Stan joined Mentone after a successful 74 game career as a back pocket with Melbourne. His League career included playing in the Demonโ€™s 1948 premiership team which won the flag as a result of the grand final replay against Essendon. Stanโ€™s first stint with Mentone was as a playing coach and he led the club to runners-up in 1959, with the Mentone side in front until McKinnonโ€™s five-time Federal League Best and Fairest winner, โ€˜Icyโ€™ Hamilton, received a free kick with only a short time to go in the match. Stan also took the club to the preliminary final in 1960. As a playing coach, Stan was remembered for the great courage he showed when playing with injuries. Stan returned as a non-playing coach in 1963 and took a young side that played an exciting brand of football through to the grand final, where the team was defeated by Springvale. Stan was a major influence on his players with his key message that the team always came first.