Today the Blues take on the Cats in what will be a big clash between two top four sides.
This is not the first time the Blues have played a game on the 20th of May. We will fire up our retrospectoscope to have a look into the past at some of our other games on this day.
1911 vs University
A very bad day for football and a particularly embarrassing one for Carlton.
The Students led Carlton through the first half before one of their players, Vic Trood, was felled. He was carried unconsious from the ground and grave fears were held for his health. Suspicion centred on two Carlton players Martin Gotz and Alex Barningham. Gotz was charged with assault and found guilty, being fined 10 pounds. He was cleared after an appeal.
University threatened to boycott the return game in Round 13 unless certain Carlton players were left out of the Blues side. Carlton announced they would decide who was to represent the club without any input from outside and they would happily accept a forfeit.
A sick and sorry Trood was quoted a few days after the match as saying “I have no idea what struck me, but it could have been a cable tram”.
From: http://www.blueseum.org/tiki-index.php?page=Round+4%2C+1911
1939 vs Hawthorn
Carltons’ shock loss to Hawthorn – their first ever win over the Blues after 14 years of trying, and 25 straight losses – was a costly one. The Blues were tipped out of the top four.
Prime Minister Robert Menzies, an avid Carlton supporter, visits the rooms of the opposition team for the second time this year – and Carlton lose again!!!! Hawthorn score a memorable win, their first ever against an inaccurate Carlton, the final scores; 13.8.(86) to 11.17.(83).
From: http://www.blueseum.org/tiki-index.php?page=Round+5%2C+1939
1972 vs St Kilda
The Blues celebrated Adrian Gallagher‘s 150th game in style, with this important win over rival flag contender St Kilda on their home turf at Moorabbin. Gallagher became one of the youngest Blues to ever achieve this mark, as Carlton recovered from a tardy start to hit the front just prior to half-time, then controlled the second half to run out winners by 27 points.
After four emphatic victories in a row, the Blues now sat on top of the VFL ladder; two points clear of Essendon, Hawthorn and Richmond, with St Kilda fifth.
From: http://www.blueseum.org/tiki-index.php?page=Round+8%2C+1972
2000 vs North Melbourne
The Blues would pull away from the Kangaroos in this Grand Final Replay in the second half to take the game by 5 goals.
But the headline result doesn’t tell the story of the day – Koutoufides. Kouta was impossible to describe as he not only took Roo Legend Wayne Carey out of the game in the first half, but he went on to kick 5 goals and earn the ball 38 times (17 kicks / 21 handballs). Throw in a leisurely 8 marks and this game was a testament to the power that Kouta was in this era.
The support staff, as always in 2000, were also good, with Brett Ratten getting 30 stats in his 200th game, Hickmott 23, and a great array of goalkickers as we pumped the Premiers at home. As another bonus, Carlton would welcome a young Ryan Houlihan for his debut game. Despite being a late draft pick, Houlihan would quickly become a regular in the team.
From: http://www.blueseum.org/tiki-index.php?page=Round+11%2C+2000