Thank You Darwin

Val Perovic, Alex Marcou, Syd Jackson and Geoff Southby at the SOC Darwin event. 

The Spirit of Carlton Past and present would like to thank all those who attended our function in Darwin last week. We were thrilled to see so many passionate Carlton supporters up in the top end. Special thank you to Bernie Shackcloth for doing such a marvellous job in organising the event. Val Perovic, Alex Marcou, Syd Jackson and Geoff Southby all enjoyed the event and the hospitality of the locals.

Round 11: The Premiership Round

During the 1980s the Blues made the third quarter of every game famous as the ‘premiership quarter’. The Blues would routinely put the game out of reach of the opposition with a burst of goals, often in front of the roaring masses in the Heatley Stand.

It just so happens that not only do the Blues have a premiership quarter, but a premiership round as well. After hours of extensive research our stats team have determined that (obviously) apart from grand final day there is only one round that the Blues have never lost in each premiership year.

That round is in fact round eleven which has the perfect record, sixteen wins for sixteen premierships. So the more superstitious among us would be forgiven for hoping for a win against Port Adelaide this week.

For the record, of our sixteen premiership round wins, five were against Melbourne, three against Sydney/South Melbourne, two against North Melbourne and the rest  single wins against Collingwood, Fitzroy, Western Bulldogs, St Kilda, Geelong and Hawthorn.

Read below for the full list of games, thanks to www.blueseum.org

1906

Carlton 5.7 37 7.9 51 10.11 71 11.14 80
Collingwood 0.2 2 3.4 22 4.5 29 6.7 43
Venue: Princes Park Date: July 21, 1906
Result: Won by 37 points Umpire: Crowd:
Goalkickers: F.Caine 2, G.Johnson 2, G.Bruce 1, F.Elliott 1, M.Grace 1, D.Harris 1, T.Kennedy 1, A.Lang 1, I.Little 1

1907

Carlton 3.0 18 7.6 48 8.9 57 15.14 104
Fitzroy 1.0 6 3.3 21 3.8 26 3.8 26
Venue: Brunswick St Date: July 13, 1907
Result: Won by 78 points Umpire: Crowd:
Goalkickers: F.Caine 8, H.Kelly 3, F.Elliott 1, V.Gardiner 1, T.Kennedy 1, H.Pearce 1

 

1908

Carlton 1.2 8 3.6 24 4.10 34 8.15 63
Melbourne 0.2 2 1.4 10 3.5 23 4.7 31
Venue: Princes Park Date: July 4, 1908
Result: Won by 32 points Umpire: Crowd:
Goalkickers: F.Caine 3, V.Gardiner 2, A.Ingleman 1, E.Kelly 1, A.Lang 1.
Reports: Injuries:

 

Game Review

This was Carlton’s 15th consecutive win, a run which started back at Round 16, 1907. If only the club had released a special DVD titled “The Streak” to mark the occasion! Of course, this record would eventually be broken on the way to claiming the 1995 Premiership.

1914

Carlton 4.5 29 6.6 42 6.10 46 7.11 53
St Kilda 0.0 0 5.4 34 5.6 36 7.8 50
Venue: Junction Oval Date: June 27, 1914
Result: Won by 3 points Umpire: Crowd:
Goalkickers: B.Cook 2, S.McKenzie 2, H.Burleigh 1, G.Green 1, C.Hammond 1

 

1915

Carlton 0.6 6 3.9 27 5.13 43 7.15 57
South Melbourne 1.1 7 3.1 19 6.3 39 7.5 47
Venue: Princes Park Date: July 3, 1915
Result: Win by 10 points Umpire: Crowd:
Goalkickers: H.Burleigh 2, P.Daykin 1, V.Gardiner 1, J.Morris 1, A.Sharp 1, V.Valentine 1

 

1938

Carlton 2.6 18 6.12 48 11.15 81 12.16 88
Geelong 1.3 9 2.4 16 5.5 35 12.10 82
Venue: Princes Park Date: July 2, 1938
Result: Win by 6 points Umpire: Crowd: 19,500
Goalkickers:H.Vallence 6, K.Baxter 3, R.Cooper 1, R.McLean 1, J.McElroy 1

 

1945

Carlton 1.1 7 2.5 17 6.5 41 8.8 56
South Melbourne 1.4 10 2.4 16 6.7 43 7.8 50
Venue: Princes Park Date: 30 June 1945
Result: Carlton won by 6 points Umpire: Hooper Crowd: 25,500
Goalkickers: L.Collins 3, R.Hines 3, A.Way 1, C.Wines 1.

