'Plugger’, ‘Banger’, ‘Spida’ and ‘Buckets’ said it all.

This was a decade of larger-than-life characters and even bigger moments.

We're taking a trip down memory lane to celebrate the ‘90s as part of our new Through the Ages series.

Here are our contenders for a spot in the 1990s Team of the Decade backline.

Max Hudghton

Games: 234
Career: 1997-2009
Selected: Pick No 15, 1996 National Draft.
Accolades: St Kilda Hall of Fame inductee (2019)

One of the Saints’ most resolute full-backs for over a decade, whose commitment and passion were matched by his defensive prowess.

Max Hudghton’s thumping spoil served as his most dangerous weapon, while his versatility and ability to shut down the game’s great forwards proved his importance week after week.

The mainstay defender was part of the 1997 Grand Final side – his debut season – before calling time on his hard-fought 234-game career after the heartbreak of 2009.

Hudghton was inducted into the St Kilda Hall of Fame in 2019 alongside teammates Lenny Hayes, Stephen Milne and Peter Everitt. 

Danny Frawley

Games: 240
Career: 1984-1995
Accolades: Trevor Barker Award winner (1988), All Australian (1988), St Kilda captain (1987-1995), 11 x Victorian representative, St Kilda Hall of Fame inductee (2007)

Danny Frawley was one of St Kilda’s favourite sons, whose tragic passing in 2019 is still difficult to comprehend.

The boy from Bungaree’s heart and spirit had an enormous impact at the Saints both on and off the field, where he led the defence as one of the toughest and uncompromising full-backs of his era.

Frawley took the reins as skipper in 1987 and went on to lead the side all the way up to his retirement in 1995, overtaking Darrel Baldock’s record of longest-serving captain.

Shane Wakelin

Games: 94 (St Kilda), 158 (Collingwood)
Career: 1994-2000 (St Kilda), 2001-2008 (Collingwood)
Accolades: Rising Star nominee (1994)

An adaptable player who was strong down back and up forward, Shane Wakelin became an important part of the Saints’ 1990s line-up alongside his identical twin brother, Darryl.

Initially starting his career as a half-forward, Wakelin’s permanent move to defence in 1998 spelled his most successful season, where he fought well against the big forwards of the era, including Tony Lockett.

Injuries hampered his run in 1997, and despite a spirited fightback in the last few games of the season, saw him miss that year’s Grand Final.  

After a series of injury-riddled years in the waning stages of his career at the Saints, Wakelin was delisted and rounded out his successful career at Collingwood.

Justin Peckett

Games: 252
Career: 1992-2006
Accolades: Trevor Barker Award runner-up (1994), Victorian representative (1998)
Selected: Pick No. 49, 1992 Pre-season draft

Justin Peckett was one of St Kilda’s most enduring defenders, whose worth was reflected in his 252 games for the club.

The handy Saint became well-known for his dashes out of the back half, with his knack for finding space and setting up plays holding the red, white and black in good stead.

Although tipped to retire several times throughout his time at the Saints, the seasons kept rolling over for Peckett, who was used in burst roles across the 2000s.

Peckett rolled the dice for one final season in a bid to secure the club’s elusive second Premiership, before closing the book on his career at the end of 2006. 

Darryl Wakelin

Games: 115 (St Kilda), 146 (Port Adelaide)
Career: 1995-2000 (St Kilda), 2001-2007 (Port Adelaide)
Accolades: Premiership player (2004)
Selected: Pick No. 13, 1993 Pre-season Draft (Adelaide)

Darryl Wakelin was one of the Saints’ most prominent backmen throughout the 1990s, and alongside his twin brother Shane, were two of the club’s key defensive pillars.

The tough and trustworthy defender locked down the centre-half back post by 1997 and was one of St Kilda’s best players in that season’s Grand Final.

Wakelin was part of the Saints' leadership group under Stan Alves, and during this time was regarded as one of the competition’s most able defenders.

The Wakelin brothers departed St Kilda at the end of 2000, with Darryl moving back to his native Adelaide and enjoying Premiership success with the Power. 

Austinn Jones

Games: 226
Career: 1995-2005
Accolades: Rising Star nominee (1995), All Australian (1997, 2004)
Selected: Pick No. 48, 1994 National Draft

Whenever you say the name “Aussie Jones”, you can feel your mouth curl up into a slight smile.

