On this day, July 11 1959, a Swans legend bagged eight goals in one of his many magnificent games.
Soon after teenage prodigy Bob Skilton made his VFL debut in 1956, Melbourne Herald sports writer Jack Cannon predicted that the talented South Melbourne youngster one day would win a Brownlow Medal.
That prediction came true in 1959 when the 20-year Skilton won the first of three Brownlow Medals, with his second triumph in 1963 and the third in 1968.
Skilton had a sensational 1959 season to poll 20 Brownlow votes and tie with St Kilda’s Verdun Howell. Skilton won the medal on countback, but the VFL in 1989 awarded retrospective Brownlows to those players who previously had missed out on countback.
Skilton played in 16 of South’s games in 1959 and kicked 60 goals, with his efforts against Geelong at the Lake Oval in Round 11 on July 11 the highlight of his brilliant season.
South, the previous week, had defeated Richmond by 33 points to climb into the top four and earn a chance of playing in a finals series for the first time since 1945.
The match against Geelong therefore was critical to South’s final chances and Skilton played a hugely pivotal role in the Swans’ 34-point victory.
He kicked eight goals to leave South fans delirious with joy and critics singing his praises.
Skilton kicked one goal in the first quarter, two in the second, three in the third and two in the final term.
Former Fitzroy player Alan Fitcher wrote in that night’s Sporting Globe: “Geelong showed early pace but faded against the relentless pressure exerted by South Melbourne and the brilliant roving of Skilton.” Fitcher named Skilton best on ground.
In a football column the following Monday, the Suns-News Pictorial reported: “Bob Skilton, who turned on another dazzling display for South, kicked a sensational goal from the boundary line early in the third term.
“The angle was so acute that people with a clear view of the kick could not believe the ball could go between the posts.
“The goal umpire must also have believed it impossible because he spoke to the boundary umpire before giving his decision.”
This newspaper named South centreman Laurie Sharp as best on ground, with Skilton close behind. Sharp played just one season with the Swans for 11 games after winning Richmond’s best and fairest in 1956.
Although the defeat of Geelong suggested the Swans would play in the 1959 finals, they fell away from there after going down to Collingwood by 40 points at the Lake Oval the following week.
South won only one game, defeating North Melbourne by 92 points at the Lake Oval in Round 17, over the rest of the season.
The Swans finished the season in ninth position with eight wins. But, of course, the Swans were able to celebrate Skilton’s Brownlow Medal triumph.
Skilton won the club best and fairest that season and his tally of 60 goals left him only nine goals behind the VFL’s leading goalkicker, Essendon’s Ron Evans, over the home and away season. Evans then kicked another nine goals over the finals series.
