Past Player Birthdays: 11th October

Anthony Franchina

Career: 1997-2003 (On list until 2004)
Debut: Round 20, 1997 vs Geelong
1020th Carlton Player
Games: 105
Goals: 26
Last Game: Round 22, 2003 vs North Melbourne
Height: 176cm
Weight: 78kg
Guernsey No. 45
DOB: 11 October, 1977

Anthony Franchina, who wore #45 in over 100 games for the Navy Blues, was a 176cm tagger who was on the list between 1997 and 2004. A hard at it type, he was probably more famous for taking opponents out of the game than any possessions or goals he scored himself. But in the end, Franchina is probably satisfied with that, having racked up 100 games and as of 2007, being the only Blue to have his name on the #45 locker.

He was originally a ‘Supplementary List’ player for the Blues, before being drafted from that list in 1996. His original club was Newlands-Coburg, he had the unique ‘honour’ of playing for two TAC teams, the Preston Knights and the Calder Cannons. This may have occured when there was a realignment of boundaries after the Calder Cannons was entered into the TAC Cup competition.

Franchina will forever be linked to Saints great Nicky Winmar, who blew up at him in a game at the MCG in Round 20, 1998.

Franchina was a constant in the team from about 1999-2002, with 24 games in our oh-so-close performance in 2000, 17 in 2001 (restricted by foot and hamstring injuries at either end of the season, keeping him out of both finals) and 20 in our maiden wooden spoon year of 2002. Come 2003 and the introduction of Denis Pagan, Franchina would find his opportunities more limited, managing only 13 games, spending a lot of them on the bench and never managing double figure possessions, while playing a number of games in the VFL. In 2004 he didn’t play a senior game, playing most of the year in the VFL but also missing a number of weeks with a thumb injury. A dedicated trainer, Franchina was often seen in 2004 attempting to help out our Irish recruits after training.

Franchina was delisted at the end of 2004. He went on to play with North Ballarat in the VFL, before joining the Carlton affiliated Northern Bullants for Season 2006.

In 2007, Franchina – in conjunction with former Blues Corey McKernan and Justin Murphy – would feature in a little bit of football press once more when they were selected as the Carlton-linked on-ball grouping for Heidelberg in the Northern Football League (formerly known as the Diamond Valley FL). In 2009, he and Justin Murphy played together in a premiership with the Heidelberg FC.

Mark Porter

Career : 19972001
Debut : Round 16, 1997 vs Essendon, aged 20 years, 281 days
Carlton Player No. 1019
Games : 55
Goals : 13
Last Game : Semi Final, 2001 vs Richmond, aged 24 years, 339 days
Guernsey Nos. 46 (1997) and 11 (1998-2001)
Height : 199 cm (6 ft. 7 in.)
Weight : 101 kg (15 stone, 12 lbs.)
DOB : 11 October, 1976

A wearer of the number 11 guernsey, Mark Porter was called up from the rookie list to replace the suspended Matthew Allan against Essendon in Round 16, 1997 and made a magnificent debut – routing his more experienced opponents from the very first bounce. The 199 cm Porter was an old-fashioned, blue collar ruckman who gave his all for the team. His running to create space and his hard work around the ground – he made 45 tackles in 2001 – provided an insight into the type of effort big Mark put in each and every game.

For most of 1998, he and Allan formed an excellent ruck combination – but from then on, it was rare for them to play together for any length of time. Usually, this was because one or the other was injured. After 19 games in 1998, Porter missed more than a season and a half due to an ongoing knee injury. In fact, he didn’t make it back into the senior team until Allan himself hurt a knee in round 16, 2000, and was sidelined for six matches. In his absence, Porter stepped up to the role of number one ruckman, until the Blues’ twin towers were reunited for the last four games of the year.

In 2001, Porter played all but two games, while Allan was restricted to just eight appearances by a nagging series of foot and groin problems. Overall, the pair only made it on to the field together on seven occasions. At the end of that year, Carlton – desperate for a marking forward – stunned virtually everyone by trading the reliable Porter for Corey McKernan from the Kangaroos. It wasn’t a popular deal with the fans. Porter had won wide appreciation for his work ethic, and had battled hard to overcome injury. On top of that, Matthew Allan would play just 10 more games before he broke down again with foot problems. He was then traded to Essendon, and this left the Blues with severley depleted ruck stocks.

Porter went on to play three more honest seasons with the Roos, adding 55 games – the same number he had played at Carlton – before being delisted.

Carlton recruited Porter from VFA club Coburg, he had originally played for Wangaratta and King Valley.

Ian Herman

Career : 19871991
Debut : Round 11, 1987 vs Melbourne, aged 21 years, 239 days
Carlton Player No. 947
Games : 48
Goals : 39
Last Game : Round 8, 1991 vs Hawthorn, aged 25 years, 211 days
Guernsey No. 25
Height : 183 cm (6 ft. 0 in.)
Weight : 78 kg (12 stone, 4 lbs.)
DOB : 11 October, 1965

As a footballer, Ian Herman was something of an enigma – a classy, elegant 183 cm half-forward or ruck-rover who never quite reached the heights his ability offered, because throughout his time at Princes Park he was as dedicated to building a business career as he was to his football. Recruited by Carlton as a 21 year-old from amateur side Collegians, he played 48 games and kicked 38 goals in five seasons between 1987 and 1991.

Herman had originally played at junior level with both St Kilda and Hawthorn. In 1980, at the age of 15, he landed a place in the Saints’ junior development squad that toured Tasmania as a promotional activity for the club. Other members of the squad included Tony Lockett, David Grant and Rod Owen. Even so, Herman later refused an invitation to join St Kilda’s Under 19’s, because he was convinced that too many promising young footballers played two years with the thirds and then just disappeared – and he was in no hurry to do the same. Instead, he concentrated on his accountancy studies, and his school football with Haileybury College.

