Bob Wilkie

Recruited from Sebastopol in the Ballarat region, Bob Wilkie was a diminutive but tenacious utility who became a loyal servant for St Kilda during a lean era. Standing at just 165cm and weighing roughly 60kg upon his debut in 1940, he was reportedly the lightest player in the VFL at the time. Despite his slight frame, he established himself as a durable and versatile contributor, primarily operating on the wing but capable of filling almost any role on the ground. Like many of his generation, his burgeoning career was interrupted by military service, with Wilkie serving in the RAAF during World War II before returning to the Saints to resume his football in 1945.

Wilkie played 117 games over a twelve-year period, a tenure that included a role in the club's 1940 Patriotic Cup lightning premiership victory—a rare piece of silverware for the Saints in that period. He was a model of consistency, finishing third in the club's Best and Fairest count on three separate occasions and earning the "Most Improved" and "Consistent Player" awards in 1945 and 1950 respectively. Following his retirement in 1952 due to medical advice regarding concussions, Wilkie remained a massive figure at the Junction Oval, serving as a reserves and thirds coach, committee member, and a key mentor to legendary coach Allan Jeans during the club's build-up to the 1966 premiership.