Stephen Milne

Stephen Milne (born 8 March 1980) is a former professional Australian rules footballer who played for the St Kilda Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). A small forward, he held the record for the most games played by a player originally drafted via the Rookie Draft, however this was surpassed by the West Coast Eagles' Dean Cox in early 2014.[1]

For other people named Stephen Milne, see Stephen Milne (disambiguation).
Not to be confused with Steven Milne.

Stephen Milne
Personal information
Date of birth (1980-03-08) 8 March 1980
Original team(s) Dandenong Stingrays (TAC Cup)
Draft No. 23, 2000 Rookie Draft, St Kilda
Height 176 cm (5 ft 9 in)
Weight 83 kg (183 lb)
Position(s) Forward
Playing career1
Years Club Games (Goals)
2001–2013 St Kilda 275 (574)
International team honours
Years Team Games (Goals)
2002, 2011 Australia 2 (0)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 2013.
Career highlights
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

AFL career

Milne was recruited to the St Kilda Football Club from the Essendon reserves and placed on St Kilda's Rookie List after playing for the Dandenong Stingrays and Noble Park Football Club in the late 1990s.[2]

2001

Milne was elevated to St Kilda's primary list from the club's rookie list prior to the start of the 2001 season. He played his first official AFL game in 2001 against Port Adelaide at Football Park in Round 4. He scored 2.1 in his first game and had 17 disposals in a losing side.

2002

He was St Kilda's leading goalkicker in 2002, kicking 50 goals from 21 matches in the 2002 AFL Premiership Season.[3]

2004

Milne played in St Kilda's 2004 Wizard Home Loans Cup winning side, the club's second pre-season cup win.[4]

Later in 2004 Milne and teammate Leigh Montagna were the at the centre of a police investigation of the alleged rape of a woman.[5] No charges were laid; however, in June 2010 a former detective who was the lead detective in the case made claims that the case collapsed under internal pressure from within the Victorian police force and powerful club backers as well as another detective alleging the cost of the case was a factor.[6][7][8] In 2012 the Office of Police Integrity concluded after a lengthy investigation that "the OPI investigators found no evidence to substantiate the allegation that police investigating the rape were subject to improper influence"[9] On 18 June 2013 it was reported that Milne had been charged with four counts of rape over the 2004 incident.[10]

2005

In the 2005 season, Milne again kicked more than 50 goals. In the final round of the season, against the Brisbane Lions, he had 15 kicks and kicked a personal best of 11 goals in the Saints' 139-point win.[11] He finished with 61 goals from 24 matches.[3]

2006

Milne played his 100th AFL game in round three, 2006, against the Brisbane Lions, kicking three goals as the Saints won by 37 points.[12]

2008

Milne played in St Kilda's 2008 NAB Cup winning side, the club's third pre-season cup win. He kicked three of St Kilda' nine goals in the final.[13][14]

In 2008, during a game against Fremantle at Subiaco, he kicked three goals after a head clash. He was driven back from Perth with St Kilda medical staff to avoid the risk of further damage and arrived in Melbourne on the Thursday following the game. Despite this he was named to play in the game on the following Sunday, which was Robert Harvey's tribute game against Adelaide. He kicked two goals in a 20 possession game.

In the 2008 season, Milne kicked 60 goals from 24 matches.

2009

Milne played in 20 of 22 matches in the 2009 home and away rounds in which St Kilda qualified in first position for the 2009 AFL Finals Series, winning the club's third minor premiership.[15]

St Kilda qualified for the 2009 AFL Grand Final after its qualifying and preliminary finals wins. Milne played in the grand final when St Kilda were defeated by Geelong by 12 points.

2010

On 9 April 2010, St Kilda played Collingwood in a Round 3 match. During the quarter time break, words were exchanged between Milne and the Collingwood coach, Mick Malthouse, the focus of which in the media was an alleged comment Malthouse made calling Milne a 'rapist'.[16] In a statement released by Collingwood, Malthouse apologised for his comments for which he was also fined $7500 by the AFL.[17][18] Milne also stated that some comments he made to an opposition coach were inappropriate.[17][19]

Under coach Ross Lyon, he has continued to develop his forward defensive skills and setting up play in addition to his ability to score goals.

Milne kicked his 400th career goal on 4 June 2010, in Round 11 against Richmond, scoring five goals for the game.[20][21]

Mine played his 200th game the following week on 13 June 2010, in Round 12 against Fremantle, scoring four goals for the game.[22]

He received three Goal of the Year nominations in 2010 in Rounds 5, 11 and 12.

St Kilda qualified for the 2010 AFL finals series in third position and won through to the 2010 Grand Final after wins over Geelong in the qualifying finals and Western Bulldogs in the preliminary finals.

