Competition Winner

Congratulations to Moshe Goldberg  one of our 1300 followers on Twitter who wins a Spirit of Carlton cap and shirt for retweeting our competition tweet during April.

Thank you to everyone who participated in the competition by spreading the word about the Spirit of Carlton. We want every Carlton supporter to know about us so we can all work together to help the Carlton Football Club.

We now have nearly 100 likes on our brand new Facebook fan page. The Carlton Football Club have over 67,000 likes on their fan page. We want to be in the thousands as well before the end of the year. One way we can do that is with your help. If you are on Facebook please visit:

http://www.facebook.com/SOCPP

and click on the like button, it is as easy as that. This means you will be automatically kept up to date with all the latest news from the Spirit of Carlton. Remember to tell all your Carlton supporting friends about us as well!

We now have over 1300 followers on twitter as well. If twitter is your preferred social network please follow us at:

https://twitter.com/SpiritofCarlton

Our website continues to gain more visitors every month. Last month saw more than 2000 loyal Blues supporters read this website. If you wish to put your business in front of this ever expanding group of passionate supporters apply to join the Spirit of Carlton business directory. An application form can be found here: http://spiritofcarlton.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/Spirit-of-Carlton-Business-Directory-Subscription-2011.pdf

SOC in April

In April our first event was held in Perth and the locals were treated to appearances by Des English, Wayne Harmes, Alex Marcou, Jon Dorotich and many others in what was an enjoyable day for everyone involved. For a full report please follow this link: http://spiritofcarlton.com/blog/2011/04/10/spirit-of-carlton-in-perth/

There was also a home game function at the MCG for our game against Essendon and our first home game function at Etihad Stadium for the game against Adelaide. This function saw the SOC using the luxurious facilities of the Endeavour Room which are sure to prove popular amongst SOC member for the remainder of this season. For a report on this event please follow this link: http://spiritofcarlton.com/blog/2011/04/24/a-captain-cook-at-the-endeavour-room/

We would like to thank our home game sponsor for these events, Cameron Knight of Jim’s Roofing Services, Ph: 131 546.

SOC Events This Month

The Spirit of Carlton will be holding a home game function for the big round nine clash against the Cats on the 20th of May. This will again be utlising the magnificent facilities of the Endeavour Room at Etihad Stadium. Don’t forget to secure your tickets on the Monday before the game by ringin Justine between 9am and 5pm on 0438 271 948.

It is not too late to get a Spirit of Carlton Membership, the year has only just begun and the SOC has many events scheduled for the remainder of the season. It is just $70 to join and you can become a part of a team that continues to raise money to benefit the Carlton Football Club. Get your membership form here: http://spiritofcarlton.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/Spirit-of-Carlton-Membership-Subscription-2011.pdf

We will be holding a function in Darwin on the 27th of May which will be attended by Syd Jackson, Ken Hunter, Val Perovic and Jimmy Buckley. Details can be found here: http://spiritofcarlton.com/blog/2011/04/14/soc-takes-on-the-top-end/

By Tony De Bolfo

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

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.

“We always struck a couple of senior players in every game we played,” Alex recalls. “We were stationed at Townsville, and Laurie Nash was coming down from New Guinea on his way back to Melbourne, and he wanted a game of football. Anyway we were playing for the army, I’m not sure who we were playing, and Nash offered to play for either team. But our captain knocked him back, so he played against us.

“I started on him at centre half-back and kept him down to three goals . . . in the first ten minutes! I was admiring him instead of trying to stop him, so Harold took over and Nash didn’t kick another goal.”

At war’s end, and having safely returned to Melbourne from Bougainville, the Hantons tried their luck at Carlton. This was the Perc Bentley era, when men of stature like Bob Chitty, Bert Deacon and Ken Hands were the pin-ups, and Princes Park was a welcome abode.

“It was a very happy place, particularly with the team so successful,” Alex remembers. “Sunday morning they’d have a beer-up and a get-together . . . it was a good atmosphere.”

The record books show that Harold Hanton – sporting the No.5 of the current Carlton captain – turned out in the famous dark Navy Blue strip for both the opening round of the famous/infamous 1945 premiership season, against Melbourne, and the second round encounter with Hawthorn at Glenferrie Oval.

Harold would have been part of that much-feted 1945 premiership team too, according to Alex, had war not intervened.

As he says, “We were posted overseas after the fifth round, and we weren’t very popular with Harry Bell the secretary because we didn’t tell Carlton early enough to stop our posting”.

A little over 12 months later – in the 10th round of 1946 – Alex strode onto the verdant field at Princes Park, for what would be his one and only senior appearance, against Footscray.

The home team got up by four points.

“I was picked in the first ruck with Jack Howell,” Alex recalls. [Jack] Wrout and [Fred] Davies were both out injured and Bob Chitty, who’d copped eight weeks after the ’45 Grand final, played in the ninth round of ’46 but got reported again . . . so I was chosen in his place.”

“I got half a dozen kicks and kicked a goal in the last quarter.”

Though he fared well in what would be his one and only senior outing, Alex, a 40-game Carlton reserve grade player, is man enough to admit that he probably wasn’t good enough to further his career in the ones.

And as he so readily adds:“It was great to put the Carlton guernsey on, and to play with some great players – Bert Deacon, Jack Howell and some of those chaps . . . it was a good team”.