However, just around the corner from Ian’s home lived Hawthorn stalwart Russell Greene. The pair often talked football, and Greene eventually talked Herman into turning up at Glenferrie Oval for successive pre-season trials. Following the second of these, Hawks coach Allan Jeans drew Herman aside to tell him that he hadn’t made the final list because it was believed he was carrying stress fractures in his feet. This wasn’t the case, but once again, Herman was undeterred. He headed back to Collegians, and resumed playing in the shadow of his flamboyant and equally talented older brother Richard.

Ian’s story then took another twist when Haileybury coach Ken Phillips – who was an ex-South Melbourne player – met Carlton’s Secretary Ian Collins at a social function and told him that Collegians had a couple of youngsters in their side who showed real potential. As fate would have it, Richard Herman decided to retire from football to concentrate on cricket before ‘Collo’ was able to check out Phillips’ tip, and when he did, it was Ian who caught his eye.

Collins promptly invited Herman to Princes Park for pre-season training over the summer of 1986-87. By then, Ian had completed his studies and joined the prominent share broking firm of Grant Thornton – a world-wide financial giant with offices in more than 50 countries. Happily, Blues coach Robert Walls was very supportive when Herman explained that at times his profession would have to take precedence over his football, and the Blues were so impressed by his skill level that he was honoured with the number 25 guernsey previously worn by Alex Jesaulenko and Frank Marchesani.

In his debut season of 1987, Herman was eased into a talent-laden Carlton side that was on the verge of an emphatic 16th Premiership. He had his first taste of senior football in round 11 at the MCG, when he came off the bench late in the game, and experienced the additional thrill of kicking his first career goal as the rampant Blues destroyed the home side by 45 points. He played the next two games on a wing with the seniors, then returned to the seconds and celebrated his first year at Carlton as a member of the victorious Reserves Premiership team in September.

In 1988, Herman established himself in the senior side and played 17 matches, including three finals that culminated in a bitterly disappointing loss to Melbourne in the Preliminary Final. On the way to that finals campaign, he provided a season highlight for Blues fans when he saved his team from an embarrassing defeat by the lowly Brisbane Bears in round 21 at Carrara Stadium. With only seconds left on the clock, he swooped on the ball as it spilled from a pack, and snapped a brilliant goal from a long way out. Carlton won by three points.

Herman had another consistent season in 1989, although the Carlton Football Club as a whole was wracked by dissension on and off the field. Alex Jesaulenko returned as senior coach in the wake of Robert Walls’ sacking, but the team tumbled down the ladder and finished eighth. From then on, under Jesaulenko’s relentless discipline, Herman struggled to balance his business and football aspirations. His form tailed off, and he managed only seven games in 1990. By the end of that year, was thinking seriously about his football future.

Although Jesaulenko finished up in 1990 to be replaced by David Parkin in his second appointment as Carlton’s senior coach, Herman played only another three matches in 1991, and therefore decided that he would be happier and more useful at another club. Richmond then picked him up in the 1992 mid-year draft, and Herman became a Tiger in 14 games over two seasons. After that, he moved on to VFA heavyweights Sandringham, where he rounded off his football career by playing another 39 games, including the Zebra’s 1994 Grand Final triumph over Box Hill.

In the years since he hung up his boots for the last time, Ian Herman has gone on to conspicuous commercial success. As at 2011, he has risen through the ranks to become the Australian Managing Director of Grant Thornton, which has continued to expand and now has branches in over 100 countries.

He has no regrets about where the two main pathways of his life have taken him, and still retains a deep affection for the Carlton Football Club. “I was lucky I played a handful of games with a great team at its peak,” he has said. “My plan was to get the best out of myself in both football and business.”

Still an enthusiastic and long-standing member of the club, Ian has become a mentor and friend to promising 2007 draftee David Ellard.

Incidentally, Ian’s brother Richard – who was indirectly responsible for his recruitment by the Blues – went on to have a glittering career in district cricket for the Melbourne Cricket Club.

 

Thanks to the Blueseum for player pics and bios.

Past Player Birthdays: 10th October

Digby Morrell

Career: 2004-2005
Debut: Round 1, 2004 vs Fremantle
1074th Carlton Player
Games: 32
Goals: 12
Last Game: Round 22, 2005 vs Kangaroos
Guernsey No. 3
Height: 191cm
Weight: 97kg
DOB: 10 October, 1979

Digby “Diggers” Morrell was traded to Carlton by the Kangaroos at the end of the 2003 season, together with David Teague, for ex-Roo Corey McKernan who had just spent 2 years on the Carlton list.

Morrell’s career at the Blues would echo that of Brett Johnson, who also was traded to Carlton in 2003 and also played 32 games for the Blues over 2004-2005. Morrell was a different type of player, a marking forward / defender with a clever touch to his game. At 191cm though, he was always going to be a third forward or defender, never quite key position height, despite his strong marking ability 1 on 1.

Given our struggling defence in the time period, with key position youngsters Livingston, Thornton and Norman all given a tough run at spots in the seniors given how much time the ball spent in our defensive 50, Morrell was often thrown back to assist. At times he was useful, others, much like the other defenders, he was soundly beaten.

On occasion it was as a third or fourth forward that Morrell would shine. However, 4.6 from 21 games in 2004 and 8.7 from 11 games in 2005 highlights his potential but also how much time he spent in defence.

