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Saints History 1991 To 2005

The Auckland Australian Football Association was reformed in 1974 at the instigation of former Hawthorn player and current Hawthorn team medical officer, Dr Terry Gay.
For a run down on the history of the game prior to 1974 go to the New Zealand and/or Auckland AFL’s web sites: www.nzafl.co.nz or www.aafl.co.nz .
In 1988 the Association shifted its four-team competition to spring to avoid clashing with the traditional winter codes.
The Association changed its name to the Auckland Australian Football League in 1990.
The six Clubs in the League are Takapuna, North Shore, Waitakere, Mt Roskill, University and Manurewa.
The Mt Roskill Saints were formed in 1991 through an amalgamation between Bay Roskill and West’s teams. From 1991 through to 1994 The Saints mainly struggled and were generally near the foot of the ladder although they did play in one grand final, losing to University.

1995 - Finished 6th
After the club being pillaged by opposition teams and having to be virtually re-built from scratch a promising start to the season was made with a first up win followed by a narrow loss to reigning premier Nth Shore. Unfortunately a huge injury toll that included star recruits Fin Buckley and B.J. McKay meant the team struggled for the remainder of the season. Whilst the team battled on it coped quite a few thrashings and on two occasions was unable to field a senior team. The experiences of this season were to prove the catalyst for those involved to improve all aspects of the club. That resolve has meant the club has played in every finals series since and only finishing outside the top three on two occasions.

1996 - Finished 4th
Saw a turn around in the club’s fortunes driven mainly by James ‘The Whale’ Fergusson and Darren ‘Redders’ Anderson. With the appointment of Manurewa premiership player Andrew Downe as coach and gun recruits Jon Wild and Craig Holloway the Saints played finals footy for the first time in five years. Unfortunately they went out in the semi finals, narrowly beaten by North Shore.
There were some memorable victories during the season over Nth Shore and eventual premiers Manurewa and who could forget The Whale cleaning up in the famous ‘bet game’ between Uni and The Saints where despite just going down the team were able to clean out The Uni coffers after being offered 6 goals in by the big noting Blues coach.

1997 - Premiers
With the arrival of star centre half back Dan Carman, the golden Greeks Con Ntallianis and Steve Camilleri as well as the retention of most of the 96 team the Saints went on to take out their first premiership. Coach Greg Barnes and a host of experienced players help devise a run on style of play, delivering the ball quickly to spear head Red Anderson who kicked five goals in the grand final. Centre half forward Jon Wild won the second of his AAFL best and fairest awards and is generally acknowledged as the best player to have pulled on a saint’s jumper. 1997 featured the debut of Tuli Toui who would go on to captain the club and 15 year old Jarrad Wallace who would also go on to captain the club as well as win the AAFL best and fairest award.
Most memorable moments during the season were The Whale (Fergusson) verses The Wombat (Avan Polo) verses The Turtle (Allan Wilson) foot races at the end of each training session. Arguments still reign over the winners and the truth becomes more clouded as the years pass by.

1998 - Finished 3rd
With the nucleus of the 97 team intact the saints had high hopes for success in 1998. Unfortunately a lack of dedication, injuries and some untoward tactics by opposition teams meant the team went down in the preliminary final. This season the league in general took a backward step with several acts of thuggery marring many games. Again Carman and Wild along with Phil Cannon were the stars for the Saints. New recruit for the season Dave Halliday can now be seen doing business reports for Macquarie Bank on Sky TV.

1999 - Finshed Runners Up
Despite a nine win and one loss ratio for the season the saints limped into the finals with several injuries to key players. Having seniors and reserve grade in the grand final proved too greater challenge with both going down. Despite the opposition having several ring ins with question marks over their eligibility to play finals and one James Morrisey (or was that Karl Martin) starring the saints were able to hang in for half a game before running out of steam and players in the second half. 1999 was to mark an end of an era for the club with several experienced players moving on or retiring. Amongst those to play their last games for the game were Avan Polo, Dan Carman and Phil Cannon. 1999 saw the debut of Steve Fairweather who would go on to captain the club to its second premiership.

2000 - Finished Forth
This season saw the start of the re-building of the Saints senior team. The team went from having around a 40 percent ex-pat ratio to well below 20 percent. The development of local talent that began with Jarrad Wallace in 97 would take hold with future stars Lewis Hurst, Morgan Jones, Ben BJ Jansen, Lawrence McEntee and Don Ekeroma all making their debuts. Despite a few thrashings early in the season the club had some great wins and just missed out on a preliminary final berth with an unlucky 2-point loss in the first semi final.
A very youthful (and skinny) 15-year-old Aran Napier also made his debut in 2000.
Jarrad Wallace and Steve Fairweather were stars for the team this season with both representing New Zealand at under 20 level. Jarrad went on to win the AAFL competition best and fairest.