The speedy Saint established himself as one of the best half-back flankers in the league, despite being doubted for his small frame and slight figure.

Jones’ lightning-quick pace and a love for coast-to-coast runs provided some of his best passages of play across his decade-spanning career – his Goal of the Year in 1997 the perfect example.

Jones shocked the football world by announcing his retirement in 2005, but ended his time as one of the most iconic Saints of his era. 

Steven Sziller

Games: 118 (St Kilda), 38 (Richmond)
Career: 1995-2000 (St Kilda), 2001-2002 (Richmond)
Accolades: South Australian representative (1998)
Selected: Pick No. 25, 1994 National Draft

After coming to Moorabbin from Woodville-West Torrens, Steven Sziller made his mark right from the get-go.

The hardworking Saint earned his place in the side as a small defender and played every game in his debut season – a feat that wouldn’t be matched until Callum Wilkie in 2019.

He was part of the Saints’ 1997 Grand Final side, but also showed his prowess as a tagger; his battles with Nathan Buckley and Gary Hocking earned him praise as the “baby-faced assassin”.

Sziller was delisted in 2000, before being given a lifeline by Richmond coach and former teammate, Danny Frawley, for a further two seasons. 

Jamie Shanahan

Games: 125 (St Kilda), 37 (Melbourne)
Career: 1992-1997 (St Kilda), 1998-1999 (Melbourne)
Accolades: 2 x Tasmanian representative, 3 x The Allies representative
Selected: Pick No. 92, 1990 National Draft

Jamie Shanahan was an incredibly late draft pick who turned into one of the Saints’ most reliable key backmen throughout the 1990s.

Known for his strength one-on-one and skill in reining in the competition’s best forwards, the Hobart recruit completed a formidable backline alongside Max Hudghton and the Wakelin twins.

The six-time State of Origin representative left the Saints after not being offered a long-term contract in 1997, playing two seasons for Melbourne to round out his career.

David Grant

Games: 191 (St Kilda), 7 (Melbourne)
Career: 1984-1995 (St Kilda), 1996 (Melbourne)
Accolades: All Australian (1991), Tasmanian representative (1991)

A versatile talent who could play up either end of the ground, David Grant was an impressive force throughout the '80s and '90s.

Known for his one-handed marking ability and being drafted as a 15-year-old, the City South product went on to become one of the Saints’ most reliable players.

As his career went on, Grant earned All Australian selection in 1991 and was held in high regard as one of the most respected defenders in the league.

Grant rounded out his career at Melbourne, adding seven games to take his tally to 198 senior games.

Matthew Lappin

Games: 55 (St Kilda), 196 (Carlton)
Career: 1994-1998 (St Kilda), 1999-2007 (Carlton)
Accolades: All Australian (2004), Leading Goalkicker (2001), Mark of the Year (1999)
Selected: Pick No. 40, 1993 National Draft

Although the bulk of his career was spent at the Blues, Matthew Lappin’s decorated career began with the red, white and black.

The skinny flanker spent time down back and up forward, cementing his spot in the line-up after an incredibly consistent campaign in 1997 which guided the Saints to their first Grand Final since 1971.

Lappin was traded to the Blues in exchange for two draft picks at the end of the 1998 season, where he went on to kick 221 goals and add 196 games to his impressive tally.

Jayson Daniels

Games: 115 (St Kilda), 58 (Sydney)
Career: 1988-1992, 1996-1998 (St Kilda), 1993-1995 (Sydney)

Two stints at St Kilda across sandwiched between a brief run at Sydney has Jayson Daniels with one of the most unique careers at Moorabbin.

The red-headed Saint was often deployed as a defender or as a tagger after first being drafted to the club, and fulfilled a similar role upon his return in 1996.

Daniels was selected in the 1997 Grand Final side, with his hard-hitting plays – despite shoulder injuries – lasting up until his retirement the following year.

Jason Cripps

Games: 60
Career: 1996-2002

Jason Cripps’ ball-winning ability and competitive style of play in defence rendered him a regular contributor for St Kilda throughout the late 1990s.

After playing in the 1997 Grand Final and firming towards a solid career, the fiery Saint was cut down after tearing his hamstring off the bone in 1998.

He didn’t play another senior game until 2001, where he kicked a goal with his first kick.