As for Harold, injury unfortunately intervened.

“I got a knee in the groin in a practice match in Frankston at the start of ’46 and suffered a hernia,” he says. “I had to have an operation and for a time there they thought I wouldn’t have any kids.”

Though their tenures as Carlton footballers were all too brief, the Hantons’ love for the club never waned. For years they took their seats in the old Hawthorn Stand, and were shoulder-to-shoulder at the MCG for all eight of the Blues’ Grand Final conquests, beginning with 1968.

As late as 2000, Harold had his photo taken with Anthony Koutoufides on a much-anticipated visit to the old Carlton ground.

Today, Alex tunes in to Melbourne radio to follow the fortunes of his beloved Blues, as the names of Judd, Murphy and Gibbs are called.

So what do they make of today’s game?

Alex speaks for his twin brother when he observes, “Oh it’s pretty fast isn’t it? . . . and now they kick it backwards and sideways, a bit like bloody soccer”.

April 23rd: Brendan Hartney

Career: 1981-1985
Debut: Round 11, 1981 vs North Melbourne
Carlton Player No.: 895
Games: 32
Goals: Nil
Last Game: Round 18, 1985 vs Sydney
Guernsey No. 24
Height: 179cm
Weight: 81kg
DOB: 23 April, 1958

Recruited from Sandhurst in 1981 after playing more than 100 games with the Bendigo club. Won the reserves best and fairest award in 1983 by 16 votes despite playing 8 games in the seniors and only 14 reserves games. A very underated footballer who battled hard to maintain a spot in the Blues line-up due to an abundance of quality defenders of the same ilk.

April 26th: Simon Minton-Connell

Career: 1989 – 1991
Debut : Round 15, 1989 vs Collingwood, aged 20 years, 80 days
Carlton Player No. 962
Games : 19
Goals : 50
Last Game: Round 24, 1991 vs Richmond, aged 22 years, 126 days
Guernsey Nos. 53 (1989) and 29 (1990-91)
Height: 190 cm (6 ft. 2 in.)
Weight: 83 kg (13 stone, 1 lb.)
DOB : 26 April, 1969

Tasmanian-born Simon Minton-Connell spent time on the lists of four AFL clubs – Carlton, Sydney, Hawthorn and Footscray – in a ten-season career from 1989 to 1998. A capable, accurate full-forward, he was the nephew of Hawthorn’s legendary Peter Hudson, and to date, the only player in Carlton’s history to have worn guernsey number 53 in a senior appearance for the Blues.

Nicknamed ‘SMC’, Minton-Connell first attracted Carlton’s attention as a dashing defender for North Hobart and Tasmania in the elite Teal Cup competition. He was drafted by the Blues at number 38 in the 1986 National Draft, and spent two seasons with Carlton’s Under 19 and Reserve teams. During that time, he was trialled as a key forward, where he discovered an aptitude (and a considerable hunger) for scoring goals… to read more click here.

April 27th: Jon Dorotich

Career : 1986 – 1993
Debut : Round 1, 1986 vs Hawthorn, aged 23 years, 338 days
Carlton Player No. 932
Games : 132
Goals : 103
Last Game: Round 15, 1993 vs Brisbane, aged 31 years, 74 days
Guernsey No. 6
Height : 193 cm (6 ft. 4 in.)
Weight: 97 kg (15 stone, 4 lbs.)
DOB : 27 April, 1962
Premiership Player: 1987

Jon Dorotich was a big, rugged, key defender from South Fremantle who enjoyed a notable football career on both sides of the continent for 17 seasons between 1981 and 1997. Blessed with vice-like hands and a raking left foot, he played in successive Grand Finals for Carlton against Hawthorn in 1986 and 1987; suffering a loss in the first, then taking sweet revenge in the second. After finishing at Carlton, he returned to WA and claimed more glory; as both a 100-goal full-forward, and captain of South Fremantle’s 1997 Premiership team.

Better known as “Dorra” throughout his career, Dorotich came under notice by the Blues when represented WA against Victoria at Subiaco Oval in 1984. Starting on the bench, he came on to take some telling pack marks as WA held out the Big V by four points in a clinker of a game. The Carlton recruiting machine swung into action, and Dorotich joined the Blues in time to make his debut at centre half-back against Hawthorn in round 1, 1986 on an auspicious day for the Carlton Football Club…for more click here.

April 27th: David Glascott

Career : 1981 – 1991
Debut: Round 3, 1981 vs Fitzroy, aged 19 years, 349 days
Carlton Player No. 891
Games : 173
Goals : 81
Last Game: Round 24, 1991 vs Richmond, aged 30 years, 125 days
Guernsey No. 32
Height : 183 cm (6’1″)
Weight : 71.3 kg (11.3)
DOB: April 27, 1961
Premiership Player: 1981, 1982, 1987
Carlton Hall of Fame (2001)
Best Clubman 1989

For most of his career, David Glascott might have been mistaken for a young public schoolboy. With his slender build, his longish blonde hair and his baby face, he seemed anything but a star VFL footballer. But looks are often deceiving, and in Glascott’s case, the fresh face and spindly legs belonged to a determined and skilful midfielder who was a valuable member of three Carlton Premiership teams.