Milne played in the drawn 2010 AFL Grand Final, in which he kicked two of St Kilda ten goals for the game against Collingwood. He was involved in the game's pivotal moment: St Kilda was trailing by one point with 90 seconds remaining, a 60m running shot by Lenny Hayes (St Kilda) landed 10m in front of the right behind post and in the vicinity of Milne and his opponent; the ball took one bounce 45° left toward the goal, then another bounce 90° right and went through for the tying behind, eluding Milne's efforts to gather the unpredictable ball. Some retrospective views of the match have criticised Milne for allowing the ball to bounce rather than attacking the ball harder,[23] although whether this would even have been possible is debatable. St Kilda ended up losing the grand final replay the following week.

He was St Kilda's leading goalkicker in 2010 with 55 goals for the season prior to the 2010 AFL Grand Final Replay.

2011

In St Kilda's Round 21 home game against the Magpies, Milne became the first player in the history of the league to kick 300 goals at Docklands Stadium. He overtook the previous record of 299 set by former Essendon player Matthew Lloyd. Milne kicked the record-breaking goal in the final quarter. He is currently fifth on St Kilda's list of leading goal kickers in the club's history.

Milne was selected in the 2011 All-Australian team in the forward-pocket. This was the first time in his career that Milne had been selected in the All-Australian team.

2012

Milne kicked his 500th career goal against the Melbourne Demons in Round 5, becoming the 50th player to kick 500 goals in the history of the VFL/AFL. Milne then played his 250th AFL game against Essendon in Round 15, kicking five goals in the Saints' 71-point victory.

During the 2012 season, his career achievements began to gain widespread recognition. Milne is only the 5th non-key position forward to kick more than 500 goals in the history of AFL/VFL football.[24] He is the only player shorter than 180 cm to kick more than 500 goals since Kevin Bartlett in the 1980s. He was described during 2012 as one of the best small forwards ever to play AFL football.[24]

Milne finished the 2012 season with 56 goals from 22 games, and was selected in the 2012 All-Australian team, earning this recognition for the second time in his career.

Retirement from the AFL

On 25 August 2013, after St Kilda's Round 22 win against the Gold Coast Suns, Milne announced his retirement from AFL football from the last round of the home and away games. He played his last game on 31 August 2013 against Fremantle, which St Kilda won by 71 points. In 2014 and 2015, Milne played for Strathfieldsaye in the Bendigo Football League; in 2014, he was the league leading goalkicker with 101 goals (including finals) and also won the club's best and fairest award,[25] and he was part of the club's back-to-back premierships in 2014 and 2015. In 2016, Milne joined amateur football for Beaumaris in the VAFA Premier B where he played in a senior team premiership defeating St Bedes at Trevor Barker Oval in Sandringham. At the end of the 2018 season, Milne retired from football at the age of 38.[26]

Statistics
[27]
Legend
 G  Goals  B  Behinds  K  Kicks  H  Handballs  D  Disposals  M  Marks  T  Tackles
AFL playing statistics
Season Team No. Games Totals Averages (per game) Votes
G B K H D M T G B K H D M T
2001 St Kilda 441727201322615850141.61.27.81.59.32.90.80
2002 St Kilda 442150111764822449282.40.58.42.310.72.31.35
2003 St Kilda 44142619972011728131.91.46.91.48.42.00.92
2004 St Kilda 442146221233515856262.21.05.91.77.52.71.22
2005 St Kilda 442461202046426885362.50.88.52.711.23.51.56
2006 St Kilda 442229292165727381391.31.39.82.612.43.71.80
2007 St Kilda 442232222234727098371.51.010.12.112.34.51.70
2008 St Kilda 4424603225579334102372.51.310.63.313.94.31.57
2009 St Kilda 4423462821393306108652.01.29.34.013.34.72.82
2010 St Kilda 44255730261116377109512.31.210.44.615.14.42.03
2011 St Kilda 442356332317730893592.41.410.03.313.44.02.65
2012 St Kilda 442256382185627481472.51.79.92.512.53.72.13
2013 St Kilda 441728201524619860171.61.28.92.711.63.51.02
Career 275 574 324 2501 764 3265 1000 469 2.1 1.2 9.1 2.8 11.9 3.6 1.7 37

Indecent assault

In 2004, allegations of rape were made against Milne. The incident is alleged to have taken place on 14 March 2004 at teammate Leigh Montagna's home after celebrations for St Kilda's family day. It was alleged that a 19-year-old woman was raped in a bedroom of Montagna's home just after midnight. An investigation by the Sexual Crimes Squad of the Victorian Police force followed which was led by Senior Detective Scott Gladman. The investigation concluded and no charges were laid against Milne or Montagna.[28]

On 18 June 2013, Milne was charged with four counts of rape over the 2004 incident. The decision to charge Milne followed extensive review of the initial investigation. On 5 July 2013, in a hearing at the Melbourne Magistrates' Court, Milne was not required to enter a plea and was bailed to return to the court on 13 September 2013.[29][30][31][32]

On 13 September 2013, a committal hearing was set for at least three days, starting 12 November 2013.[33]

On 15 November 2013, he was committed to stand trial on three counts of rape. Magistrate Peter Reardon found there was enough evidence to send the matter to the County Court for trial.[34]