Given the #3 guernsey, Morrell was a popular player at Carlton / Bullants and like Johnson, was a game winner at the lower levels. Unfortunately for Morrell, these performances did not translate to the highest level of the AFL.

He maintained his connection with Carlton following his delisting, both by playing at its VFL affiliate the Northern Bullants, where he helped mentor Carlton’s youngsters and as MC at various Club functions (where his use and support of the Blueseum is noted and appreciated). At the Bullants, in 2006 he was the Northern Bullants leading goal scorer with 53 goals and finished 2nd in their Best and Fairest Award. Morrell spent the 2008 season at rival VFL club Box Hill Hawks before heading of to local Essendon District Football League Club Strathmore for the 2009 and 2010 seasons.

Morrell was originally recruited from West Perth, WA.

 

Thanks to the Blueseum for player bio and pic.

Past Player Birthdays: 9th October

Des English

 Career : 19801987
Debut : Round 4, 1980 v South Melbourne
Carlton Player No. 884
Games : 104
Goals : 6
Last game: Grand Final, 1986 v Hawthorn
Guernsey No. 27
Height : 178 cm
Weight : 86 kg
DOB : October 9, 1957
Premiership Player : 1981 & 1982

Another in a long line of courageous, reliable and tough back-pockets for the Blues, Des English was a valuable contributor in three Carlton Grand Final teams, including the 1981 and ’82 Premiership sides. One of the most respected players of his era, he was, sadly, forced into premature retirement when he was diagnosed with leukaemia.

English came to Carlton from Bendigo League club Eaglehawk in 1980, following in the footsteps of champion rover Rod Ashman. Like “Ashy”, Des had also won the Two Blues’ Best & Fairest award, and was a regular Bendigo League representative, usually at half-back. At Carlton he found a niche in the back pocket, and began consolidating his place in one of the league’s power teams.

Carlton finished the 1980 home and away season in second place, but lost both finals matches in successive weeks. It was a bitterly disappointing end to a bad year for the Blues, only compensated by the belief that this team was much better than its results might indicate. The Blues knew that they had the talent and the drive to win another Premiership – all they needed was the opportunity.

Under new coach David Parkin, that opportunity wasn’t long in coming. Carlton played brilliantly all season in 1981, topping the home and away ladder on percentage over Collingwood, then going on to beat the Magpies by 20 points on Grand Final day. The Blues’ defence, boasting the names Doull, Hunter, McKay, Harmes and Perovic, was topped off with the emergence of Des English. At 178 cm and 88 kg, Des was solid enough to handle any physical pressure, and tall enough to fill a variety of defensive roles. An safe mark, cool under pressure and an accurate disposer of the ball, he won new fans each week with his rock-solid consistency.

In 1982 he won his second Premiership medal when Carlton triumphed again over their other traditional rival, Richmond. The free-scoring Tigers started warm favourites in that year’s decider, but with captain Mike Fitzpatrick supreme in the ruck, and Bruce Doull impassable at half-back, The Blues won their fourteenth flag by 18 points. Two Premierships in his first three seasons was a dream come true for English. The 26 year-old was in the best form of his life, and a fixture in one of the great football teams.

Rod Galt: Happy 60th Birthday!

Career : 19751979
Debut : Round 17, 1975 vs Hawthorn, aged 23 years, 290 days
Carlton Player No. 855
Games : 46
Goals : 100
Last Game: Round 21, 1979 vs Collingwood, aged 27 years, 320 days
Guernsey No. 17
Height : 194 cm (6 ft. 4½ in.)
Weight : 92 kg (14 stone, 7 lbs.)
DOB : October 9, 1951
Leading Goalkicker: 1978

Rod “Spook” Galt was an athletic, talented ruckman-forward who was recruited by Carlton from St. Kilda in 1975. Although he ended up playing a combined total of 123 games with the Blues and the Saints, it must be said that he was never the most committed individual at either club, and his somewhat lackadaisical attitude caused frustration throughout his career. But if Galt’s football journey was not particularly rewarding, it was certainly varied.

Nicknamed “The Ghost” or “Spook” because of his slim build, pale complexion and shock of white-blonde hair, Galt was recruited by St Kilda from bayside Beaumaris in 1971. He was a minor sensation in his first season, and after an impressive finals series in which St Kilda fought their way right through to the Grand Final (only to fall to Hawthorn by 7 points) one newspaper dubbed him “the new Carl Ditterich.”

However, the inconsistency that would plague his career soon appeared, and by the end of 1974 the Saints had had enough. They kept him on their list, but sent him to play in Darwin for the first few months of 1975 while they decided his future. When he was recalled mid-year, he was informed that his contract had been purchased by Carlton, and from that point on he was a Blue.

Wearing the number 17 guernsey recently discarded by Brent Crosswell on his way to North Melbourne, Galt played his first senior match for his new club against Hawthorn at Princes Park in round 17, 1975 – a cracker of a contest that Carlton lost by just 4 points. Despite that narrow margin, Galt was left out of the team the following week, and spent the rest of the year with the Reserves.

He began 1976 impressively; booting three goals and rucking strongly in Carlton’s big win over Collingwood at Princes Park in round 1. Another five matches in a row followed, before he was omitted again and managed just one more senior appearance by year’s end. In 1977 he fared little better. After playing three of the first six games, he was sent back to the seconds again and his future with the Blues looked bleak – until another chain of events began in June of that year, when he and three other senior-listed Blues were briefly “loaned” to a struggling Bendigo League club for one match.

