Ray Byrne: 16th July
Career : 1973 – 1978
Debut : Round 2, 1973 vs North Melbourne, aged 19 years, 272 days
Carlton Player No. 837
Games : 81
Goals : 13
Guernsey No. 26
Last Game: Round 6, 1978 vs Hawthorn, aged 24 years, 294 days
Height : 181 cm (5 ft. 11 in.)
Weight : 79.5 kg (12 stone, 7 lbs.)
DOB : 16 July, 1953
Ray Byrne will be remembered as one of the most unfortunate players in the history of VFL/AFL football. A capable and courageous defender, he turned out for two clubs in four Grand Finals – only to be on the losing side in each one of them.
In 1972, Byrne was recruited by the Blues at the age of 19 from Golden Square, in Carlton’s rich Bendigo League zone. He was given guernsey number 26 and soon proved to be a popular clubman and a creative half-back. At 181 cm and 80 kg, he was equally at home on the last line of defence, where he played in Carlton’s 1973 Grand Final loss to Richmond. The Blues went down by five goals that day, but Byrne’s opponent; Noel Carter, was hardly sighted.
Although his endeavour rarely faltered, by 1978 Byrne’s opportunities were drying up – due mainly to the emergence of future stars like Peter McConville, Rod Austin and Wayne Harmes. That same year there was an upheaval at the club with coach Ian Stewart resigning because of poor health, and then Serge Silvagni and later Alex Jesaulenko taking turns as senior coach. It was around that time that the Blues offloaded Byrne’s good mate Robert Walls, to Fitzroy – so Byrne decided that he too wanted out.
As he put it, “I didn’t like the scene at the time, and up until the Wednesday before clearances closed they weren’t going to let me go. And then at the last minute, the Blues got a deal they wanted. They gave permission for me to go to Collingwood on the proviso that they got a form four”. (A form four was required for every player recruited to a VFL club). Byrne wasn’t keen to go to Collingwood – he actually wanted to join Melbourne – but at the last minute he was off to Victoria Park. Incidentally, the Blues recruited Robbert Klomp with the form four they received in exchange from the Magpies.
Peter Fitzpatrick: 17th July
Career : 1978 – 1980
Debut : Round 3, 1978 v Melbourne
874th Carlton Player
Games : 9
Goals : 4
Last game : Round 7, 1980 v Hawthorn
Guernsey No. 6
Height : 184cm
Weight : 87kg
DOB : 17 July 1959
No relation to Mike Fitzpatrick (although their careers at Carlton coincided) Peter Fitzpatrick joined the Blues from Golden Square in 1978. He showed glimpses of real ability in his nine senior games, but found the going tough when he was forced to compete for a place in the team against the likes of Jim Buckley, Wayne Harmes, Peter McConville and Barry Armstrong.
Later, Fitzpatrick bobbed up at St Kilda in 1980. He managed another four games for the Saints, then moved on to SANFL club Woodville for the 1981 season. In 1982 he move back to Victoria and played for VFA club Sandringham in which he would later captain in 1987 and 1988, he was also a member of their 1985 premiership team. In 1989, he transferred to arch-rival VFA club Port Melbourne after a falling out with Sandringham coach and ex Hawk Bob Keddie.
Andy Graham: 18th July
Career: 1983
Debut and only Game: Round 15, 1983 vs Melbourne
912th Carlton Player
Goals: Nil
Guernsey No. 46
Height: 180cm
Weight: 76kg
DOB: 18 July, 1963
Wearing guernsey #46 and listed at 180cm in height, Graham played a single game for Carlton in Season 1983 which was a loss to Melbourne at Princes Park. In this game, Graham shared his debut with Ricky Nixon. He was recruited from Coburg.
Darren Hulme: 19th July
Career: 1997-2004
Debut: Round 10, 1997 vs Port Adelaide
1018th Carlton Player
Games: 110
Goals: 56
Last Game: Round 9, 2004 vs Western Bulldogs
Guernsey No. 47 (1997), 27 (1998-2004)
Height: 175cm
Weight: 80kg
DOB: 19 July, 1977
AFL Rising Star Nominee: Round 10, 1998
Taken with Pick 8 in the 1997 Pre-Season Draft from Dandenong Stingrays U/18’s (originally from Frankston Bombers), Darren Hulme was a feisty 175 cm midfielder who played over 100 games with the Blues. “Pup”, who wore a tattoo on his left shoulder, became a regular with the Blues from late 1997 until 2003, other than some occasional soft tissue injuries and a serious knee injury in Round 5, 2002, which would keep him sidelined for the remainder of that season. He would return to being a regular in the side in 2003, playing 20 games (missing 2 due to injury). But after playing 7 of the first 9 games in 2004, he would miss the remainder of that season with a groin injury and then be delisted.
He would generally alternate on the ball with short stints in the forward line. He would earn an AFL Rising Star Nomination in 1998. One of Hulme’s most memorable games was Round 9, 2001, when he would inspire a Blues’ revival. He would take on two Roos players, yet was still able to beat them both to win the ball and force a turnover, which would result in an important goal that would change the course of the game. He would end up taking the 3 Brownlow votes that game and would record 10 for the year – the equal highest at the club.
Andy Lukas: 19th July
Career : 1970 – 1973
Debut : Round 7, 1970 vs South Melbourne, aged 19 years, 301 days
Carlton Player No. 820
Games : 34
Goals : 3
Last Game : Round 10, 1973 vs Footscray, aged 22 years, 325 days
Guernsey No. 7 and 49
Height : 178 cm (5 ft. 10 in.)
Weight : 71.3 kg (11 stone, 3 lbs.)
DOB : 19 July, 1950
Premiership Player: 1972
Wearing guernsey number 49, and later number 7, Lukas played 34 games for Carlton after first running out in Navy Blue in Season 1970. He kicked three career goals.
Andy was born on July 19, 1950 and was recruited from St Marks and then Fawkner. He worked his way through to senior selection from Carlton’s Under 19 squad. He was listed as 5′ 10″ (178cm) and 11.3 (71.3kg). He made his senior team debut on the bench as 20th man against South Melbourne at the Lake Oval, Albert Park in Round 7, 1970, when Carlton were defeated by 77 points.
Andy played two more senior games during 1970, eight in 1971 and twenty-two during 1972 – including the Premiership. However he managed only two senior games in 1973, including his last senior appearance in Round 10, 1973 at Waverley, when Carlton beat Footscray by 26 points. In all, 16 of his 34 Carlton senior games were played off the bench (including the 1972 Premiership, where he was 19th man).
Before the start of the 1971 season, Andy changed his name to Lukas from Lukimitis (Lukas was born in Australia of Latvian parents). The popular belief at the time was that the change was to help “Captain Blood” Jack Dyer in his commentary. He was one of the two Carlton players to change their names that year, the other being Gary Lawson-Smith who changed his name from Smith. This story is explored in detail here.
Thanks to the Blueseum for player pics and bios.