 

1947

Carlton 2.2 14 10.8 68 14.10 94 18.17 125
Hawthorn 1.3 9 3.8 26 6.12 48 8.14 62
Venue: Princes Park Date: 28 June, 1947
Result: Win by 63 Points Umpire: McLellan Crowd: Approx. 14,000
Goalkickers: K.Baxter 7, J.Conley 3, J.Baird 2, E.Henfry 1, F.Stafford 1, F.Davies 1, K.Hands 1, G.Bailey 1, H.Turner 1.
Best: B.Deacon, K.Baxter, J.Clark, O.Grieve, J.Conley, F.Stafford, D.Williams

 

1968

Carlton 4.6 30 6.6 42 9.12 66 11.19 85
Melbourne 2.3 15 6.5 41 6.5 41 6.7 43
Venue: Princes Park Date: 29 June 1968
Result: Won by 42 points Umpire: Jolley Crowd: 15,234
Goalkickers: Gallagher, Kekovich, Jones, Robertson 2, Jesaulenko, Crosswell, Nichols

 

1970

Carlton 4.4 28 9.9 63 16.12 108 22.15 147
Melbourne 1.1 7 4.2 26 8.6 54 9.8 62
Venue: Princes Park Date: June 15, 1970
Result: Win by 85 points Umpire: P.Sheales Crowd: 18,760
Goalkickers: A.Jesaulenko 7, A.Gallagher 5, S.Jackson 3, B.Crosswell 2, I.Nicoll 2, J.Nicholls 1, B.Thornley 1, W.Lofts 1.
Best: J.Goold (BOG), A.Jesaulenko, I.Nicoll, S.Jackson, B.Crosswell, A.Gallagher

 

1972

Carlton 4.3 27 4.5 29 6.12 48 7.15 57
Footscray 2.2 14 4.5 29 4.8 32 7.9 51
Venue: Western Oval Date: June 10, 1972
Result: Win by 6 points Umpire: J.Sutcliffe Crowd: 23,948
Goalkickers: P.Jones 2, G.Kennedy 2, D.Dickson 1, T.Keogh 1, R.Walls 1.
Best: G.Southby, V.Waite, B.Doull, I.Robertson, A.Jesaulenko, R.Walls, J.Nicholls

 

1979

Carlton 6.2 38 9.3 57 14.8 92 20.12 132
South Melbourne 4.4 28 9.8 62 12.15 87 18.18 126
Venue: Lake Oval Date: June 18, 1979
Result: Win by 6 points Umpires: Peter Cameron & John Sutcliffe Crowd: 24,771 Receipts: $32,347
Goalkickers : P.McConville 3, T.Keogh 3, W.Harmes 3, A.Marcou 2, P.Jones 2, M.Maclure 2, K.Sheldon 2, M.Fitzpatrick, D.Collins, W.Johnston 1.
Best: R.Austin, T.Keogh, R.Klomp, P.Francis, W.Harmes, A.Mangels

 

1981

Carlton 4.1 25 10.5 65 14.11 95 17.13 115
Nth Melbourne 4.7 31 5.9 39 7.13 55 11.18 84
Venue: Princes Park Date: June 8, 1981
Result: Win by 31 points Umpires: Deller & Smith Crowd: 31,808
Goalkickers: W.Johnston 4, P.Bosustow 3, D.McKay 3, P.McConville 2, R.Ashman 1, G.Sharp 1, A.Marcou 1, W.Harmes 1, P.Francis 1.
Best; W.Johnston, P.Bosustow, B.Doull, R.Ashman, M.Fitzpatrick, W.Harmes, V.Perovic, K.Hunter

