In his early years at St Kilda, Head had been plagued by injuries and never seemed likely to last.

A dogged back pocket who would always bore in hard for the ball to limit resting rovers, he had the unusual distinction of playing in a reserves premiership in 1961 and a senior flag five years later.

Head was in the fray for most of the high-pressure contests down back; his handy touch here and there paving the way for the eventual victory.

It was another story of redemption for full-back Bob Murray, who overcame the mental scars of a difficult 1965 series when his opponent, Ted Fordham, kicked seven goals in the Grand Final.

Steady in the pressurised finish of the ’66 Grand Final, Murray took the game-saving mark which consolidated the Premiership which had been 93 years in the making.

Unusually, for a man regarded as a superb grab, it was only his second mark for the day.

There's no denying Brian Sierakowski was one of the best afield on Grand Final afternoon with his eight marks, the most of anyone on the field.

Sierakowski's excellent defensive work on resting Magpie talls Ray Gabelich and Len Thompson was brilliant, with close to every Collingwood advancement forward coming with the threat of the intercepting defender coming to the Saints' rescue.

He sprained his ankle late in the match, but gamely battled on.

A broken jaw in Round 13 had kept the superstar full-back out late in the season before returning just in time for the finals.

Howell had lost over five kilograms during his time on the sidelines and did not have a jaw brace removed until after the Grand Final. Although playing as a key forward in recent times, he returned to his usual half-back on the most spectacular afternoon of all.

Despite all the difficulties in the game's lead-up, the Brownlow medallist did his bit and more.

A steadfast and consistent centre half-back. Despite conjecture over whether he would play on the Jewish holiday, Yom Kippur, he was never in doubt after receiving special dispensation to play.

Synman was the only player who didn’t swap jumpers at the end of the game. He said later that he would have swapped if anyone asked but at the moment he just wanted to keep wearing it.

True to his word, Synman caught up with Magpie Terry Waters the following week and swapped the jumper, which he now proudly owns once again.

A seasoned and tough player from Tasmania whose chances had been limited firstly by a clearance wrangle with Tasmania, and then by injuries in his first couple of years.

Bingley came into the side for the Preliminary Final and did well, but suffered a corked thigh. He passed the week's fitness test and when given the vital Grand Final role of containing the dangerous Tuddenham, carried it out to perfection.

Even with Barry Breen's behind, Kevin Neale's five goals and Ian Cooper's best-on-ground display warranting the bulk of admiration, Bingley's in-the-shadows role that day was just as vital in the one-point thriller.

Another young Saint whose name is forever inscribed in St Kilda's annals.

Jeff Moran was a long-kicking winger in his second year at the club after coming from East Brighton, the same local side as Jim Read and Carl Ditterich.

A typical running goal from a distance was crucial in the final term, further fuelling the Saints' comeback in the dying moments, which culminated with Barry Breen's mythical behind.

Unlike his unflustered exterior would project on-field, Ian Stewart was always extremely nervous before a game. But the ground was under his feet, he was eternally calm, no matter what the situation.

A superb centreman without a flaw in his game delivered on that assertion and more having just come into finals days after winning his second consecutive Brownlow Medals.

Stewart just behind Cooper as best afield; his enthralling work through the midfield one of the finest displays of his impeccable career.

Jim Read was unbelievably close to missing out on Grand Final glory altogether.

The young Saint had been troubled by injury late in the season, and even lost his place for the second semi-final as St Kilda took another step towards securing its place in September.

Yet after Ross Oakley was injured with a career-ending knee injury, Read returned for the Preliminary Final and did well the following week.

A hardworking and honest ruckman, Mynott's responsibilities increased exponentially in the absence of Carl Ditterich though suspension.

Mynott produced a typically whole-hearted effort on Grand Final day, including a strong mark in the closing moments which prompted the Ted Whitten commentary line “Slow it down, slow it down!”.

Along with veteran ruckman Alan Morrow, the two proved a perfect pairing on the most exhilarating day of all.

Griffiths been bitterly disappointed with his game at half-back on Collinngwood's Des Tuddenham in the previous semi-final.

He believed that no more than one or two goals should ever be conceded to a half-forward flanker and was distraught after Tuddenham booted a match-winning seven.

Redemption was swift, however, with Griffiths performing well in the ruck-roving role throughout the pulsating, pressure-inducing Grand Final.

An absolutely fearless rover with great stamina, whose Preliminary Final edge over his childhood heroes Essendon’s Jack Clarke and John Birt had paved the way to the Grand Final.