Originally from Thomastown in Melbourne’s north, Glascott starred on a wing in Carlton’s 1979 Under 19 flag side, then worked his way through the Reserves team to make his senior debut in 1981. Standing 183 cm and just 71 kg, the wirey youngster in guernsey number 32 quickly became a crowd favourite. It wasn’t just his ability to get the ball and use it well that was admired; it was the courage he showed in chasing hard and tackling hard, whatever the opposition.

Playing on a wing, Glascott was a fine contributor in the 1981 and ’82 Premiership teams in a dream start to his career. Then as he matured into an elite player he became a handy all-rounder at both ends of the ground. In the 1986 Grand Final loss to Hawthorn he shared the roving duties with Bernie Evans, and when the Blues took their revenge on the Hawks in ’87, he controlled one back pocket in a dominant Carlton defence……for more read here.

28th April: Ken Hunter

Career : 1981 – 1989
Debut : Round 1, 1981 vs Richmond, aged 23 years, 334 days
Carlton Player No. 889
Games : 147
Goals : 160
Last Game : Round 5, 1989 vs Hawthorn, aged 32 years, 1 day
Guernsey No. 9
Height : 183 cm (6 ft. 0 in.)
Weight : 76 kg (12 stone, 0 lbs.)
DOB : 28 April, 1957
Premiership Player 1981, 1982, 1987
All Australian 1979, 1980, 1982, 1983
Best and Fairest 1981
Leading Goalkicker 1983 (43 goals)
Carlton Hall of Fame Inducted 1998
Carlton Team of the Century

Ken Hunter was already 23 years old when he was recruited to Carlton from Claremont, WA in 1981. A seasoned, two-time All Australian defender, he had finished runner-up to champion ruckman Graham Moss three years in succession as Claremont’s Best and Fairest. Over the same period, he had suffered a broken jaw on three separate occasions, while earning widespread acclaim for his aerial ability and his outstanding bravery in marking contests.

Two other VFL clubs in North Melbourne and Richmond had previously shown interest in Hunter, but both clubs ultimately decided that at 183 cm and only 76 kg, he was just too lightly-framed for the rigours of VFL football. Indeed, Richmond’s President at that time, Ian Wilson – when he heard that Carlton had signed Hunter – was even quoted as saying that Richmond “doesn’t recruit half-back flankers.” That comment was to haunt Wilson for a decade, as Ken went on to forge a magnificent career in Navy Blue……..for more read here.

30th April: Adrian Gleeson

Career : 1986 – 1996
Debut : Round 7, 1986 vs Collingwood, aged 19 years, 10 days
Carlton Player No. 938
Games : 176
Goals : 174
Last Game : Round 18, 1996 vs Fremantle, aged 29 years, 95 days
Guernsey No. 12
Height : 178 cm (5 ft. 10 in.)
Weight : 78 kg (12 stone, 4 lbs.)
DOB : 30 April, 1967
Premiership Player: 1987
Victorian Representative 1990, 1991

Adrian ‘Bear’ Gleeson joined Carlton from Koroit – near Warrnambool, in Western Victoria – in 1986, and carved out a fine career of 176 games, including two Grand Finals and the 1987 Premiership. A cheeky, hard-running rover-forward with great endurance and an eye for the goals, he was also a loyal clubman who happily contributed his skills and experience to the Blues’ Reserves team for an extra season after his days as a senior player were curtailed by injury.

Gleeson was the youngest in a family of seven sons who all played senior football. As a toddler he was nicknamed ‘Humphrey’ which later became ‘Humphrey Bear’ when he was given a Humphrey B. Bear suit as a gift and couldn’t be parted from it. On the football field however, his team-mates just called him ‘Bear’, a moniker that was to become his trademark at Princes Park……..for more read here.

The Spirit of Carlton Past and Present would like to thank and pay tribute to all the men and women who have served and continue to serve our country in the military. Over 200 former Blues players have served in the military, we highlight one today, Harry Furnell with an edited extract from his bio on the Blueseum.

It is astounding that Australian Football in general seems to have almost completely overlooked the exploits of Herbert Giblin ‘Harry’ Furnell – surely one of the truly great figures to have represented the Carlton Football Club.

Harry’s brief but brilliant playing career with the Blues was cut short by the demands of his medical studies at Melbourne University in the years after World War 1. He graduated in 1921, then undertook further training overseas, before establishing a private practice in Abbotsford. At the same time, he served as an officer in the Medical Corps of the Australian Militia (a forerunner of the modern Army Reserve).

He travelled to London and Edinburgh in 1927 to study surgical techniques, and to Dublin and Vienna to train in obstetrics. That same year he became a fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons, and back home, a Lieutenant in the Royal Australian Medical Corps. By 1932 Harry had been promoted to the rank of Major, but on those weekends when he wasn’t training with his troops you would find him at a football match, urging on his beloved Blues. The principles of discipline, courage and service to others that guided him throughout his life, came to the fore again in September 1939, when Great Britain declared war on Germany and the Second World War began.

Within weeks, Harry was among the first to volunteer for active service. He was given the service number VX 73, and command of the 2/2nd Field Ambulance, which sailed for the Middle East in April 1940. He was soon in the thick of the action as the Australians advanced through Libya in January 1941. His unit history records that ‘Major Furnell was continuously forward, supervising the collection of the wounded under enemy fire’.