 

1982

Carlton 3.3 21 6.8 44 9.11 65 15.15 105
Nth Melbourne 6.5 41 8.11 59 11.16 82 13.18 96
Venue: Arden St Date: June 5, 1982
Result: Win by 9 points Umpires: P.Cameron & J.Morgan Crowd: 26,206 Receipts; $45,531
Goalkickers: F.Marchesani 4, R.Ashman 4, P.McConville 3, P.Bosustow 1, K.Sheldon 1, W.Johnston 1, A.Marcou 1.
Best; P.Maylin, W.Harmes, B.Doull, K.Hunter, K.Sheldon, F.Marchesani, R.Ashman, G.Southby, V.Perovic

 

1987

Carlton 7.0 42 13.2 80 18.5 113 21.9 135
Melbourne 3.5 23 6.7 43 10.11 71 13.12 90
Venue: M.C.G.
Date: June 8, 1987 Result: Win by 45 points
Umpires: I.Robinson & R.Sawers Crowd: 49,812 Receipts: $222,594.50
Goalkickers: M.Gallagher 3, J.Madden 3, D.Glascott 2, A.Gleeson 2, S.Kernahan 2, S.Robertson 2, C.Bradley 1, R.Dennis 1, J.Dorotich 1, M.Hanna 1, I.Herman 1, M.Naley 1 & D.Rhys-Jones 1.
Best: R.Dennis, S.Kernahan, C.Bradley, D.Glascott, S.Robertson, D.Rhys-Jones, T.Alvin, I.Aitken

 

1995

Carlton 4.1 25 8.4 52 11.8 74 16.16 112
Melbourne 5.1 31 8.4 52 10.7 67 12.8 80
Venue: MCG Date: June 12, 1995
Result: Win by 32 points Umpires: B.Allen, D.Howlett & T.Garrett. Crowd: 53,290
Goalkickers: B.Pearce 4, S.Kernahan 3, A.Koutoufides 2, L.O’Sullivan 2, A.McKay 1, S.Camporeale 1, T.Lynn 1.
Best: A.Koutoufides, B.Ratten, P.Dean, B.Pearce, J.Madden, S.Camporeale
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On This Day: 27th May

The Blues take on the Demons in a big Friday night of football. Carlton will be trying to consolidate a position in the top four. This will be the sixteenth time Carlton has played on the 27th of May, we wander down memory lane to relive some of these games.

Round 6, 1950 vs Footscray

Carlton 5.6 36 9.9 63 12.11 83 16.13 109
Footscray 3.1 19 9.4 58 13.7 85 16.10 106

Footscray full-forward Bill Wood seemed to have won this game off his own boot for the Bulldogs, when he took a strong mark right on the final bell, and lined up another shot on goal from only ten metres out on a slight angle. Although his team was four points down, he had already booted seven goals, and this seemed the easiest attempt of them all. But to the horror of every Footscray fan, his kick slewed off his boot and missed the big sticks, and Carlton got home by three points!

From: http://www.blueseum.org/tiki-index.php?page=Round+6%2C+1950

Round 9, 1978 vs North Melbourne

Carlton 6.2 38 9.5 59 11.6 72 18.9 117
Nth Melbourne 3.5 23 3.5 23 6.8 44 8.11 59

Although Carlton has won its previous two games under new Captain Coach Jesaulenko, they were not expected to trouble the previously undefeated North Melbourne.

However the first quarter they were super competitive, bombing long to Rod Galt whose height was causing the NM defence problems. The ball went from end to end in a very open affair.

The second quarter was a more dour struggle although Carlton managed to keep their opponents score to set up a comfortable half time lead. From there they maintained their lead in the third quarter then unexpectedly North Melbourne pretty much “threw the towel in” in the last quarter & Carlton extending their lead to almost ten goals.

