John Kilpatrick
St Kilda
AFL career
2 games0 goals
- Debut
- R14 1960 v CAR30 July 1960
- Most recent
- R15 1960 v GEE6 Aug 1960
Stats
Bio
Recruited from Irymple in the Sunraysia district, John Kilpatrick was a defender who arrived at St Kilda after developing under the guidance of Carlton great Ollie Grieve. He broke into the senior side for two games as a half-back in late 1960 but enjoyed his greatest on-field success with the reserves, anchoring the backline at full-back in their 1961 premiership victory. Although his VFL playing career was brief, Kilpatrick etched his name into football history during a long tenure as Hawthorn's head trainer and fitness advisor. Affectionately known as "Killer," he is immortalised in the footage of the 1989 Grand Final, where he rushed to the aid of a crushed Dermott Brereton in the opening moments of the game. A highly qualified academic and physical educator, he remained a revered figure at the Hawks for decades before his passing in 2025.
Profile
- Full name
- John T. Kilpatrick
- Born
- 20 Nov 1938
- Died
- 14 Sept 2025 (aged 86y 298d)
- Height
- 183 cm
- Weight
- 80 kg
Teams
Bio
1 revisionRecruited from Irymple in the Sunraysia district, John Kilpatrick was a defender who arrived at St Kilda after developing under the guidance of Carlton great Ollie Grieve. He broke into the senior side for two games as a half-back in late 1960 but enjoyed his greatest on-field success with the reserves, anchoring the backline at full-back in their 1961 premiership victory. Although his VFL playing career was brief, Kilpatrick etched his name into football history during a long tenure as Hawthorn's head trainer and fitness advisor. Affectionately known as "Killer," he is immortalised in the footage of the 1989 Grand Final, where he rushed to the aid of a crushed Dermott Brereton in the opening moments of the game. A highly qualified academic and physical educator, he remained a revered figure at the Hawks for decades before his passing in 2025.