On 14 November 2014, Milne avoided a conviction for indecently assaulting a 19-year-old woman more than a decade ago. Milne pleaded guilty earlier this month to a single charge of indecent assault, over an incident at the home of former St Kilda teammate Leigh Montagna in March 2004. The 34-year-old had been facing a trial in the Victorian County Court on three charges of rape, but those charges were withdrawn earlier this month. At his plea hearing, the court heard Milne and another woman, and Montagna and the victim, had consensual sex in separate rooms, before Milne and the other woman went to Montagna's room. The two couples then engaged in more "sexual activity" before Milne attempted to have sex with the victim. The court heard the woman could not see in the darkness and believed Milne was Montagna. Judge Michael Bourke found Milne's offending was "out of character" and ordered him to pay a fine of $15,000.[35]

References
  1. Crawford, Shane (12 May 2013). "Shane Crawford writes on the importance of rookies". Sunday Herald Sun.
  2. Watson, Tim (9 April 2003). "Sneaky little Saint". The Age.
  3. "Stephen Milne". AFL Tables. Retrieved 30 September 2010.
  4. "AFL 2004 Wizard Cup Grand Final – Geelong v St Kilda". Slattery Media Group. 13 March 2004. Archived from the original on 16 July 2011. Retrieved 7 November 2009.
  5. "AFL pair won't face rape charges". The Sydney Morning Herald. 7 May 2004.
  6. http://www.perthnow.com.au/sport/afl/stephen-milne-case-should-have-gone-on-ex-cop/story-e6frg1xu-1225882489983
  7. Hunt, Elissa (22 June 2010). "Former policeman says Stephen Milne rape charge collapsed amid internal pressure". Herald Sun.
  8. http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/national/rape-charges-against-saints-stephen-milne-axed-over-cost/story-e6freuzr-1225882980000
  9. http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/stephen-milne-rape-investigation-sufficient-opi/story-e6frf7jo-1226374062701
  10. "Milne faces four charges of rape". The Age. Melbourne.
  11. O'Shea, Joe (27 August 2005). "Saints inflict record loss on Lions". ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation). Retrieved 2 June 2020.
  12. Cooper, Adam (13 April 2006). "Saints beat Lions by 37 points". The Fanatics. Retrieved 16 April 2020.
  13. "St Kilda wins NAB cup". The Age. Melbourne. 8 March 2008. Retrieved 7 November 2009.
  14. "Saints are NAB Cup Champions in 2008". Jeld-Wen. 8 March 2008. Archived from the original on 20 November 2008. Retrieved 7 November 2009.
  15. "2009 Season Scores and Results – Ladder". AFL Tables. 2009. Retrieved 8 November 2009.
  16. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 27 September 2010. Retrieved 27 June 2010.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  17. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 13 April 2010. Retrieved 11 April 2010.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  18. http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/collingwood-coach-mick-malthouse-apologises-to-st-kildas-stephen-milne/story-e6frf9jf-1225852479803
  19. http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,26971928-5018851,00.html
  20. http://www.afl.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/208/newsid/95798/default.aspx
  21. Baum, Greg (1 August 2009). "Inside thrifty – Stephen Milne". The Sydney Morning Herald.
  22. http://www.saints.com.au/tabid/11447/Default.aspx?seasonid=75&roundid=758&fixtureid=5358&display=3
  23. "Stephen Milne shouldn't have waited for bounce". Herald Sun. Melbourne, VIC. 27 September 2020. Retrieved 8 October 2020.
  24. "Milne not a big-game player, says Malthouse". The Age. Melbourne.
  25. Nathan Dole (22 September 2014). "Stephen Milne wins Strathfieldsaye Storm's club champion award". Bendigo Advertiser. Bendigo, VIC. Retrieved 10 November 2014.
  26. James Ried (4 April 2016). "Former St Kilda stars Stephen Milne and Adam Schneider playing for Beauie". Bayside Leader. Retrieved 17 September 2016.
  27. Stephen Milne's player profile at AFL Tables
  28. "AFL pair won't face rape charges". The Sydney Morning Herald. 7 May 2004. Retrieved 18 June 2013.
  29. "St Kilda media statement". saints.com.au. 18 June 2013. Retrieved 18 June 2013.
  30. "Man Charged Following 2004 Incident". vicpolicenews.com.au. 18 June 2013. Retrieved 18 June 2013.
  31. "St Kilda player Stephen Milne charged with four counts of rape". ABC.net.au. 18 June 2013. Retrieved 18 June 2013.
  32. "Milne fronts court on rape counts". The Age. Melbourne. 5 July 2013.
  33. "Stephen Milne rape charges an abuse of process lawyers say". theage.com.au. Retrieved 24 September 2013.
  34. "Stephen Milne committed to stand trial on three counts of rape". news.com.au. Retrieved 15 September 2013.
  35. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-11-18/stephen-milne-fined-without-conviction-over-indecent-assault/5898782
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