The team concerned was Kennington, who hadn’t won a game all year. On the brink of disbanding, they were about to face the undefeated ladder-leaders Eaglehawk and were praying for a miracle. At the time the Bendigo area was Carlton’s prime recruitment zone, so the Carlton committee decided to give Kennington a hand by strengthening them with four senior-listed Blues for the match. Rod Galt, Gary Conn, Peter Halsall and Lou Chiodo all duly played in the game, but Eaglehawk still won easily.
After that, Galt was on the move again – this time to Western Suburbs in Sydney, where his presence was more telling. He settled into life in the Harbour City, rediscovered his best form, and topped off a memorable few months by dominating the Grand Final. Western Suburbs kicked 14.15 to North Shore’s 5.2 in the second half of that Premiership decider, with Galt clearly best on ground in leading his team to a comprehensive victory.

Perhaps it was that performance that saved his VFL career, or maybe an ultimatum was put to him by the Blues. Whatever it was that transpired over the summer of 1977-78, it certainly worked – because “Spook’ re-emerged as a league footballer and had by far his best season. Playing as an almost permanent forward pocket, his height and aerial skills were tough to counter, and his accuracy in kicking for goal was deadly. In a purple patch of form between rounds 9 and 12, 1978, Galt kicked three bags of six goals each, as Carlton bounced back from a poor year in ’77 to once again qualify for the finals in fourth spot on the ladder.

Enjoying his first VFL final since leaving St Kilda, Spook booted three goals in the Blues’ good win over Geelong in the ‘78 Elimination Final, and notched another three the following week when Carlton’s season concluded with a loss to Collingwood in the first Semi. In the process, he finished the year with an aggregate of 49 majors to take out Carlton’s Leading Goal-kicker award, and paved the way for a shift to full-forward the following year.

Dick Vandenberg

Career : 1966
Debut : Round 13, 1966 vs St Kilda, aged 18 years, 287 days
Carlton Player No. 788
Games : 3
Goals : 2
Guernsey No. 8
Last Game: Round 15, 1966 vs Essendon, aged 18 years, 301 days
Height : 183 cm (6 ft. 0 in.)
Weight : 80 kg (12 stone, 8 lbs.)
DOB : October 9, 1947

Richard ‘Dick’ Vandenberg played three consecutive games and kicked 2 goals for Carlton in 1966. A tall rover-forward, he was recruited from Robinvale, and allocated guernsey number 8 in the second year of Ron Barassi’s tenure as captain-coach of the Blues.

After making a good impression at Reserves level through the first half of the season, Vandenberg was given his chance with the senior side in round 13, 1966 when seventh-placed Carlton hosted second-placed St Kilda at Princes Park. That day – not for the first time – the Blues caused quite a boilover in beating the Saints by 16 points.

It was a magical occasion for the 18 year-old Vandenberg, who years later was to say; “How well I remember it. They had Baldock at centre half-forward, Stewart in the centre, Murray at full-back, Synman at centre half-back and Ditterich in the ruck. We had a bloke called John Nicholls – who beat the lot of them.” *

Vandenberg shared the roving duties with Adrian Gallagher – who capitalized on Nicholls’ dominance and was almost as influential. The following week, Gallagher and Vandenberg combined again in Carlton’s emphatic win over Fitzroy, and they were together for a third time against Essendon at Windy Hill in round 15, when the Blues were brought crashing back to earth by a 7-goal defeat.

Vandenberg was one of the casualties from that defeat, and he spent the remainder of the season with the Reserves – before being told that his services were no longer required. He headed back home to northern Victoria, and over the succeeding years built a successful business as a chartered accountant, based in Swan Hill.

Some 30 years later, the Vandenberg name was seen again at Carlton when one of Dick’s distant cousins – the similarly-named Richard Vandenberg, trialled briefly at Reserves level in 1997. Richie was not picked up by the Blues, so he moved to Hawthorn, where he had a celebrated career of 145 games, and captained the club.

Robert Dutton

Career : 1981
Only Game : Round 7, 1981 vs Melbourne
Carlton Player No. 893
Goals : 0
Guernsey No. 17
Height : 192 cm
Weight : 89 kg
DOB : October 9, 1957

After three years with Launceston in Tasmania, where he had played in a Premiership side and won a club Best and Fairest, ‘Major’ Dutton came to Carlton in 1979. His 192 cm frame ran out in the Carlton number 17 guernsey for his only game in season 1981.

His second and final League appearance was with Hawthorn – against Carlton in Round 14, 1982. The Hawks won by 34 points that day, but Carlton had sweet revenge by knocking them out of that year’s Preliminary Final before beating Richmond for yet another flag. Dutton parted ways with the Hawks at the end of the season and played for Clarence (Tasmania) in 1983.

Now operates a successful Food Service Distribution Business in Launceston.

 

Thanks to the Blueseum for player pics and bios.

Past Player Birthdays: 8th October

Stephen Kenna

Career: 2004
Debut: Round 1, 2004 vs Fremantle
1073rd Carlton Player
Games: 5
Goals: 3
Guernsey No. 17
Last Game: Round 8, 2004 vs Brisbane
Height: 170cm
Weight: 69kg
DOB: 8 October, 1981

Steve Kenna was picked with selection 75, our last, in the 2003 National Draft. A pint sized forward, Kenna was a Queenslander who had been playing in the VFL with the Box Hill Hawks and performed well.

Kenna was recruited from Morningside, was a Brisbane Lion Rookie for a while and played at Mt Gravatt prior to heading to the Box Hill Hawks.