True to the way he conducted himself over his extensive career, Smith never conceded an inch in the Grand Final.

In the closing seconds, it was Smith whose hard running towards Des Tuddenham caused the Collingwood skipper to quickly attempt the long kick downfield, which was bravely cut off by Bob Murray.

The lightly built beanstalk forward may have looked too skinny, but was a classic big-game player and never more so than in the biggest game of all.

A brilliant mark also possessing fine ground skills and sharp creativity with his handball, he deservedly won the club’s award for best afield in the Grand Final.

Cooper had supreme confidence in his own ability, and it showed. Without him, St Kilda's silverware cabinet may still be empty.

A freakish and unique footballer who faced the twin Grand Final challenges of carrying a knee injury, and facing opponent Ted Potter who had often contained him.

He re-injured the knee in the Thursday night training session before the Grand Final, which had Allan Jeans promptly end the session before word about his star player being hurt got out.

Reflecting on his first goal in the Grand Final, Baldock said it felt like the bottom half of his leg travelled with the ball. Despite all that, he was crucial in the closing stages when swung onto the ball.

There's never been a behind more defining, more important or more magical than the one that came off the young Barry Breen's boot in the game's twilight stages.

Seizing the ball after Collingwood's Ted Potter dished out an errant handball, Breen slammed the ball forward - the Sherrin hanging in the air for what seemed like an eternity - before it trickled through to break the deadlock. The moment happened so fast, all Breen can remember is a blur, not fully realising what his all-important score meant to St Kilda and its loyal fans.

The 18-year-old was used in number of roles during the season. He had become permanent fixture in the senior side in 1966 playing as centre half-back, as well as a forward and ruck-rover. Famous point notwithstanding, he also played a good overall Grand Final.

The oldest player in the team in what proved to be his last game, but it was a perfect swansong for the hardworking ruckman.

Morrow had to take on extra workload because of the late season suspension of Ditterich, but as ever he rose to the challenge. Earlier in the season, the iron-willed ruck was used as a relieving option, spending time filling the forward pocket role.

It was fitting that he took the final mark of the game, as a year earlier in the Grand Final he had broken a bone in his foot and had been forced off in the second quarter.

Kicking five of his team’s 10 goals was indicative of the big full-forward’s vital importance as a hero in the victory.

In just his second year, Kevin 'Cowboy' Neale had great strength and deceptive speed off the mark with vice-like hands in marking contests. His Grand Final effort came after a similarly impressive Preliminary Final.

Along with Ian Cooper and Ian Stewart, Neale was hands-down one of St Kilda's most influential players against the seasoned Collingwood.

Although only 17 and in his 10th game, Davis played with confidence and assurance.

As part of his role, he was told by Allan Jeans to draw Collingwood’s Ian Montgomery, a man who targeted Baldock, out of the play by remaining in the forward pocket, which was contrary to Davis’s normal attacking game and frustrating for a teenager.

Davis was taken off in place of Travis Payze late in the contest, but the Grand Final triumph remains all the same.

Payze's senior debut had originally been scheduled for the last home-and-away round, but he was eased out when superstar Darrel Baldock was a late inclusion and willed the Saints towards an unforgettable - and vital - win over Hawthorn.

He eventually debuted in the semi-final and impressed with strong marking and three goals. He had a late run in the Grand Final after Alan Davis was benched, but took one very strong grab in the final moments.

Although the affable Kevin Billing attests he is “famous for doing bugger all!”, his place as a member of St Kilda's Premiership Twenty is not up for debate.

Billing was the 20th man who was never used off the bench, coming into the side for Ian 'Doggy' Rowland in the only change made after the Preliminary Final.

When the others ran a victory lap he didn’t join in because he felt he hadn’t contributed, however his teammates are unwavering in their belief of his contribution to the fabled group.

There's no debate as to whether or not Allan Jeans was one of the most gifted and inspirational speakers of his time, but his words on the cusp of St Kilda's most triumphant moment send a tingle down the spine.

"You've got 25 minutes to make a name for yourselves like you've never made before!" he said at the top of his lungs at the three-quarter time address. It rallied the Saints towards the victory which hasn't diminished almost 60 years later.

Jeans was overcome with emotion at the final siren and was quickly lifted into the air by his beloved players. He embraced every one, as well as the gracious Collingwood coach Bob Rose, who came over to congratulate Jeans in the immediate aftermath of his side's defeat.