On January 27, during an air-raid near the town of Derna, he saved the life of a wounded soldier by carrying him to a slit-trench and maintaining pressure on a severed artery until help arrived. For this singular act of bravery, and others like it, he was Mentioned In Despatches on the first of four occasions. He was promoted to the rank of Colonel in February 1941, and from April to October that year, was among the 35,000 troops and 10,000 enemy prisoners encircled in the siege of Tobruk. Appointed Assistant Director of Medical Services, Harry was primarily responsible for maintaining the health of the garrison throughout the siege – a task he accomplished to wide acclaim.

Following the Tobruk campaign, Harry was asked to take responsibility for the medical support for the El Alamein offensive in July 1942. He established forward surgical stations for the treatment of the severely wounded, and introduced air evacuations, in a brilliantly successful ‘triumph of organisation and detailed planning.’ For his efforts at Tobruk and El Alamein, Harry was awarded a CBE (Commander in the Order of the British Empire). He was also Mentioned In Despatches again for further acts of personal bravery in June, 1942.

In 1943 Harry was promoted to the rank of Brigadier, and posted back to Australia as Deputy Director of Medical Services for the defence of New Guinea. He spent the following two years embroiled in that crucial campaign, fighting disease and a fanatical enemy in some of the harshest terrain on earth. Twice more – in April and October 1944 – he was Mentioned In Despatches for exceptional leadership in the field. By July 1945, Japanese forces were in full retreat and the end of the war was in sight. Harry returned to Australia, and was placed in reserve. In November of that year he capped his military career, when he was awarded the Distinguished Service Order. In a classic understatement, the citation simply read; ‘for efficient and competent leadership in the campaigns at Derna, Tobruk and Benghazi.’

Back in civilian life, Harry was appointed Deputy Director of Medical Services for the Citizens Military Forces of Southern Command in Melbourne from 1946 to 1951, and in 1962 he was appointed an honorary Colonel of the Royal Australian Army Medical Corps. During this time he was also able to rekindle his love of the game of Australian Football in general, and the Carlton Blues in particular.

Harry’s life journey ended on the 22nd of November 1973, when he passed away in East Melbourne. His grave can be found at Springvale cemetery. At his funeral a former wartime comrade, W.W. Lempriere, spoke of Harry’s courage, endurance, high principles and sense of humour, while a medical colleague, Sir Geoffrey Newman-Morris, told of Harry’s ‘kindness, gentleness, and the firm and decisive manner in which he served the profession he loved and adorned so well.’

Harry Furnell was an extraordinary man, a brave and resourceful soldier, a gifted footballer and a great human being. And he was one of ours.

For the full text please read: http://www.blueseum.org/tiki-index.php?page=Harry+Furnell

The game on Saturday night between Carlton and Adelaide saw the first Spirit of Carlton home game function for the year at Etihad Stadium and the first time that the SOC has been able to use the magnificent Endeavour room. This room is available exclusively to SOC members and will be our main venue for the remaining five home game functions at Etihad this season.

When I walked into the room the very first thing that struck me was how similar it was in feel to the old Social Club at Visy Park. There was the bar at the back, plenty of standing room, large windows revealing magnificent views of the ground and rows of exclusive premium seating just outside the room for those who like to sit down and soak in the atmosphere. I have to admit it did bring back a lot of fond memories and the room along with the familiar faces of fellow Blues supporters made me feel like I was ‘home’ at the footy again.

Past players and officials in attendance on Saturday night included, David Rhys-Jones, Alex Marcou, Val Perovic, Ian Prendergast, Mil Hanna, Jamie Dunlop, Steve Da Rui, Tony Zoanetti, Frank Brosnan, Gary Higgins, Gary Vallence, Mark Naley, Mark Amos and Albert Millson.

The room can hold 300 people so there is plenty of room for anyone thinking of coming along. If you are a SOC member for just $50 you get a premium seat just out the front of the Endeavour room, drinks at bar prices, free finger food at half time, great raffle prizes and exclusive auction items and being able to mingle with past greats of the club. You get an experience at the footy that can cost some people thousands of dollars.

If you haven’t already get yourself a SOC membership. There are still 5 more home game functions at Etihad and another 3 at the MCG. For a small outlay you can get a big experience.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD OUR MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION FORM

To see what happens at half time and interviews with Ian Prendergast and Mil Hanna please check out our video below.

Link: PHOTO GALLERY

April 18th: Dennis Munari

Career : 1967 – 1970
Debut : Round 8, 1967 vs Geelong, aged 19 years, 45 days
Carlton Player No. 799
Games : 41
Goals : 20
Last Game : Round 22, 1970 vs Melbourne, aged 22 years, 132 days
Guernsey Nos. 37 (1967) and 8 (1968-70)
Height : 178 cm ( 5 ft. 10 in.)
Weight : 76 kg (12 stone, 0 lbs.)
DOB : April 18, 1948
Premiership Player 1968

Dennis Munari came to Carlton as a promising centreman from that wonderful football nursery of Assumption College at Kilmore. A stylish right-footer, he was solid in his debut season in 1967, only to be edged out of his preferred position early the following year by the arrival of Tasmanian sensation Brent Crosswell. Munari then found a niche as second rover to Adrian Gallagher, and was instrumental in Carlton’s drive to the 1968 Premiership.