From: http://www.blueseum.org/tiki-index.php?page=Round+9%2C+1978

Round 9, 1995 vs St Kilda

Carlton 0.3 3 0.5 5 1.5 11 3.6 24
St Kilda 4.3 27 6.8 44 9.11 65 11.14 80

The crowd was down as many expected a whitewash by the Blues against the lowly St Kilda. How wrong we were, but we should be thankful that only 17,902 people turned up to watch our second loss in a row.

‘Buckets’ Loewe kicked 5 against the Blues, while Rod Keogh and future Blue Craig Devonport led the Saints in a rout of the Blues. Barry Mitchell and Brett Ratten found the ball but 1 goal in 3 quarters was as poor an effort as you would read about.

Thankfully, the Blues turned it around and this would be our final loss for the whole 1995 season.

From: http://www.blueseum.org/tiki-index.php?page=Round+9%2C+1995

Just Three Months To Go

The big Spirit of Carlton event of the year is now only three months away. We will be holding our annual luncheon on the 25th of August, this year honouring the 1981 premiership team. The room will be full of Carlton legends and will have a cavalcade of keynote speakers, panel interviews and auctions of some amazing Carlton memorabilia.

For those of you have not had the opportunity to experience this event please have a look at the videos below which are from our luncheon last year which celebrated the 1970 premiership.

Get Well Soon Bob

The Executive and members of the SOC wish our hard working executive officer, Bob Lowrie, a speedy recovery from his  bout of pancreatitis which has him currently in the Epworth Hospital.  Bob will be out of action until early June, so any inquiries should be made to Justine Wratten through her normal email address info@austpromotional.com.au

Past Player Birthdays: 24th-31st May

25th May: Alex and Hal Hanton

89 YEARS OF AGE!

Alex and Harold Hanton lock hands as they pose for the camera . . . and there’s a glorious symbolism in it all.

Alex (standing) and Harold Hanton, Carnsworth Nursing Home, Kew, Tuesday, April 19, 2011

For the identical twins – whose lives have been shaped by the bleak ordeals of The Great Depression, the horrors of world conflict, and the relative diversions of post-war Princes Park – togetherness has undoubtedly proved the survival mechanism.

The recent years have not been easy. The brothers, now closing in on their 89th birthday – are both blind, and Harold is confined to a wheelchair thesedays – not that those physical impositions have tinkered with their recollections.

Harold Roy and Alexander George Hanton were born in Frankston on May 25, 1922. Harold preceded Alex by 20 minutes.

Two years later the Hanton family relocated to inner city West Brunswick, and in time the twins chased the leather for St David’s in the local Church football competition.

In August 1942, Alex and Harold enlisted for wartime duties in Western Australia, as signalmen for the Army’s B Australian Corps. Service would take them to Townsville, the tip of Cape York, back to Melbourne, and finally to Bougainville, before their discharge in 1946.

By then they’d participated in many a wartime scratch match with League luminaries – the likes of Les Foote, “Tarzan” Glass, Denis Cordner and the great Laurie Nash.

Alex relates a terrific tale of the time he and Nash crossed paths on a football field, in Townsville of all places, when brotherly love intervened. To read the full article click here.

27th May: Ted Hopkins

Playing Career : 19681971
Debut : Round 8, 1968 vs Fitzroy, aged 19 years, 14 days
Carlton Player No. 805
Games : 29
Goals : 10
Last Game : Round 1, 1971 vs North Melbourne, aged 21 years, 310 days
Guernsey No. 7
Height : 177 cm (5 ft. 9½ in.)
Weight : 68 kg (10 stone, 9 lbs.)
DOB : May 27, 1949
Premiership Player 1970

“Get ready, Teddy – you’re on”. These five words, barked by Blues’ coach Ron Barassi to 19th man Ted Hopkins at half-time in the 1970 VFL Grand Final, were the catalyst for one of Carlton’s greatest victories.

