May 9th: Mick Gallagher
Career: 1987-1989
Debut: Round 7, 1987 vs Geelong
945th Carlton Player
Games: 16
Goals: 17
Last Game: Round 16, 1989 vs Footscray
Guernsey No. 29
Height: 196cm
Weight: 86kg
DOB: 9 May, 1966
Michael Gallagher, recruited from Bendigo club Golden Square, played 16 games for Carlton commencing in Season 1987, kicking 17 goals. Standing at 196cm, Gallagher wore the #29 guernsey and was a mobile goal-kicking forward come ruckman.
He debuted on his 21st birthday just a day after Peter Motley‘s career ending car crash and played his last senior game in the draw against Footscray in 1989. Gallagher kicked three goals on debut, but tragically in his debut season, he was curtailed by a serious knee injury that arguably cost him a place in that years’ premiership team…. for more read this.
May 10th: Scott Howell
Career : 1980 – 1985
Debut : Semi Final, 1980 vs Collingwood, aged 22 years, 126 days
Carlton Player No. 866
Games : 39
Goals : 12
Last Game: Round 6, 1985 vs Essendon, aged 26 years, 359 days
Guernsey Nos. 40 (1980-82) & 12 (1983-85)
Height : 193 cm (6 ft. 4 in.)
Weight : 88 kg (13 stone, 12 lbs.)
DOB: May 10, 1958
Premiership Player: 1981
The only third-generation Premiership player in VFL/AFL history, Scott Howell spent nine seasons at Princes Park, beginning with the Under 19 team in 1976. Like his champion father Jack ‘Chooka’ Howell, Scott was a loyal servant of the Blues, and he made the most of his ability with a memorable game in the 1981 Grand Final.
‘Chooka’ Howell played 137 times for Carlton from 1942 to 1954, including the desperately-close ’47 Premiership victory over Essendon. Chooka’s father, Jack senior, had been widely regarded as Best on Ground when South Melbourne beat Collingwood for the 1918 flag. So Scott’s triumphant victory – over the same opponent as his grandfather’s team had vanquished – completed the Howell’s unique achievement of three Premierships in successive generations….for more read here.
May 12th: Adrian Gallagher
Career : 1964-1972
Debut: Round 6, 1964 Aged 18 years 11 days
762nd Carlton Player
Games : 165
Goals : 236
Last Game: Grand Final, 1972 Aged 26 years 148 days
Guernsey No : 10
Height : 179cm (5’10½”)
Weight : 72kg (11.5)
DOB : May 12, 1946
Premiership Player: 1968, 1970, 1972
Best and Fairest: 1970
Leading Goalkicker: 1966
Carlton Hall of Fame (1992)
Team of the Century
Carlton’s history is lavishly embroidered with the deeds of its little blokes; the rovers, the wingmen; the forward and back pocket players who have brought glory to themselves and this great club for more than 140 years.
So whenever the question is asked, ‘who was the best of all Carlton’s small men?’ a lively debate is assured. One thing is certain however; the name of Adrian ‘Gags’ Gallagher will feature prominently in any discussion. Over eight seasons, Gallagher was an integral part of the greatest first ruck of all. He developed an instinctive, almost telepathic combination with champion ruckman John Nicholls and ruck-rover Serge Silvagni in an era when this trio were the platform for two Carlton Premierships.
Gags was recruited by Carlton in 1960 from Yarram in Gippsland, in his time at the Blues he played in the U/15’s, U/17’s and then to the U/19’s. In 1963 he was Carlton’s best player in their U/19’s premiership, won the club’s best and fairest award and finished third in the competition’s best player award, the Morrish Medal. By that time Nicholls and Silvagni had been team-mates for three seasons, and in the 179 cm, 73 kg red-headed youngster, the two emerging stars found their perfect foil. Gallagher was not particularly quick across the ground – he didn’t need to be. He was a terrific reader of the play and a great crumber off the packs. His disposal skills – by hand or foot – were excellent, and he was a tough, durable competitor…..for more read here.
May 13th: Vin Catoggio
Career : 1973-1976, 1978-1980
Debut : Round 7, 1973 vs Collingwood, aged 19 years, 6 days
Carlton Player No. 839
Games : 71
Goals : 97
Last game : Qualifying Final, 1980 vs Richmond, aged 26 years, 116 days
Guernsey No. 4
Height : 178 cm (5 ft. 10 in.)
