Hoping for a repeat: Former St Kilda ruckman Brian Mynott recalls the 1966 grand final thriller. Picture: Tommy Ritchie. 53813
Andrew Mathieson
WHEN Barry Breen was carried off the MCG a hero, when Cowboy Neale whined that people forget about his five goals, Brian Mynott’s place in football history has almost faded into obscurity.
The memories are still fresh in the mind, just as the moment was only fleeting on that fateful 1966 day.
The former St Kilda ruckman sits back in his Bellbrae home and relives how the club’s first flag almost went awry.
“It was on the half forward flank in front of the members’ area,” Mynott said. “I tapped the ball and it did go to (Collingwood’s) Ted Potter.
“But it was me who tackled Potter straight after because I had to make amends for the ball going to the opposition.
“So he coughed up the ball, ‘Breeny’ picked it up and away the kick went for the winning behind.”
In the days leading up to this year’s AFL grand final, nothing much has changed.
The opposition hasn’t.
The Saints still only have the one premiership to shout about.
“It feels a bit strange – the same team but 44 years down the track,” Mynott said.
“The memories are still good memories, some of the details have passed now, but I remember an overall anxiousness, excitement, so there was a mixture of feelings leading up to the grand final.”
He went on to play 210 games for St Kilda between 1963 and 1975.
The 66-year-old Mynott has since settled into Surf Coast life comfortably, suiting up for 200km cycle rides every week and volunteering time at Torquay Rotary events.