Lasting only a season at Carlton, Kenna played 5 games- the first 4 and then just one further game in Round 8, kicking 3 goals. Blessed with seemingly very fast pace, Kenna just couldn’t quite crack it at AFL level despite the need for a real rover / forward pocket at Carlton, never managing more than 8 possessions in any game. At 170cms, perhaps his tiny legs were just pumping so fast that he appeared to be a speedster? It’s not as simple as that – at VFL level Kenna remained a strong performer, but this was not enough to see him on the list for a second season.

Kenna wore the number 17.

He went on to play for South Adelaide in the SANFL and was runner up in the Magarey Medal in 2006, behind fellow ex-Blue Brett Backwell.

Steve Kenna’s grandfather, Ted Kenna won a Victoria Cross Medal during World War II.

Eric Pascoe

Career : 19721976
Debut : Round 6, 1972 vs Geelong, aged 18 years, 210 days
Carlton Player No. 836
Games : 32
Goals : 7
Last Game: Round 14, 1976 vs Melbourne, aged 22 years, 268 days
Guernsey Nos. 13 (197275), 44 (1976)
Height : 191 cm (6 ft. 3 in.)
Weight : 91 kg (14 stone, 3 lbs)
DOB : October 8, 1953

When 18 year-old Eric Pascoe arrived at Princes Park in the early 1970’s many Blues supporters were convinced we had another star in the making. At 191 cm and 91 kg, the powerfully-built blonde ruckman was recruited from the Northern United Football Club in Bendigo – another product of Carlton’s lucrative central Victorian recruiting zone.

Carlton intended that Pascoe be groomed as an understudy to the Blues’ regular ruckmen John Nicholls and Peter Jones, to ensure that there was always a capable alternative on hand. In fact, the club kept faith with Eric for five seasons, but he was never able to properly seize the opportunities offered by a very strong team.

In the absence of ‘Percy’ Jones, Pascoe made his senior debut for the Blues against Geelong in round 6, 1972 at Princes Park; a match perhaps better remembered as the debut game for future Premiership defender Rod Austin. Wearing guernsey number 13 (which was to bring him no luck at all) Pascoe shared the ruck duties with his captain-coach Nicholls, and kicked his first career goal as Carlton destroyed the Cats by 49 points. Although it was a handy effort first up, Jones was an automatic inclusion the following week, and Pascoe didn’t play for the seniors again until the next season.

In 1973 he managed another seven matches, and his development seemed to be on track when he won Carlton’s Reserves Best and Fairest award. The problem was that Nicholls and Jones were still playing very good football. Late in that season, Pascoe was tried as a key forward, but pace proved a problem. First and foremost, Eric was a tap ruckman.

Eventually, the opportunity Pascoe had been waiting for arrived when John Nicholls retired in 1974. However, the club had not been idle on the recruiting front. While Eric looked forward to the chance to fill ‘Big Nick’s’ boots, Carlton announced the arrival of boom WA ruckman Mike Fitzpatrick. ‘Fitzy’ was a star from his first game for the Blues, and suddenly, Pascoe was relegated to a back-up role again.

In 1976, a new coach in Ian Thorogood and a new guernsey number (44) lifted Pascoe’s hopes. He sat on the bench as 19th man for the first two matches of the year, but was soon back to kicking the dew off the grass with the Reserves. Around that time – with Carlton’s approval – he was approached by Tasmanian club Clarence, who wanted him as their captain-coach for the following year.

After some thought, Pascoe accepted Clarence’s offer, and Carlton didn’t stand in his way when he asked for a clearance. He played his last match in navy blue off the bench against Melbourne at Waverley Park in July, 1976, on a blustery afternoon when the Demons had one more scoring shot than the Blues, yet lost by 57 points; 6.22 (58) to 18.7 (115).

Eric took over at Clarence in 1977, and spent two years at the helm, guiding the Tassie Kangaroos to sixth and fifth place respectively.

 

Thanks to the Blueseum for playwr pics and bios.

Past Player Birthdays: 7th October

Rohan Welsh

Career : 1992-1997
Debut : Round 5, 1992 vs Sydney
982nd Carlton Player
Games : 42
Goals : 59
Last Game : Round 12, 1997 vs St Kilda
Guernsey Nos. 38 (1992-96), 3 (1997)
Height : 192 cm
Weight : 94 kg
DOB : 7 October, 1970

Rohan ‘Woosher’ Welsh was a handy forward with plenty of football experience by the time he arrived at Princes Park in the summer of 1991-92. Picked up by Carlton at number 33 in that year’s pre-season draft, Welsh had been a schoolboy star at St Bernard’s College before spending two years with Essendon’s Under-19’s, and another two on the Bombers’ senior list, without managing a senior game.

Woosher had been released by Essendon in 1990. He crossed to VFA club Dandenong, where he quickly found a niche at full-forward. His tally of 84 goals in ‘91 won him the competition’s goal-kicking award, as well as playing in their premiership team that season, and not long afterward, a second-chance invitation to join the Blues. He was drafted with fellow Dandenong premiership teammate Paul McCormack.

Wearing guernsey number 38, 22 year-old Welsh played his first match for Carlton in April, 1992 against Sydney at Princes Park. Blues’ coach David Parkin experimented with his forward set-up that afternoon, placing Welsh and Earl Spalding in the key forward posts, and captain Stephen Kernahan in a pocket. Although ‘Sticks’ Kernahan booted four goals and Welsh two, the ploy was not a success and Sydney won by 21 points.

Carlton ended up seventh in ’92 while Welsh – who would occasionally be seen in the ruck – did enough to encourage himself and his new club. His 28 goals in 14 games were followed up by another 22 goals in 16 matches in 1993. In fact, Welsh had become our top goal kicker in Guernsey #38 with 50! Carlton finished second to Essendon after the home and away rounds that season, battling their way through to meet the Bombers again in the Grand Final. But weakened by some crucial injuries, the Blues were swamped by a switched-on Essendon team that took the flag by 44 points.

