Robert Walls
Career : 1967 – 1978
Debut : Round 2, 1967 vs Hawthorn, aged 16 years, 275 days
Carlton Player No. 795
Games: 218 (Overall 259)
Goals: 367 (Overall 444)
Last Game : Round 5, 1978 vs South Melbourne, aged 27 years, 282 days
Guernsey No. 42
Height: 193 cm
Weight: 89 kg
DOB: 21 July, 1950
Premiership Player: 1968, 1970, 1972
Judged Best on Ground: 1972 Grand Final
Captain: 1977, 1978
Leading Goalkicker: 1975, 1976
Carlton Hall of Fame
Team of the Century
AFL Hall of Fame
Carlton Legend
He was just sixteen years old when he played his first game for Carlton, and goaled with his first kick. Eleven seasons later, Robert Walls moved on from Princes Park as one of the greats of a fabulous era. A three-time Premiership player in 218 games, he notched 367 career goals, was vice-captain for five seasons, and captain for two. Late in his career, he crossed to Fitzroy to lead them into finals contention, before returning to Princes Park and further glory when he coached the Blues to the 1987 Premiership.
‘Wallsie’ was invited to Carlton in the summer of 1966, soon after being spotted playing good football for Coburg Amateurs. Born in Dunolly, but at that time he was still a student at Coburg High School; a tall, gangly teenager with long arms and a passion for excellence in everything he did – especially football. His arrival at Carlton came only months after new captain-coach Ron Barassi, and the pair found common ground immediately. Barassi commented later that Walls was a coach’s dream, probably because from day one, he embraced the Barassi philosophy that says ‘the harder you work, the luckier you get.’
Wearing guernsey 42, Walls took to the field his first senior game in 1967 against Fitzroy at Princes Park. Early in that match he marked strongly at full-forward, then calmly slotted the goal with his first kick. By the end of that debut season however, he was playing in defence, mainly because his immature frame was being too easily knocked out of marking contests. In a quality team, with the support of star defenders like Wes Lofts, John Goold and Ian Collins, Rob learned quickly. Weighing in at around 190 cm and 85 kg, he claimed a regular place in a back pocket, where his strong marking, judgement and pace off the mark proved real assets. Later, he would grow to 193 cm and fill out to 89 kg.
Topping off an exemplary first season, Walls was a solid performer in both of Carlton’s finals matches that year. The Blues wound up the 1967 home and away rounds second on the ladder, behind Richmond. It was Carlton’s first finals campaign for five years, and inexperience was a factor in their quick exit after successive losses to the Tigers and Geelong. Twelve months later however, when the ’68 finals began with Carlton again sitting second – this time behind Essendon – the Blues were a physically stronger, better team. Before 116,828 spectators on a windswept MCG, Carlton went on to beat Essendon by 3 points in a dour, slogging Grand Final. Walls kept Essendon’s resting ruckmen under control all match, and accepted his first Premiership medal at just 18 years of age.
Tony Southcombe
Career: 1977
Debut: Round 1, 1977 vs Geelong
Carlton Player No. 862
Games: 13
Goals: 11
Guernsey No. 4
Last Game: Round 13, 1977 vs Fitzroy
Height: 188cm
Weight: 89kg
DOB: 21 July, 1950
Tony Southcombe was another product from the Carlton nursery being Golden Square within the Bendigo League. Southcombe won the Bendigo FL Best & Fairest in 1971, the Mickelson Medal. Wearing guernsey #4, Southcombe played 13 games for Carlton commencing in 1977 kicking 11 goals in his time in Navy Blue.
One of the rare footballers to play with spectacles, Southcombe never really settled into city life and went back to the country before the season’s end. He had played the first 13 games straight and had enough of the big smoke.
Thanks to the Blueseum for player bios and pictures.