 2011 greatly hindered his total games tally, with the No. 7 just shy of esteemed company Robert Harvey, Nathan Burke, Stewart Loewe, Barry Breen and Nick Riewoldt.
Despite those final three matches eluding him, Hayes will forever be remembered as a St Kilda legend.
2. Wels Eicke
197 games for St Kilda
Wels Eicke was highly regarded within the club for taking one of the best marks against Essendon in 1912.
Wellessley ‘Wels’ Eicke was St Kilda’s second-youngest debutant at 15 years and 314 days.
Making his debut in 1909, the champion swimmer began his career as a rover before becoming one of the league’s best defenders.
He eventually captained the red, white (briefly yellow) and black from 1919-1924.
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Eicke departed the Saints to become North Melbourne’s inaugural captain-coach in 1924, before returning to Moorabbin for one final season in 1926.
In a career spanning 17 seasons, the veteran finished three games short of 200 club games, but did pass the 200-mark from a career perspective thanks to his stint at the Shinboners.
Eicke was also known for being just one of three players in the game’s history to call for a head count.
3. Clinton Jones
149 career games
Clinton Jones started his career slowly after breaking his collarbone, but emerged to become a regular fixture in the years to come.
One of the cult figures of the 2010s, Clinton Jones became an integral part of St Kilda’s line-up during Ross Lyon’s era.
Drafted to the Saints at 22 years old, the West Australian wingman cemented a spot in the senior side after a stellar 2008 campaign.
Regarded as one of the most effective taggers of his time, Jones’ tagging ability was surpassed only by his running capacity and fitness.
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After three Grand Final appearances and 149 games in the red, white and black, the South Coogee product was delisted at the end of 2014.
Jones was signed as a top-up player for Essendon’s NAB Challenge side following the supplements scandal, but did not play a senior game to reach the 150-game milestone.
4. Aaron Hamill
98 games for St Kilda
Aaron Hamill was one of St Kilda's forward powerhouses in the 2000s.
When it came to respected Saints, Aaron ‘Sammy’ Hamill was at the top of the tree.
The No. 2 was admired for his bravery and professionalism, with his commanding presence formative in St Kilda’s success in the mid-2000s.
One of three high-profile recruits in 2000 along with Fraser Gehrig and Steven Lawrence, Hamill quickly earned a reputation as a loyal and uncompromising Saint.
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The powerful forward captained the club in 2003 and formed part of the damaging forward line of Riewoldt, Gehrig, Loewe and Milne.
Hamill’s career was cruelly cut short by debilitating injuries, with his retirement coming after missing the entire 2007 season.
‘Sammy’ played 98 games for the Saints after five seasons at Carlton, and is currently part of St Kilda’s coaching group.
5. Andy Stewart
49 career games
Andy Stewart played four seasons for St Kilda before retiring.
St Kilda’s leading goalkicker in 1898 and 1899; Andy Stewart may have been potent on the scoreboard, but tasted little on-field success.
The South Yarra local only notched up the one win in his career, with the result decided after an official protest which determined St Kilda as the winner.
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‘Nixey’ was one of three Stewart brothers to don the red, white and black, with twins George and Walter enjoying brief careers in the VFL.
Stewart represented the Saints from 1898-1901 to kick 47 goals, retiring on 49 games after the Round 5 clash against Carlton.