Welsh came off the interchange bench in all three of Carlton’s finals games in ‘93 and looked forward to further improvement – until the club’s end-of-season trip brought disaster. While skylarking with a couple of team-mates one night, Woosher apparently fell off (or over) a fence, damaging a knee so severely that it kept him out of senior football for two seasons.

Carlton retained him on the playing list throughout his long recuperation, which finally ended when Welsh – who had switched guernseys to number 3 – played three mid-season matches off the bench in 1997. Unfortunately he couldn’t do enough with those opportunities, and was delisted at the end of the year.

After bidding farewell to the Blues, Woosher was cleared to VFA club Frankston. He spent two seasons as a key forward with the Dolphins (coached by 1987 Carlton Premiership hero, David Rhys-Jones) then hung up his boots for the last time in 2000 to begin a notable coaching career in his own right.

From 2002 to 2004, Welsh was assistant coach of the Calder Cannons in the elite TAC Cup Under 18 competition. Encouraged by the Cannon’s head coach (and TAC Cup legend) Robert Hyde, Woosha won the position of coach of the Oakleigh Chargers in 2005, and proved his capabilities in the best possible way the following year.

The Chargers won the TAC Cup Premiership in 2006, and Rohan Welsh was honoured with the Coach of the Year award. As the 2007 season looms, he seems destined for further success.

In 2008, AFL Victoria appointed Rohan Welsh as its new Victoria Metro Under-18 Academy Head Coach. Welsh recently completed four successful years with the Oakleigh Chargers FC, as the Head Coach, and had been an assistant coach at Calder Cannons. Rohan will replace another Ex Blue in David Dickson in this role, whose tenure spanned 12 successful years.

Rohan is the son of ex Essendon player John Welsh who played 9 games for Essendon between 1961 and 1963.

 

Thanks to the Bluesuem for player Pic and Bio.

Past Player Birthdays: 5th October

Roger Hoggett

Career : 19641965
Debut : Round 11, 1964 vs Geelong, aged 21 years, 272 days
Carlton Player No. 766
Games : 12
Goals : 0
Last Game : Round 11, 1965 vs St Kilda, aged 22 years, 271 days
Guernsey No. 36
Height : 178 cm (5 ft. 10 in.)
Weight : 82.5 kgs (13 stone, 0 lbs.)
DOB : October 5, 1942

Recruited from Longford, Tasmania in 1964, Roger Hoggett was a capable centreman who played 12 senior games for Carlton in successive seasons, and was voted our Reserves Best and Fairest in his debut year.

After impressing in his first half-dozen games in the lower grade, Hoggett was selected to make his senior debut as 20th man in Carlton’s clash with Geelong in round 11, 1964. Wearing guernsey number 36, Roger got just the briefest of runs in the last few minutes against the Cats, and was omitted the next week. He returned to play in rounds 13 and 14 against Hawthorn and Melbourne respectively, but from then on, spent the remainder of the year with the seconds. There, his influence around the middle of the ground won him the Best and Fairest, and kept him firmly in the selectors’ sights.

During the 1964 off-season, Princes Park was at the centre of one of the most sensational episodes in VFL history, when a boardroom coup installed the rambunctious George Harris as the 21st President of the Carlton Football Club. Harris immediately created a storm by convincing Melbourne champion Ron Barassi to take on the role of captain-coach of the Blues. Barassi accepted, and hit the ground running. Over the summer months, Hoggett and the rest of Carlton’s list was put through a searching pre-season.

Quite early on, Barassi decided that Ian Collins was his preferred centreman, and told Hoggett that he could make the back pocket his domain if he wanted it bad enough. However, after the first six matches of 1965 Barassi had a rethink, and in round 7 he switched Collins to the last line of defence against Essendon. Collins’ tenacity and dash was instrumental in a surprise win by the Blues, and from that afternoon on, Hoggett’s place in the side was tenuous at best.

In round 11, Carlton met St Kilda for the first time at Moorabbin. It was a tense, even contest all afternoon between two of the top four sides, and scores were level with just a minute or two to play. It was then that former Blue Bruce McMaster-Smith snapped a clever goal, and pinched the win for the Saints. Hoggett was one of five Blues omitted from the seniors after that loss, and he wasn’t able to reclaim his place before season’s end. Shortly afterwards, he was told that his services were no longer required.

Three years after leaving Princes Park, Hoggett was appointed captain-coach of NSW powerhouse Western Suburbs, and led the Magpies to a Premiership in his first season.

 

Thanks to the Blueseum for player pic and bio.

Past Player Birthdays: October 1st

Barry Mulcair

Career : 19701971
Debut : Round 13, 1970 vs Geelong, aged 21 years, 268 days
Carlton Player No. 824
Games : 20
Goals : 0
Last Game: Round 22, 1971 vs Collingwood, aged 22 years, 230 days
Guernsey No. 35
Height : 185 cm (6 ft. 1 in.)
Weight : 86 kg (13 stone, 8 lbs.)
DOB : October 1, 1948
Premiership Player 1970

Some men, it is said, are born to greatness; while others have greatness thrust upon them. In a football sense, it is hard to deny that Barry Mulcair’s career at Carlton fitted squarely into the latter category. At first a reluctant recruit for the Blues, he changed his mind at precisely the right time, and etched his name into club history when he was a member of Carlton’s celebrated 1970 Premiership team in just his thirteenth senior game.

