Justin Davies: 7th July
Career : 2002 – 2006
Debut : Round 7, 2002 vs Essendon, aged 18 years, 307 days
Carlton Player No. 1055
Games : 41
Goals : 20
Last Game : Round 22, 2005 vs North Melbourne, aged 22 years, 52 days
Guernsey Nos. 13 (2002-04), and 7 (2005-06)
Height : 184 cm (6 ft. 1 in.)
Weight : 73 kg (11 stone, 7 lbs.)
DOB : 7 July, 1983
Selected by Carlton at pick 39 in the 2001 National Draft, Justin Davies showed glimpses of real ability throughout his four seasons at Princes Park – but lingering episodes of self-doubt, and a string of injuries at the wrong time, prevented him from realising his full potential.
Davies’ pathway to Carlton led from Shepparton East , then Shepparton United through to the Murray Bushrangers Under 18’s. He was still a few weeks short of his 19th birthday when he made his senior debut (off the interchange bench) for the Blues against Essendon in round 7, 2002 at the MCG. Seen as a potential midfield regular by the Blues, he managed six games for the year, but just couldn’t string matches together because of illness, hamstring and quadricep injuries. It was a horror season for Carlton – the worst in our proud history – and Davies’ experience was typical of our younger brigade.
Over 2004, Davies played a further 12 games, mainly up forward. Perhaps his most memorable moment came in round 7 against Collingwood, when he almost single-handedly dragged the Blues back into a game which was all but lost. He banged through three goals in six minutes during the last quarter, and Carlton snatched a team-lifting victory from the old enemy. By the end of the year, Carlton had shown real improvement in finishing 11th, and Davies was honoured by a change of guernsey number from 13 to 7 – apparently at the bequest of past great Brett Ratten.
David Kernahan: 11th July
Career: 1988–1993
Debut: Round 1, 1988 v Hawthorn
949th Carlton Player
Games: 53
Goals: 8
Last game: Round 18, 1993 v Hawthorn
Guernsey No. 28
Height: 188cm
Weight: 83kg
DOB: 11 July, 1965
The younger and smaller brother of Carlton’s immortal Stephen Kernahan, David spent six seasons at Princes Park from 1988 to 1993. He seemed destined for a good career when he kicked the match-winning goal in his first senior game against Hawthorn, and then making the top 5 in the B&F in both 1990 and 1991. Incidentally, it was in 1990 that he brought up the only Brownlow Vote of his career, with a strong game against the Swans in Round 14.
Unfortunately for David, his arrival at Carlton from Glenelg in South Australia coincided with a slump in team performance in the years following the 1987 Premiership. Originally considered as a forward, he found a niche in defence in his second year, playing a string of solid games. Then, just as he was cementing a regular place in the team, he was struck down by hamstring and groin injuries that hampered his career from that point on, taking a heavy toll on the 188 cm, 83 kg utility and restricting him to just 53 games in six seasons. He showed plenty of grit in persisting until 1993 before returning home.
Brett Ratten: 11th July
HAPPY 40TH BIRTHDAY TO BRETT!
Career : 1990 – 2003
Debut : Round 22, 1990 vs Fitzroy, aged 19 years, 52 days
Carlton Player No. 969
Games : 255
Goals : 117
Last Game : Round 10, 2003 vs Fremantle, aged 31 years, 324 days
Guernsey No. 7
Height : 184 cm (6 ft. 1 in.)
Weight : 88 kg (13 stone, 12 lbs.)
DOB : 11 July, 1971
Premiership Player 1995
Captain: 2002 – 2003
Best and Fairest: 1995, 1997, 2000 (tied)
All Australian: 2000, 2001
Coach: Round 17, 2007 –
The story of Brett Ratten is one of contrasts; a champion of the game and of the club, but no superstar; a back pocket who would become an inspirational centreman, and a guy who wore thick glasses off the field, yet had amazing awareness on the ground. One thing is for sure however – ‘Ratts’ was a true Blue champion, and a crowd idol over his 255-game career at Princes Park.
Wearing guernsey number 40, Ratten played his first game for the Blues against Fitzroy in round 22, 1990, and within a matter of weeks became an automatic selection for the Blues in a range of roles – chiefly as an on-baller or forward flanker. It was also in ’91 when he switched to number 7 and proved more than worthy of the honour.
In 1992 the much-heralded arrival of champion centreman Greg Williams from Sydney pushed “Ratts” deep into defence, where he rose to the challenge of taking on the flighty forward pockets of the day. A game against Darren Kowal of the Demons sticks in the mind. But perhaps it was this time in defence that made the man. Ratten was promoted to the midfield over the 1994 and ’95 seasons, and was outstanding in our crushing 1995 Grand Final win over Geelong.
Thanks to the Blueseum for player pictures and bios.