Our opponent Collingwood went into that epic final as hot favourites. The Magpies had beaten the Blues comfortably twice in the home and away rounds, and again a fortnight previously in the second semi-final. In the Grand Final they dominated the first half to lead by 44 points at the long break. In the Magpie rooms during the long break, the champagne was already on ice, and the back-slapping had begun. Collingwood and its throngs of delirious supporters believed that at last, they had another Premiership in the bag.

In the Carlton rooms, Barassi was praying for a miracle, and decided to gamble on a bold tactic he had been nurturing for years. He told his team to abandon the defensive side of their game, and to attack at every opportunity – from everywhere on the ground – using handball and hard-running teamwork to unsettle their opponents. He moved star ruckman John Nicholls to full-forward, Alex Jesaulenko to centre half-forward, and brought blonde rover Ted Hopkins onto the field in a forward pocket. For more read…… here.

27th May: Peter Hall

Career : 19711974
Debut : Round 12, 1971 vs North Melbourne, aged 19 years 22 days
Carlton Player No. 829
Games : 36
Goals : 13
Last Game : Round 20, 1974 vs Fitzroy, aged 22 years, 81 days
Guernsey No. 31
Height : 182 cm (5 ft. 11 in.)
Weight : 80 kg (12 stone, 8 lbs.)
DOB : May 27, 1952

Peter Hall was a classy utility who won Castlemaine Football Club’s Under 19 Best and Fairest award in 1969. That fine season by the 17 year-old impressed Carlton’s scouts, including our Chairman of Selectors Jack Wrout, who was very keen to get the youngster into the Old Dark Navy Blue.

Hall told Wrout that his main aim in life was to obtain a University degree or two, but while he was studying, he would be happy to pull on his boots for Carlton. He enrolled in an Arts Degree course at Monash University in 1971, and played his first match for the Blues in June of that year against North Melbourne at Princes Park. Carlton dominated all day to thrash the ‘Roos by 91 points, with rugged full-forward Ricky McLean kicking seven goals.

While Hall was a stylish player with good pace and balance, he was more at home in the spaces of a half-forward flank than taking on the ruck-roving role he was expected to compete for. Carlton’s brilliant midfield division of that time boasted the names Jesaulenko, Gallagher, Keogh, Robertson, Quirk, Chandler and three or four others, so places in the side were hard earned……

In 1988 – on the back of his high profile and sporting success – he stood for election to Parliament as a National Party candidate and won his seat with a comfortable majority. Since then, he has risen to hold a number of senior positions with the Nationals – in particular, as Party Leader in the Legislative Council, holding the shadow portfolios of Education and Resources and Environment. On election to Government in November 2010, Peter was appointed  Minister for Higher Education and Skills and Minister responsible for the Teaching Profession. For more read …. here.

28th May: Matt Clape

Career : 19951998
Debut : Round 1, 1995 vs Collingwood, aged 25 years, 308 days
Carlton Player No. 1002
Games : 58
Goals : 48
Last Game : Round 10, 1998 vs Brisbane, aged 29 years, 1 day
Guernsey No. 6
Height : 187 cm (6 ft. 1 in.)
Weight : 86 kg (13 stone, 8 lbs.)
DOB : 28 May, 1969
Premiership Player 1995

There are lots of great stories in footy; some obvious – like Premierships, great careers, wins from behind – and then there are some that you have to think about a bit more, like when a player is discarded by one club, and goes on to be a star somewhere else. The Matt Clape story fits squarely into this latter category.

Originally from East Perth, Clape was a lively, mid-sized forward who played 29 matches for the West Coast Eagles between 1992 and 1994 without claiming a place in either of their two Premiership teams. Despite misgivings among the Eagles’ coaching staff, he was then delisted, and picked up by the Blues in the 1995 Pre-Season Draft, along with Glenn Manton from Essendon. Both players proved to be great acquisitions, and key players in the mighty 1995 Premiership win by Carlton over Geelong.

At first Clape was groomed as a defender by the Eagles, but couldn’t cement a regular place in their team that was rich in similar types. When he played only six matches in 1994 it seemed obvious that his time was up with the Eagles, although coach Mick Malthouse later admitted that after Matt was discarded, he hoped that the decision “wouldn’t turn around and bite us on the bum,” which indeed it did. For more read …. here.

