Wayne Blackwell
Career : 1984 – 1990
Debut : Round 1, 1984 vs North Melbourne, aged 23 years, 213 days
Carlton Player No. 915
Games : 110
Goals : 80
Last Game : Round 15, 1990 vs Collingwood, aged 29 years, 317 days
Guernsey No. 8
Height : 179 cm (5 ft. 10 in.)
Weight : 76 kg. (12 stone, 0 lbs.)
DOB : 30 August, 1960
Widely regarded as one of the most worthy of Blues never to have played in a Carlton Premiership team, Wayne Blackwell spent seven seasons at Princes Park after being recruited from Claremont, WA (via Karrinyup Saints) in 1984. Although relatively lightly-framed at 179 cm and 76 kg, he was versatile, consistent and certainly unlucky throughout his 110-game career in guernsey number 8.
Born in England, Blackwell embraced Australian football as a youngster, playing his first senior match for Claremont in 1978 before his eighteenth birthday. Within three years he was appointed vice-captain of the Tigers, and his dominance of the centre in Claremont’s 1981 WAFL Grand Final victory over South Fremantle convinced Carlton that he was something special.
By 1984 he was at Princes Park, making his senior debut in a spectacular win by Carlton over North Melbourne at Waverley Park in the opening round of the season. The Kangas were smashed by a record 137 points on that sunny afternoon, when Carlton captain Wayne Johnston and beanpole ruckman Justin Madden kicked five goals each. However, it was Blackwell’s fellow West Australian in Warren Ralph – also making his debut for the Blues – who stole the headlines with 9 goals at full-forward in a stunning first-up performance.
Blackwell proved handy in a number of roles in his first year; in the centre, at half-forward or ruck-roving, and was awarded Carlton’s Best First Year Player award. He experienced the heady atmosphere of VFL finals football for the first time, and ended the season with a solid game on a wing in Carlton’s 25-point Semi Final loss to Collingwood.
Blackwell also made his mark in interstate games. Eventually, he represented WA on eight occasions, with the undoubted highlight being his contribution in the closing stages of WA’s 3-point win over Victoria at Subiaco in 1986. A Gary Buckenara goal had put WA in front late in the final quarter, before Blackwell’s desperate smother in the dying moments denied Brian Royal what could have been the winning goal for the Vics.
By 1986 Blackwell was an integral member of a strong Carlton side that wound up third on the ladder after the home and away rounds, and battled its way through to a Grand Final clash with Hawthorn. He was named in the Grand Final side as ruck-rover, but played his customary role on a wing, as the Hawks proved too good by 42 points. There was at least some consolation for that loss when Blackwell finished a close third in the voting for Carlton’s Best and Fairest player award – six points behind the dual winners, Wayne Johnston and Craig Bradley.
Fresh from that good year, Blackwell must have had high hopes for a big 1987, but it was not to be. He strained a knee ligament during pre-season training, and tried to play round 1 in the reserves, only to break down again. After that he missed another ten matches straight before resuming, and the setback hampered him all year.
Thanks to the Blueseum for providing player photo and bio.