Munari wore guernsey number 37 for his first senior appearance – off the bench – in round 8 of 1967, against Geelong at Princes Park. The Blues won a thriller by four points, then lost another cliff-hanger by 2 points to Richmond a week later. In captain-coach Ron Barassi’s third season in charge, Carlton had begun emerging as a force after years of mediocrity, winding up the home and away rounds just two points adrift of minor premiers Richmond… for more visit here.

April 20th: Mark Majerczak

Career: 1987 – 1991
Debut: Round 10, 1987 v Brisbane
946th Carlton Player
Games: 17
Goals: 20
Last game: Round 18, 1991 v Brisbane
Guernsey No. 33, 48
Height: 180cm
Weight: 75kg
DOB: 20 April, 1968

‘Magic’, as he was known to Carlton fans, was a goalsneak who played 17 games for the Blues in the late 1980s. He was an accurate left foot kick and a consistent performer in the reserves, but found it hard to crack a regular spot in the team during a time when finals were a given for Carlton. Had better than a goal a game ratio which indicates that he knew where the sticks were, but suffered in comparison to similar size players such as Mark Naley.

Mark’s first kick in senior footy with the Blues resulted in a goal – a classy pick-up, slight shimmy and a kick from about 40 metres out from the scoreboard end at Princes Park.

Recruited from St Marks/Fawkner, Mark has also played Little League Football for Carlton (in 1979). Those were the days when each club ran their own Little League Squads – at this time the Carlton Squad was coached/managed by Keith Duggan, who had an uncanny resemblance to Australian entertainer Rolf Harris…. for more visit here.

April 20th: Phil Maylin

Career : 1980 – 1984
Debut : Round 1, 1980 vs Collingwood, aged 23 years, 343 days
Carlton Player No. 881
Games : 89
Goals : 48
Last Game : Round 22, 1984 vs South Melbourne, aged 28 years, 134 days
Guernsey No. 13
Height : 175 cm (5 ft. 9 in.)
Weight : 76 kg (12 stone)
DOB: 20 April, 1956
Premiership Player: 1981, 1982

A hard-working, tenacious utility from South Australian club Woodville, Phil ‘Shark’ Maylin was a month short of his 24th birthday when he made his debut for the Blues in 1980, and went on to be a popular member of Carlton’s 1981 and ‘82 Premiership sides. Virtually from the day of his arrival at Princes Park in the late summer of 1979, his application and work ethic demanded that a place be found for him in the reigning Premiership team.

Wearing guernsey number 13, Maylin went through a baptism of fire against Collingwood in his first senior game at Victoria Park in round one of 1980. Playing on a wing alongside Ken Sheldon and Peter Francis, Phil earned respect for his hardness at the contest, as Wayne Johnston kicked seven goals and Carlton won a torrid clash by 38 points. Former St Kilda defender Val Perovic also did well for the Blues in his first appearance for his new club, while Peter ‘Percy’ Jones made a good start to his senior coaching career….. for more visit here.

April 21st: Tom Alvin

Career : 1984 – 1994
Debut: Round 1, 1984 vs North Melbourne, aged 21 years, 344 days
Carlton Player No. 914
Games : 218
Goals : 95
Last Game: Qualifying Final, 1994 vs Melbourne, aged 32 years, 143 days
Guernsey No. 31
Height : 183 cm (6 ft. 0 in.)
Weight : 80 kg (12 stone, 8 lbs.)
DOB : 21 April, 1962
Premiership Player 1987
Carlton Hall of Fame : 1999

Tom Alvin was recruited by Carlton in 1984 from the strong Latrobe Valley club Bairnsdale, where he had developed into an outstanding country footballer under the guidance of his coach; ex Blue Trevor Fletcher. Fletcher placed a lot of faith in the club’s youth, and Alvin was one of the main beneficiaries. To this day Tom credits Fletcher as being one of the greatest influences in his career, while Bairnsdale won a Premiership in 1981 with Alvin playing a key role. By 1983, the 21 year-old had been tied to Footscray for a season or two, but when his contract lapsed, Carlton believed in his potential and offered him a second chance at a league football career. It was a winning punt by the Blues, and Alvin was eventually able to play for the team that he followed avidly throughout his childhood. Wearing guernsey number 31, Tommy turned into a popular, consistent and long-serving defender who was an integral member of three Carlton Grand Final teams…. for more visit here.

Join Syd Jackson, Ken Hunter, Val Perovic & other Carlton legends in Darwin for this very special event. Don’t miss your chance to rub shoulders with some of the greats of the game.

There will also be plenty of fantastic auction items available on the day.

Date : 27th of May 2011.

Time : 12.00pm

Venue: Kantilla’s Room, TIO Stadium, Abala Rd, Marrara.

Cost: $120.00 per person, Includes gourmet lunch by Karen Sheldon catering, beer, wine and soft drink.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE ORDER FORM

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Syd Jackson

  

Playing Career : 1969 – 1976
Debut : Round 1, 1969 vs St Kilda, aged 24 years 278 days
Carlton Player No. 808
Games : 136
Goals : 165
Guernsey No. 5
Last Game : Preliminary Final, 1976 vs North Melbourne, aged 32 years 79 days
DOB : July 1, 1944
Premiership Player 1970, 1972
Carlton Hall of Fame (2006) 