30th May: Kris Massie

Career: 1998-2001
Debut: Round 8, 1998 vs West Coast
1026th Carlton Player
Games: 43 (Carlton) (131 Overall)
Goals: 12 (Carlton) (TBD Overall)
Last Game: Round 11, 2001 vs Richmond
Guernsey No. 3
Height: 188cm
Weight: 83kg
DOB: 30 May, 1980
AFL Rising Star Nominee: Round 20, 1998

Taken with Pick #7 in the 1997 National Draft, from the Dandenong Stingrays, Massie was a star Centre Half Back in school (Glen Waverley High School) and junior league football. Originally likened to Carlton legend Stephen Silvagni for his bow legs, long hair and occasional brilliant and desperate marking, Massie was expected to become a key defender for the next decade.

At 188cms, this was going to be difficult. Massie didn’t grow any more, and the Blues set about using him as a half back flanker and occasional midfield tagger. Some promising games and a Rising Star nomination on the one hand, a fair few games in the reserves on the other: Massie showed a bit but not enough to command a spot in the team. Injuries didn’t help either. For more read … here.

31st May: Justin Madden

Career : 19831996 (On the list in 1997)
Debut : Round 7, 1983 vs Sydney, aged 21 years, 341 days
Carlton Player No. 909
Games : 287
Goals : 170
Last Game : Semi Final, 1996 vs Brisbane, aged 35 years, 106 days
Guernsey No. 44
Height : 206 cm (6 ft. 9 in.)
Weight : 107 kg (16 stone, 10 lbs.)
DOB : 31 May, 1961
Premiership Player 1987, 1995
Best and Fairest 1985, 1991
All Australian 1987, 1995

For much of the 1980’s and 1990’s, Justin ‘Harry’ Madden was seen as the goofy giant in Carlton’s number 44 guernsey; a smiling, good-natured, loping giraffe of a footballer who never seemed to take the game – or his participation in it – very seriously at all. Laconic, and with a wry sense of humour that made him enormously popular with supporters and team-mates alike, ‘Harry’ always claimed that someone as awkward and uncoordinated as him was a blight on the game.

The real truth is that Madden was one of Carlton’s great ruckmen; a 206-centimetre beanpole with outstanding tap skills, strong hands and a reliable left foot when shooting for goal. In a marathon 18-year AFL career that began at Essendon and flourished at Carlton, Harry played 332 senior games and kicked 190 goals between 1980 and 1996. Included in that tally were four Grand Finals, highlighted by Carlton Premierships in 1987 and 1995. He was voted Best and Fairest for the Blues twice, All Australian twice, and in 1985 went within one vote of sharing the Brownlow Medal with Footscray’s Brad Hardie. For more read …. here.

31st May: Stephen Silvagni 

Career : 1985 – 2001
Debut : Round 7, 1985 v Sydney, aged 17 years, 346 days
Carlton Player No. 927
Games : 312
Goals : 202
Last Game : Semi Final, 2001 v Richmond, aged 34 years, 107 days
Guernsey No. 1
Height : 194 cm
Weight : 99 kg
DOB : 31 May, 1967
Premiership Player : 1987, 1995
Best and Fairest : 1990, 1996
All Australian : 1988, 1990, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1999
VFL AFL Team of the Century: Full Back
Team of the Century: Full Back
Carlton Hall of Fame: 1996
VFL AFL Hall of Fame: 2005
Victorian State Player: 1988, 1990, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1999
Mark of the Year: 1988

Track watchers at Carlton Football Club in the early 1980’s would have noticed a young Stephen Silvagni eagerly helping out at most training sessions. Whether it was retrieving footballs from over the fence, kicking end-to end with the players, or even helping to serve up the after-training meal, the skinny, dark-haired son of assistant coach and club selector Serge Silvagni spent much of his spare time at Princes Park.

