1966 VFL Grand Final — Saints’ Only Premiership

The 1966 VFL Grand Final saw St Kilda defeat Collingwood 10.14 (74) to 10.13 (73) at the MCG — a 1-point margin that delivered the Saints their only VFL/AFL premiership. Played on 24 September 1966 in front of 101,655 fans, St Kilda’s premiership was their first ever. Allan Jeans’s coaching delivered the historic flag. The Saints’ continuing post-1966 hex began this very moment — they have not won another flag since.

The Build-Up: Saints’ Breakthrough

St Kilda, founded in 1873, had never won a VFL flag in 69 years of trying. Allan Jeans had taken over as senior coach and progressively built a finals-grade squad. Darrel Baldock (the captain), Ian Stewart (the Brownlow Medallist), Ross Smith — multiple senior Saints in form.

Collingwood, under coach Bob Rose, had reached the Grand Final after years of finals contention. The Magpies’ continuing post-1958 drought (Colliwobbles) was already painful.

The Match: A 1-Point Heartbreaker

The match was tight throughout. Both teams attacked. The lead changed multiple times. The fourth quarter was extraordinarily tense — the Saints needed every disposal.

The defining moment: Barry Breen’s wobbly point — a kick that bounced through for a behind, putting the Saints ahead by 1 point in the dying minutes. The Saints held on.

Final score: St Kilda 10.14 (74) defeated Collingwood 10.13 (73) — a 1-point margin.

The Norm Smith Medal: N/A (Pre-1979)

Norm Smith Medal not yet instituted. BOG widely recognised as Ian Stewart of St Kilda.

The Premiership Coach: Allan Jeans (First)

Allan Jeans collected his first Jock McHale Medal in 1966. He’d later add 1986, 1988, 1989, 1991 at Hawthorn.

Famous Moments

• Barry Breen’s wobbly point — match-winning behind in the dying minutes.
• Ian Stewart’s defiant brilliance — Brownlow Medallist.
• Darrel Baldock’s captaincy.
• Ross Smith’s pressure work.
• The 1-point margin — closest Grand Final at the time.
• Allan Jeans’s emotional first Cup lift.
• The Saints’ first-ever VFL flag.
• The crowd of 101,655.
• The Saints’ supporter celebrations.
• The Colliwobbles continuing.

Trivia for the Pub

• Date: 24 September 1966, MCG.
• Final: St Kilda 10.14 (74) defeated Collingwood 10.13 (73).
• Margin: 1 point.
• Crowd: 101,655.
• St Kilda’s 1st (and only) VFL/AFL premiership.
• Saints had been founded in 1873 — 93-year drought-breaker.
• Allan Jeans’s first Jock McHale Medal.
• Norm Smith Medal not yet instituted.
• Barry Breen’s wobbly point is one of the most-replayed moments in VFL history.
• The 1966 win launched the Saints’ continuing single-flag legacy.

The Verdict

The 1966 VFL Grand Final delivered St Kilda their only premiership. Barry Breen’s wobbly point, Ian Stewart’s brilliance, Allan Jeans’s first flag, and the 1-point margin — all combined for one of the most-celebrated Grand Finals of the era. Long live the 1966 Saints.

The 1966 win remains St Kilda’s only VFL/AFL premiership. The subsequent decades have produced multiple Grand Final losses (1971, 1997, 2009, 2010 draw, 2010 replay) — all painful, all reinforcing the Saints’ “perpetual underdog” identity. The 1966 flag is increasingly mythologised in St Kilda culture as years pass without another.

For Collingwood, the 1966 loss continued the Colliwobbles. The Magpies wouldn’t win until 1990 — a 32-year drought.