Ken Hunter

Career : 1981 – 1989
Debut : Round 1, 1981 vs Richmond, aged 23 years, 334 days
Carlton Player No. 889
Games : 147
Goals : 160
Last Game : Round 5, 1989 vs Hawthorn, aged 32 years, 1 day
Guernsey No. 9
DOB : 28 April, 1957
Premiership Player 1981, 1982, 1987
All Australian 1979, 1980, 1982, 1983
Best and Fairest 1981
Leading Goalkicker 1983 (43 goals)
Carlton Hall of Fame Inducted 1998
Carlton Team of the Century

Val Perovic

Career : 1980 – 1985
Debut : Round 1, 1980 vs Collingwood, aged 26 years, 185 days
Carlton Player No. 882
Games : 97
Goals : 1
Guernsey No. 15
Last Game : Round 10, 1985 vs Hawthorn, aged 31 years, 249 days
Height : 194 cm ( 6 ft. 4 in.)
Weight : 97 kg (15 stone, 4 lbs.)
DOB : 25 September, 1953
Premiership Player 1981, 1982

By Wes King

On Friday, South Perth Bowling Club played host to our SoC function.

With a large turn-out of dyed in the wool Blues fans, plus a huge cast of past players, Richard Dennis (WA head of SoC and 87 Premiership player) was confident it was always going to be a great day.

Jon Dorotich once again did a fantastic job as Master of Ceremonies, asking the right questions to get some great stories going. Guests of Honour for the day, Des English, Alex Marcou and Wayne Harmes, had the audience intrigued and amused with some of their fabulous tales of the premiership years of 79, 81 and 82.

Thirty years later there is still a belief among all of the boys that we should have won 80 as well.

Adding to the atmosphere of the afternoon, we were fortunate to have several other Blues from that era in attendance. Peter Bosustow, David McKay, Ross Ditchburn, Denis Collins and Allan Montgomery all made it, with Buzz and Swan adding their own comments in question time.

Players from the mid 80’s in Dorotich, Dennis, Shine, Da Rui and Povey all shared experiences from their time at the club with people on their tables. Given we were playing the arch enemy that night, a rousing reception was given to David McKay when Dorra announced that Swan is the only Blues player to have played in 3 winning grand finals against Collingwood! 

While we all went off after the event hoping for a win that night, alas it was not to be. But the signs are very promising….. If the current crop of players have a bond as strong as the past players share, one thing is a definite – the Spirit of Carlton is alive and well.

Thanks to the boys for flying across for the event, and Bob Lowrie for arranging it.

Thanks to all the supporters for coming along. Also a huge thanks to caterer Jo and her team for the great food, and the local committee (Paul, Ian, Garry, Warren) for your help on the day.

Carna Blues!

Click here to check out photos from the day!

The Spirit of Carlton would like to thank Wes King and everyone from the WA Blues for helping out with such a great day and for their continued support of the Spirit of Carlton. If you are in WA check out the WA Blues, one of the best supporter groups in the AFL. http://www.wablues.com

The Spirit of Carlton is proud to announce the introduction of our new Business Directory.

Expose your business to passionate blues supporters. Being part of our premium online business directory will ensure your business is associated with a strong network of past players, supporters and fellow businesses. Become a member of the Spirit of Carlton Business Directory today.

 Just $250 for non past players or $100 for past players for one year on the directory.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE APPLICATION FORM

By Tony De Bolfo

Sorrell represented the old dark Navy Blues in 23 senior matches between the opening round of the premiership year of 1947 and the ’49 second semi-final, his last on-field appearance. He then turned out for Fitzroy for one senior game in 1950.

The second of three sons of Ralph & Marie Sorrell, Alan was born in Ivanhoe in 1923, and spent his formative years in Gardenvale. Following his marriage to Laurel in 1941, the newlyweds relocated to East Brighton, and it was there in February that they celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary.

A dux of Melbourne University’s commerce faculty, Sorrell pursued a career as a public accountant. But with the outbreak of World War II he answered the King and Country’s call, ably representing the Royal Australian Medical Corps in its militia field ambulance unit.

Sorrell served in that unit for five years, and while he emerged without any physical scars, there was the mental anguish. As his son Ashley explained: “He had to help wounded soldiers and pick up dead bodies . . . he didn’t talk about it much, and although he used to catch up with his old cobbers at yearly reunions, he never went to the marches”.

Ashley termed his father’s playing career “quite unique”.         

“Dad came back from the war at the age of 23 in August of 1946, and he’d never played football before. He played three or four games for Melbourne High School Old Boys to get a bit of fitness and by ’47 was playing in the first round with the Carlton seniors. Not a bad achievement,” Ashley said.

“Dad wasn’t a superstar but he was very tall for that era (6’2″) – in fact he always thought of himself as a journeyman and he never boasted about his career.  But he loved his club.

“He was 90 per cent sight impaired at the end because of glaucoma, but in the old days we used to go to Carlton’s bigger games together. He always followed the Blues and knew all the current players because he was a terrific newspaper reader . . . and he was at the Spirit of Carlton’s last AGM.”

A contemporary of Sorrell’s the dual Carlton premiership centre half-forward Ken Hands, said that while he had only crossed paths with Sorrell twice in the years since, “I can remember him quite clearly”.

“Alan played as a follower, but he didn’t play for long. He was a quiet sort of player, rather gentle, and while he wasn’t a quick mover he moved smoothly,” Hands said.

“He was a very nice fellow.”

Sorrell is survived by his daughters Sharon and André, and son Ashley.