By the time the 1970 VFL season began, Carlton had been trying to recruit Mulcair from his hometown club South Bendigo for months. A defender with excellent judgement, good all-round skills and a cool head under pressure, he eventually agreed to terms and arrived at Princes Park midway through the year. Then, after only two shakedown games with the Reserves, he was thrust straight into the big time when he lined up on a half-back flank against Geelong at Princes Park in round 13 of that year.

Wearing guernsey number 35 and playing alongside John Goold (in his 100th match for Carlton ) Mulcair delighted the match committee by showing poise and good concentration as the fifth-placed Blues accounted for the second-placed Cats by 13 points. From there, Carlton steadily improved through the second half of the season. When the finals rolled around, the Baggers had displaced Geelong from second spot on the ladder, and were poised to challenge the front-runners Collingwood.

Mulcair breezed through his baptism of fire in the finals with further aplomb, despite an incident in Carlton’s big Preliminary Final victory over St Kilda when he and his team-mate Bryan Quirk collided, and Quirk dislocated his shoulder. Barry recovered and played on, but Quirk left the field and was soon ruled out of the following week’s Grand Final against the Magpies, who were raging-hot favourites for the flag.

Every Carlton fan knows that the Blues won the unwinnable Grand Final in 1970, storming back into the contest from 44 points down at half-time to skittle Collingwood by ten points. Mulcair’s game on that incredible Saturday afternoon mirrored most of his team-mates. His opponent, Con Britt, had the better of him early, but Barry stuck to his task and kept the dangerous Magpie under a tight rein after half time.

One of Carlton’s real heroes that day was rover Ted Hopkins, who was called onto the ground after half-time, and sparked the Blues incredible revival with four telling goals. Surprisingly, Ted retired after just one more game in 1971 – believing that he had achieved all that he could have hoped for as far as football went. Later that same year, Mulcair was to follow suit.

Barry played the first six matches of 1971, before his form tapered off, and he was sent back to the Reserves while Carlton endured a quite understandable Premiership hangover. He was eventually recalled for one final game – the 20th of his career – in the last round of the home and away season, against Collingwood at Princes Park. Still basking in the afterglow of the previous year, the confident Blues did it yet again on that late-winter Saturday afternoon – recovering from 20 points down at three-quarter time to beat the finals-bound Magpies by 19 points.

Along with Mulcair, three other notable Blues in Sergio Silvagni, Ian Collins and ex-Richmond star Bill Barrot also finished their VFL careers on that same day. Despite that loss of class and experience however, a resurgent Carlton side collected yet another flag in 1972. By then, Mulcair was back at South Bendigo, where he continued to play and coach for the next decade.

In 1988, Barry’s son Christian was recruited by Carlton from Bendigo’s Marist Brothers College under the father/son rule. A strapping 196 cm ruckman, Chris played a dozen Reserves games without achieving senior selection.

Damien Lock

Career: 1998-1999 (Listed Player: 1997-1999)
Debut: Round 1, 1998 vs Adelaide
1023rd Carlton Player
Games: 18
Goals: Nil
Guernsey No. 17
Last Game: Round 15, 1999 vs Adelaide
Height: 179cm
Weight: 77kg
DOB: 1 October, 1978

Taken with Pick 52 in the 1996 National Draft, Lock was a left-footed midfielder who played 18 games with the Blues – 14 in 1998 and another 4 in 1999. Not blessed with great pace, Lock was given a few opportunities to make it in the Blues midfield as replacements were sought for the retiring Greg Williams and others, in the wake of our decline post the 1995 Premiership.

He had as many as 24 disposals in Round 9, 1998 but struggled from then on – only once obtaining double figures. He was troubled by injuries – a groin complaint ending his 1998 season early, while a kidney injury delayed his start to 1999. He was not retained on the list after 1999.

Lock, who wore number 17, was originally from Bendigo Pioneers, his junior club being Eaglehawk. Lock was used as a top-up player for the Blues reserves team in 1996 wearing No.56.

In 2000, Damien Lock headed off to play with VFL club Coburg-Fitzroy with ex-Blues teammates Matthew Hogg and Damian Lang. In 2001, Lock headed back to Bendigo to play with the VFL team The Bendigo Diggers.

 

Thanks to the Blueseum for player pics and bios.

David Parkin Speaks

In the latest of our videos from the recent Spirit of Carlton luncheon celebrating the 1981 Premiership we present the keynote speech from the coach of that flag, David Parkin.

Past Player Birthdays: 30th September

Greg Williams

Career : 19921997
Debut (Carlton): Round 7, 1992 vs Footscray, aged 28 years, 216 days
Carlton Player No. 983
Games : 109 (Carlton), 250 (career)
Goals : 89
Last Game: Round 16, 1997 vs Essendon, aged 33 years, 293 days
Guernsey No : 2
Height : 175 cm (5 ft. 9 in.)
Weight : 86 kg (13 stone, 8 lbs.)
DOB : 30 September, 1963
Premiership Player 1995
Norm Smith Medal 1995
Brownlow Medal 1994 (Also 1986 at the Swans)
Robert Reynolds Memorial Trophy –Best and Fairest Award: 1994
All Australian: 1993(vc), 1994(c)
Herald Sun Player of the Year: 1993, 1994
Leigh Matthew Trophy AFLPA MVP Award: 1994
Team of the Century: Centre
AFL Team of the Century
Carlton Hall of Fame (Inducted 1999)
AFL Hall of Fame (Inducted 2001)

One of the most brilliant and controversial players of all time, Greg “Diesel” Williams was twice rejected by Carlton as a youngster because he lacked natural leg speed. Nevertheless, he went on to carve his name into AFL history as a champion centreman at Geelong and Sydney, before returning to Princes Park and Premiership glory with the Blues. For sheer ball-getting ability, tenacity, and pin-point disposal by hand or by foot, Diesel Williams had few peers.