It was a fabulous era for the Old Dark Navy Blues, with three Premierships in four years from 1979 to 1982. And it was a time of inspiration for the boy who would go on to forge his own magnificent career – one that would later see him recognised as one of the legends of the game. While Stephen’s formative years were spent in the close presence of some of Carlton’s greatest players (including his own father) Sergio and mum Rita deliberately kept Stephen’s football education low key. They encouraged their son to place his emphasis on his studies at Marcellin College, Bulleen while confining himself to school football. For more read …. here.

On This Day: May 20th

Today the Blues take on the Cats in what will be a big clash between two top four sides.

This is not the first time the Blues have played a game on the 20th of May. We will fire up our retrospectoscope to have a look into the past at some of our other games on this day.

1911 vs University

A very bad day for football and a particularly embarrassing one for Carlton.

The Students led Carlton through the first half before one of their players, Vic Trood, was felled. He was carried unconsious from the ground and grave fears were held for his health. Suspicion centred on two Carlton players Martin Gotz and Alex BarninghamGotz was charged with assault and found guilty, being fined 10 pounds. He was cleared after an appeal.

University threatened to boycott the return game in Round 13 unless certain Carlton players were left out of the Blues side. Carlton announced they would decide who was to represent the club without any input from outside and they would happily accept a forfeit.

A sick and sorry Trood was quoted a few days after the match as saying “I have no idea what struck me, but it could have been a cable tram”.
From: http://www.blueseum.org/tiki-index.php?page=Round+4%2C+1911

1939 vs Hawthorn

Carltons’ shock loss to Hawthorn – their first ever win over the Blues after 14 years of trying, and 25 straight losses – was a costly one. The Blues were tipped out of the top four.

Prime Minister Robert Menzies, an avid Carlton supporter, visits the rooms of the opposition team for the second time this year – and Carlton lose again!!!! Hawthorn score a memorable win, their first ever against an inaccurate Carlton, the final scores; 13.8.(86) to 11.17.(83).

From: http://www.blueseum.org/tiki-index.php?page=Round+5%2C+1939

1972 vs St Kilda

The Blues celebrated Adrian Gallagher‘s 150th game in style, with this important win over rival flag contender St Kilda on their home turf at Moorabbin.  Gallagher became one of the youngest Blues to ever achieve this mark, as Carlton recovered from a tardy start to hit the front just prior to half-time, then controlled the second half to run out winners by 27 points.

After four emphatic victories in a row, the Blues now sat on top of the VFL ladder; two points clear of Essendon, Hawthorn and Richmond, with St Kilda fifth.

From: http://www.blueseum.org/tiki-index.php?page=Round+8%2C+1972

2000 vs North Melbourne

The Blues would pull away from the Kangaroos in this Grand Final Replay in the second half to take the game by 5 goals.

But the headline result doesn’t tell the story of the day – Koutoufides.  Kouta was impossible to describe as he not only took Roo Legend Wayne Carey out of the game in the first half, but he went on to kick 5 goals and earn the ball 38 times (17 kicks / 21 handballs).    Throw in a leisurely 8 marks and this game was a testament to the power that Kouta was in this era.

The support staff, as always in 2000, were also good, with Brett Ratten getting 30 stats in his 200th game, Hickmott 23, and a great array of goalkickers as we pumped the Premiers at home.  As another bonus, Carlton would welcome a young Ryan Houlihan for his debut game.  Despite being a late draft pick, Houlihan would quickly become a regular in the team.

From: http://www.blueseum.org/tiki-index.php?page=Round+11%2C+2000

Harry is a True Blue

The Spirit of Carlton was thrilled to receive this picture of young Harry showing his support for the mighty Blues. Harry is the grandson of Tony Zoanetti, who played in the Carlton reserves from 1972 to 1974 (winning the reserves best first year player award in 1972). Tony is one of many active members of the Spirit of Carlton and a very proud grandfather to young Harry. Lets hope Tony, Harry and all Carlton supporters see the Blues put in a great performance against the Cats this friday night.