Tickets are still available for this event it is not too late to book your spot. This Friday night the game is going to be huge, make it a massive day out by attending this special SOC event before the big game.

In exciting news for WA blues supporters the Spirit of Carlton will be holding a matchday function in Perth on the day of the big Carlton vs Collingwood clash on the 8th of April. Perth Blues supporters are some of the most passionate and dedicated in the land and this event is sure to be very popular. 

Your Host: Jon Dorotich

1987 Premiership Player for Carlton

1986-1993, 132 games, 103 goals

 

Jon Dorotich was a big, rugged, key defender from South Fremantle who enjoyed a notable football career on both sides of the continent for 17 seasons between 1981 and 1997. Blessed with vice-like hands and a raking left foot, he played in successive Grand Finals for Carlton against Hawthorn in 1986 and 1987; suffering a loss in the first, then taking sweet revenge in the second. After finishing at Carlton, he returned to WA and claimed more glory; as both a 100-goal full-forward, and captain of South Fremantle’s 1997 Premiership team.

Guests: Wayne Harmes

Premiership Player: 1979, 1981, 1982
Norm Smith Medal: 1979
Victorian Representative : 1979, 1986
Carlton Hall of Fame (2000)

Like his predecessors Fred Stafford and Ted Hopkins, Wayne Harmes will forever be remembered for one inspirational passage of play in Carlton’s 1979 Grand Final victory over Collingwood. On that wet, cold day before 112,000 fans at the MCG, Carlton started warm favourites. But in a tough, slogging match, the Magpies simply refused to be shaken off. With only minutes remaining, the Blues were in front by just four points, with the black & whites finishing hard and looking a big chance to snatch victory. Enter Wayne Harmes. After playing superbly all day, he gathered the ball at half-forward, only to see his kick slew off his boot and skid toward the boundary in Carlton’s forward pocket. Instantly, he turned and chased, dived, and with a desperate round-arm swipe at the ball, knocked it into the goal square. Waiting there, clear of any opponent, was rover Ken Sheldon – who gleefully goaled to win another flag for the Navy Blues.

Alex Marcou

Premiership Player: 1979, 1981, 1982
Carlton Hall of Fame (2006)

Alex Marcou was a member of Carlton’s fabled mosquito fleet of brilliant small men of the 1970’s and ‘80’s, and a three-time Premiership rover for the Blues. Recruited within the Blues recruiting zone, from northern suburban VAFA club Thomastown, he was among four first-gamers for Carlton in the opening round of the 1979 season. The others were Wayne Johnston, Robbert Klomp and Peter Francis; all of whom were destined for Premiership glory. Marcou was a lightning-quick rover with sure ball-handling skills and excellent goal sense. Aged 20 on debut, by mid-season in ‘79 he was a regular in a powerful Blues combination that topped the ladder, then went on to beat Collingwood by 5 points in a see-sawing Grand Final on a boggy MCG. It was the perfect culmination to a great first year for the 178 cm, 76 kg speedster wearing number 34, and he was widely regarded as Recruit of the Year.

Des English

Career : 1980 – 1987
Games : 104
Goals : 6
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.

Date : 8th of April 2011.

Time : 12.30pm – 3.30pm

Venue: South Perth Bowling Club – Mends St, Sth Perth

Cost: $100.00 per person, Includes meal, beer, wine and soft drink.

Hosted by Jon Dorotich, join Alex Marcou, Des English, & Wayne Harmes for this very special event and don’t miss your chance to rub shoulders with some of the greats of the game.

There will also be plenty of fantastic auction items available on the day.

Please CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE ORDER FORM to get your seat!

5th April: Mil Hanna

Milham Hanna was an extraordinarily well built but enigmatic wingman / defender for the Blues in between 1986 and 1997. As an outstanding junior footballer he always seemed destined as being a future senior player with the Blues. He was selected in the All-Australian Team for the 1983 Teal Cup after representing Victoria in the carnival. Hanna was a local lad recruited from East Brunswick.

Hanna’s debut is perhaps one of the greatest horror stories that can be suffered by a footy player. Much like the Carlton debut of Dean Rice, where he suffered a severe knee injury, but even worse as it was Hanna’s first game overall, Hanna busted his knee in Round 1 of 1986 against the Hawks. He was retained by the Blues but not seen again until Round 7, 1987.

Of Lebanese descent, Hanna had a long right foot kick on him but hardly ever used his left. Hanna’s pace and agility meant that he could be played in many positions across the wing or half back, plus the occasional stint up forward. A 5 goal game against the Hawks at Waverley in 1995 sticks in the mind – he was kicking them from everywhere on that day.

Hanna played 19 games in 1993, including our Grand Final loss to the Bombers, a game in which he was knocked heavily by tough-man Dean Wallis in what was arguably a defining moment of the match.

Hanna would play all games in 1994 and 1995, including playing on the wing in the Grand Final. Hanna’s brilliant opening quarter in the “Grannie” cannot be underestimated, with Hanna scorching the outer wing on Aaron Lord (our nemesis from the 1994 finals campaign) and delivering beautifully to Brad Pearce for one special goal in our first quarter onslaught. Geelong switched the wings in the second quarter, giving Kouta to chance to dominate – as he did. But there is no doubt Hanna was a key player at the start of the game.

Mil began to slow down over 1996 and 1997, departing in 1997 after only a handful of games for the year. But he would retire a 190 game Premiership Player for the Blues.