While growing up in suburban Ascot Vale, Williams was forced to wear callipers on both legs to correct a condition that made him severely ‘knock-kneed’, and he was never renowned for his speed on the playing field. But at the age of 10, he and his family moved to Bendigo, where the sports-mad youngster turned up looking for a game at Golden Square, and began a football journey that most youngsters dream about.

In 1980, aged 16, Williams was selected in the Victorian Teal Cup (Under 17) squad. This led to an invitation from Carlton to join in pre-season training in 1982. But Greg’s sojourn in Melbourne turned into a disaster. Homesick, and unable to cope with the intense competition for places – even in intra-club practice matches – he was soon informed by letter that Carlton no longer required his attendance.

While deeply disappointed by his failure to cope with the pressures of league football, Williams was still convinced that he was good enough to make the grade. He went back to Golden Square, where he had a dominant year in the centre for the Bulldogs, and won the Bendigo League Best and Fairest award by a record margin. When this was pointed out to Carlton, the club promptly reconsidered, and asked him back again for the 1983 pre-season.

But as before, all the Blues training staff could see was a short, somewhat pudgy individual, who trailed off in every time trial. He was tried as a half-forward flanker, not in the pivot, and while some were impressed with his instinctive, accurate hand-passing, and his neat foot skills off both sides of his body – it was generally agreed that there was really no place for Greg in the powerful Carlton side. For the second year running, he packed his bags and went home to Bendigo.

That second rejection could have crushed Williams’ spirit – instead it ignited his determination to prove the bastards wrong. He dedicated himself to training harder and longer than ever, and in September, won the BFL Best and Fairest award for the second year running. Golden Square then met Sandhurst in the ’83 Grand Final, and lost a torrid match by one kick. Best on Ground in the centre for the Bulldogs was 20 year-old Greg Williams, and watching on from the grandstand were two officials from the Geelong Football Club.

Trevor Fletcher

Career : 19761977
Debut : Round 17, 1976 vs Hawthorn, aged 22 years, 297 days
Carlton Player No. 861
Games : 4
Goals : 0
Last Game : Round 3, 1977 vs St Kilda, aged 23 years, 198 days
Guernsey No. 33
Height : 192 cm (6 ft. 3 in.)
Weight : 89 kg (14 stone, 0 lbs.)
DOB : 30 September, 1953

Another product of the Bendigo Football League – Carlton’s central Victorian recruiting zone prior to 1985 – Trevor Fletcher played four senior games (all off the bench) in a brief stay at Princes Park in 1976-77. Afterwards, the 192 cm ruckman-defender enjoyed a varied on-field career before turning his hand to coaching. He guided Bairnsdale to a famous Latrobe Valley League Premiership in 1981, and later, took charge of Footscray’s Under 19 squad.

Fletcher began his football journey in his home town of Charlton in northern Victoria, but it was his role in South Bendigo’s 1974 BFL Premiership that really sparked Carlton’s interest. Having agreed to terms with the Blues, he crossed to Princes Park in 1976 and took over the number 33 guernsey previously worn by another Bendigo boy; 1972 Premiership defender Paul Hurst.

Some eye-catching efforts in the ruck with Carlton Reserves ensued, before Fletcher was eventually called into the senior team for round 17, 1976, when the co-tenants of Princes Park – second-placed Carlton, and ladder-leaders Hawthorn – clashed in the match of the day. Sharing the reserves bench with Graeme Whitnall on that Saturday afternoon, Fletcher made it on to the field late in the game to become Carlton’s sixth debutant of the year after Kevin Heath, Tony Pickett, Leigh McConnon, Jim Buckley and Peter Brown. The switched-on Blues were up for the contest, and upset the Hawks by 31 points.

Twice more over the following weeks – in rounds 19 and 22 – Fletcher watched the first bounce from the bench while the Blues kept on winning. Having snatched the minor premiership from the Hawks, Carlton shaped up for the finals with confidence, but Hawthorn turned the tables in a slogging Semi Final in the wet at Waverley. Then a week later at the same venue, North Melbourne inflicted a coup de grace to Carlton’s season – edging out the Blues by a single, heart-breaking point in the Preliminary Final.

Having missed out on a place in both of Carlton’s finals line-ups, but encouraged by winning the club’s Reserves Best and Fairest, Fletcher saddled up for his second season in 1977, and was named as 19th man for his fourth game when Carlton met St Kilda at Princes Park in round 3. Although the Saints had first use of a strong breeze blowing straight down the ground, they didn’t make the most of it. The Blues did, piling on 8 goals in the second term and another 12 after half-time, to smash their visitors by 107 points. Flamboyant ruckman ‘Percy’ Jones was a star for the Blues, before leaving the ground in the last quarter to allow Fletcher to join in the fun.

Sometime soon after that match however, Fletcher changed his mind about VFL football, and advised the Blues that he would not be continuing. A teacher by profession, he subsequently moved to western Victoria, and played good football for a couple of seasons with the Portland Tigers.

In 1981 he was appointed captain-coach of Bairnsdale in the strong Latrobe Valley Football League. Inspired by the potential of two outstanding teenagers in Brian Royal and Tom Alvin, Fletcher brought out the best in the club’s youngsters by challenging them at every opportunity, and the Redlegs came good at the business end of the season to beat Sale by 21 points in a cracker of a Grand Final.
 

Thanks to the Blueseum for player pics and bios.