April 18th: Dennis Munari
Career : 1967 – 1970
Debut : Round 8, 1967 vs Geelong, aged 19 years, 45 days
Carlton Player No. 799
Games : 41
Goals : 20
Last Game : Round 22, 1970 vs Melbourne, aged 22 years, 132 days
Guernsey Nos. 37 (1967) and 8 (1968-70)
Height : 178 cm ( 5 ft. 10 in.)
Weight : 76 kg (12 stone, 0 lbs.)
DOB : April 18, 1948
Premiership Player 1968
Dennis Munari came to Carlton as a promising centreman from that wonderful football nursery of Assumption College at Kilmore. A stylish right-footer, he was solid in his debut season in 1967, only to be edged out of his preferred position early the following year by the arrival of Tasmanian sensation Brent Crosswell. Munari then found a niche as second rover to Adrian Gallagher, and was instrumental in Carlton’s drive to the 1968 Premiership.
Munari wore guernsey number 37 for his first senior appearance – off the bench – in round 8 of 1967, against Geelong at Princes Park. The Blues won a thriller by four points, then lost another cliff-hanger by 2 points to Richmond a week later. In captain-coach Ron Barassi’s third season in charge, Carlton had begun emerging as a force after years of mediocrity, winding up the home and away rounds just two points adrift of minor premiers Richmond… for more visit here.
April 20th: Mark Majerczak
Career: 1987 – 1991
Debut: Round 10, 1987 v Brisbane
946th Carlton Player
Games: 17
Goals: 20
Last game: Round 18, 1991 v Brisbane
Guernsey No. 33, 48
Height: 180cm
Weight: 75kg
DOB: 20 April, 1968
‘Magic’, as he was known to Carlton fans, was a goalsneak who played 17 games for the Blues in the late 1980s. He was an accurate left foot kick and a consistent performer in the reserves, but found it hard to crack a regular spot in the team during a time when finals were a given for Carlton. Had better than a goal a game ratio which indicates that he knew where the sticks were, but suffered in comparison to similar size players such as Mark Naley.
Mark’s first kick in senior footy with the Blues resulted in a goal – a classy pick-up, slight shimmy and a kick from about 40 metres out from the scoreboard end at Princes Park.
Recruited from St Marks/Fawkner, Mark has also played Little League Football for Carlton (in 1979). Those were the days when each club ran their own Little League Squads – at this time the Carlton Squad was coached/managed by Keith Duggan, who had an uncanny resemblance to Australian entertainer Rolf Harris…. for more visit here.
April 20th: Phil Maylin
Career : 1980 – 1984
Debut : Round 1, 1980 vs Collingwood, aged 23 years, 343 days
Carlton Player No. 881
Games : 89
Goals : 48
Last Game : Round 22, 1984 vs South Melbourne, aged 28 years, 134 days
Guernsey No. 13
Height : 175 cm (5 ft. 9 in.)
Weight : 76 kg (12 stone)
DOB: 20 April, 1956
Premiership Player: 1981, 1982
A hard-working, tenacious utility from South Australian club Woodville, Phil ‘Shark’ Maylin was a month short of his 24th birthday when he made his debut for the Blues in 1980, and went on to be a popular member of Carlton’s 1981 and ‘82 Premiership sides. Virtually from the day of his arrival at Princes Park in the late summer of 1979, his application and work ethic demanded that a place be found for him in the reigning Premiership team.
Wearing guernsey number 13, Maylin went through a baptism of fire against Collingwood in his first senior game at Victoria Park in round one of 1980. Playing on a wing alongside Ken Sheldon and Peter Francis, Phil earned respect for his hardness at the contest, as Wayne Johnston kicked seven goals and Carlton won a torrid clash by 38 points. Former St Kilda defender Val Perovic also did well for the Blues in his first appearance for his new club, while Peter ‘Percy’ Jones made a good start to his senior coaching career….. for more visit here.
April 21st: Tom Alvin
Career : 1984 – 1994
Debut: Round 1, 1984 vs North Melbourne, aged 21 years, 344 days
Carlton Player No. 914
Games : 218
Goals : 95
Last Game: Qualifying Final, 1994 vs Melbourne, aged 32 years, 143 days
Guernsey No. 31
Height : 183 cm (6 ft. 0 in.)
Weight : 80 kg (12 stone, 8 lbs.)
DOB : 21 April, 1962
Premiership Player 1987
Carlton Hall of Fame : 1999
Tom Alvin was recruited by Carlton in 1984 from the strong Latrobe Valley club Bairnsdale, where he had developed into an outstanding country footballer under the guidance of his coach; ex Blue Trevor Fletcher. Fletcher placed a lot of faith in the club’s youth, and Alvin was one of the main beneficiaries. To this day Tom credits Fletcher as being one of the greatest influences in his career, while Bairnsdale won a Premiership in 1981 with Alvin playing a key role. By 1983, the 21 year-old had been tied to Footscray for a season or two, but when his contract lapsed, Carlton believed in his potential and offered him a second chance at a league football career. It was a winning punt by the Blues, and Alvin was eventually able to play for the team that he followed avidly throughout his childhood. Wearing guernsey number 31, Tommy turned into a popular, consistent and long-serving defender who was an integral member of three Carlton Grand Final teams…. for more visit here.