Weight : 77 kg (12 stone, 3 lbs.)
DOB : 13 May, 1954
Vincenzo “the Cat” Catoggio was a pacy, skilful, lightly-framed rover from Princes Hill. Also later called “Spinner” for his elusiveness, he won the Morrish Medal as Best & Fairest in the VFL Under 19 competition while playing for Carlton in 1972, then followed up by winning the Gardiner Medal for the Reserves competition in 1973. During that same year, he made his debut off the reserves bench for the senior team in Carlton’s big win over Collingwood in round 7. After just one more appearance (again, as a reserve) in round 8, the 19 year-old played out the rest of the year in the lower grade – until he was a shock selection in the Blues’starting line-up against Richmond in the 1973 Grand Final.
Carlton was defending their title hard-won in a boilover the previous season against the Tigers, who were hell-bent on revenge. In typical fashion they targeted a number of key Carlton stars that day and set about knocking them out of the game. By half-time, Blues captain-coach John Nicholls, along with key defenders Geoff Southby and Kevin Hall were all concussed. Several others, including Catoggio, were still on their feet, but hurt. Richmond dominated the second half to win by 30 points, and Vinny did not see out the game….. for more read here.
May 14th: Robbert Klomp
Career : 1979-1983
Debut : Round 3, 1979 vs Essendon
Carlton Player No. 878
Games : 84
Goals : 17
Last game : Round 11, 1983 vs Essendon
Guernsey No. 22
Height : 183cm
Weight : 89kg
DOB : 14 May, 1955
Premiership Player: 1979 & 1982
Mention the name Robbert Klomp to any keen Carlton supporter over the age of forty, and you will probably get an answer something like; “oh yes – the bloke that won the television.” More on this fabled subject later.
First, the player himself. Robbert “Clippity” Klomp arrived at Princes Park in the summer of 1979 from SA club Sturt. At 23 years of age, 183 cm and 89 kg, he was rated among the best defenders in the country, having played SANFL football for four years and represented his state. After a short court case Robbert along with fellow Carlton players Vin Catoggio and Geoff Ironmonger, both from Subiaco were cleared to Carlton just prior to the opening game of the 1979 season against Essendon at VFL Park Waverley and in the number 22 guernsey, he slotted straight into a powerful Carlton lineup and soon made one half-back flank his own. Along with fellow debutants Peter Francis, Wayne Johnston and Alex Marcou, Robbert played his first League game in Carlton’s first game of 1979 against Essendon and by the end of the season after playing in all 24 games had won Carlton’s Best First Year Player Award….for more read here.
May 15th: Adrian Deluca
Career: 2004-2006
Debut: Round 1, 2004 vs Fremantle
1069th Carlton Player
Games: 46
Goals: 22
Last Game: Round 22, 2006 vs. Sydney
Height: 202cm
Weight: 99kg
Guernsey No. 26
DOB: 15 May, 1982
Deluca was drafted at Pick 72 in the 2003 National Draft. Wearing the #26, Deluca was picked up as a ruckman from the VFL from Port Melbourne but was played more as a forward. He played TAC Cup at the Oakleigh Chargers U/18’s, and before that with the Panthers.
He started very well in 2004, playing all 22 games. In 2005, stress fractures reduced his input to 11 games. His possessions count dropped marginally from 8.1 to 7.6 per game despite playing more as an on-baller. He kicked 6.3 in 2005 after kicking 8.6 in 2004.
Deluca would finally enjoy an injury free year in 2006 but would have to compete with a number of other tall forwards and ruckmen at the Club and at times was squeezed out of the team. He would play 11 games in 2006, taking him to 46 games over his 3 years. Deluca played in Rounds 1-5, 7-8, 12-15 and 21-22 in a variety of roles, including a half forward flanker early in the season, forward pocket in the middle and at all times an occasional ruckman where the Blues search for back-up for Barnaby French continued. Kicking 8 goals from those 11 games, Deluca played predominantly forward but – for the exception of 1 quarter in Round 12, 2006 where he would break open the packs and kick 3 goals against the Roos – would not be able to take the games by the scruff of the neck. Deluca adopted the use of gloves in 2006, in an effort to improve his marking, which appeared to work….for more read here.