2001 - Finished Third
Saw the continued development of the clubs youth policy with Marcus Jones and Steve Gibbons playing their first season of AFL footy. Future treasurer Brendan Hines also played his first season for the club impressing many with his aerial skills (you wouldn’t know it these days however as he hides away in a forward pocket). The continued development of the class of 2000 saw the Saints finish top two. Unfortunately the team bowed out of the finals in straight sets and for the second year in a row lost to Nth Shore by 2 points in a preliminary final. The highlight of the season was a courageous away win against the very powerful and eventual premiership team the Takapuna Eagles.

2002 - Finished Third
2002 was probably the most disappointing year for the club. After finishing the season on top with 9 wins and one draw the team again bowed out of the finals in straight sets. The team got off to a flyer with new recruit and future Auckland NPC player Jay Williams, Ben Jansen and hard-man Tamati Hawea starring. New recruit David Kuss was also great down back along with International Cup Samoan Rep Chester Teo. The Saints also had Kerry Wilkinson make the New Zealand Falcons team for the inaugural International Cup held in Melbourne.
The team however, seemed to lose its way in the later half of the season with big wins over mediocre opposition masking a real drop of in effort, commitment and form.
Probably the most disappointing aspect of the season was the preliminary final loss with several players pulling out of team on the day of the game. A bit like 1995 this would strengthen the resolve of those at the club to overcome the previous two seasons disappointments.

2003 - Finshed Runners Up
Starting 2003 with a reasonably good team and new recruits David Kay and Nick Tonkin, along with getting Peter Boyce back from a stint at Waitakeri, the team began full of hope with a couple of good wins. Injury was to play a major role in the season however with the Saints limping into the final with their worst win loss record in a season since 1996.
Starting off with a good semi final win against Takapuna most expected The Saints to again fall to their finals nemesis Nth Shore. A fantastic two-point victory would see the Saints into their final Grand Final since 1999 against the very strongly ex-pat flavoured University. In reality Uni were far and away the strongest team of 2003 however The Saints never gave in and were gallant in defeat. Tamati Hawea was a worthy Saints B & F winner. This season marked the end of the coaching reign of Greg Cairns after six seasons with Peter Boyce taking over in 2004. 2002 saw the debut of future New Zealand Falcons rep Matt Callaghan as well as Richie Ault, Rich Horsley and Tim Hollingsworth.

2004 - Finshed Runners Up
In a lot of ways was a carbon copy of 2003 with an up and down season followed by an extremely good finals campaign. Mid 2003 saw ex Black Cap captain Dion Nash make his first appearance at the club. Almost immediately Dion’s attitude and dedication had a strong and positive impact on all of his team-mates especially the younger players. By the season’s end he had mastered the game and become a senior member of the team. Star ruckman Mike Tagg also made his first appearance for the club.
For the second year in a row The Saint’s beat Nth Shore by less than a goal in the preliminary final after beating Waitakeri in the first semi.
With Dave Kuss, Dave Kay and Morgan Jones starring. Jarrad Wallace and Lewis Hurst getting back to full fitness the saints almost pinched the flag in 2004. The loss of B & F winner Morgan Jones in the preliminary final to injury was to prove a telling blow.
A series of terrible umpiring decision directly resulting in goals to the opposition, poor kicking for goal and unkind weather conditions conspired to undo the Saints again being beaten by University in the grand final. The gap was closing however.

2005 - Premiers
2005 was finally going to be the year of the Saints. New recruits Paul Munt and Gareth Rattray along with the continued improvement of our younger brigade as well the ongoing development of the team as a whole meant the Saints were ready to take the next step.
A tight round six defeat of University, at University gave the team its self-belief. A round 9 loss to Nth Shore told the team it wasn’t going to be easy with all top four teams a chance to win the premiership. With several senior players missing in round 10 the younger players really stepped up and trounced forth placed Manurewa at Manurewa putting the team back on track and giving it a top two finish and double chance.
Coming from 5 goals down and winning by 7 goals was a fantastic second semi final effort in beating University. Thankfully we had the week off as several players sustained injuries in final two rounds of the season. Playing Nth Shore in the final, the Saints got off to a flyer and should have been a lot more than 5 goals in front at half time. As they always do the Tigers came hard at the Saints who were struggling with several injured players. In the end the Saints got over the line by 9 points to the immense relief of all involved.

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