From: http://www.blueseum.org/tiki-index.php?page=Mil+Hanna

April 9th: Brad Fisher

Fisher was one of those draft pick gems that pop up late in the order. Taken at number 72 in the 2002 National Draft, he made 99 senior appearances and booted 127 goals for Carlton in eight injury-plagued seasons. Courageous, and an often freakish high mark, he richly deserved to be remembered as a 100-game Blue (and went to great lengths trying to achieve that honour) but in the end, his fragile body let him down.

Fisher’s path to Carlton led from his junior club East Burwood, to the Eastern Ranges in the elite level TAC Cup Under 18 competition. From there he was drafted by the Blues, and assigned guernsey number 14. He was carrying a completely different number however, when he created real excitement in his first match at VFL level by kicking six big goals on debut for the Northern Bullants. Typical of Blues-listed players at the lower level, “Fish” wasn’t wearing the number 14 that day, nor the number listed next to his name in the single page handout available at Cramer St Oval. Instead, he thrilled the crowd in jumper number 36 – which only added to the confusion, because that was usually carried by one the Bullants’ real stalwarts, Josh Vansittart!

That sparkling first-up effort brought an immediate call-up to Carlton’s senior side, and Fisher officially became a Blue on the huge stage of Friday night football at the MCG in round 2, 2003. Carlton took on Collingwood that night, putting up some spirited resistance before falling by 16 points. Brad started on the bench, came on to take a couple of impressive grabs, and kicked his first career goal.

He held on to his place in the side throughout the remainder of a bleak year for Carlton, and despite a couple of minor problems with a knee and shoulder, ended up playing 16 games in an excellent debut season, highlighted by his AFL Rising Star nomination for his solid effort in Carlton’s win over Richmond at the MCG in round 12…..

From: http://www.blueseum.org/tiki-index.php?page=Brad+Fisher

April 15th: Ron De Iulio

Ron burst on to the scene with 29 goals from 19 games as a pacy half-forward in the 1992 season, wearing the #34 guernsey. He was recruited from VFA club Box Hill, previous to that, he had played with VFA club Brunswick.

After battling with Luke O’Sullivan and the resting rovers such as Mitchell, Gleeson and Heaver for that role in subsequent years, Ron went back to the reserves and was was tried in defence. He eventually returned to the senior team, often picking up the opposition’s fastest and smallest forward. In this role, De Iulio had breakthrough years in 1996 and 1998 (playing 21 and all 22 games respectively) and began to make a name for himself as a defensive stalwart whilst the Blues struggled.

He had many battles with Sean Charles and later Jeff Farmer playing against Melbourne and was a valuable member of the team. But he struggled to maintain his place in the side in 1999, after playing the first 5 games, playing his final game in Round 21. He remained at the club in 2000 but spent the entire year in the VFL, where his career ended.

He ended up playing 104 games in the #34- a fair achievement and just enough to earn him a place on the locker, as only the third Blue to do so.

From: http://www.blueseum.org/tiki-index.php?page=Ron+De+Iulio

This Friday night we will witness one of the most hyped Carlton versus Collingood games for quite some time. Both teams undefeated, both with a long and traditional rivalry.

If you read the papers, watch the TV and peruse the net you would be forgiven for thinking that Collingwood are an invincible winning machine. This is a team that scraped through by the barest of margins for a second chance at a premiership against a club that has one premiership in over a century. Since then they have beaten Port Adelaide and North Melbourne, two teams currently in the bottom four and looking likely to stay there.

This scenario brings back some memories.

After Essendon convincingly won the 2000 premiership they won their first two rounds of the 2001 season. They were being praised as possibly the greatest team of all time, they seemed invincible.

The two teams they defeated in the first two round were ….. Port Adelaide and North Melbourne.

Essendon were due to play guess who in Round 3?

Yes, Carlton.

This was the game where the Blues had Silvagni, Bradley and Kouta as late withdrawals before the game. The Blues were given no chance at all against the invincible Bombers.

We won by 17 points!

Lets just see what happens on Friday night. No team is invincible.

The Spirit of Carlton Past and Present is taking the online world head on and wants to be seen by as many Carlton supporters as possible, we know there are thousands of us, so lets get involved.

In order to spread the word we are going to be running a competition. What we want from you is very simple, just tell other Carlton supporters about us, whether that is on twitter, facebook or your social media of choice.

There are several ways you can enter:

Retweet one of our tweets from our twitter account at https://twitter.com/SpiritofCarlton

Use our TELL A FRIEND page at our facebook fan page, let us know via email so we can include you in the draw.

If you have used other ways such as email, digg or anything else, let us know via email so we can include you in the draw.

At the end of April we will collect the names of those who have helped us spread the word and you will be in the running to win a Spirit of Carlton shirt and cap. The winner will be drawn randomly from the entries we have collected to the 30th April.

The winner will be announced on the 1st of May.

Don’t forget to LIKE us on facebook and FOLLOW us on twitter!

Season 2011 began in the best possible fashion with a win and a wonderful night thanks to the Spirit of Carlton. Your humble correspondent took advantage of a ticketed night of entertainment from the Spirit of Carlton Past and Present, all the following for just $35.

The night began by finding the Ron Barassi room and settling down for a quiet drink (at bar prices) and speaking to fellow Blues supporters about the most interesting thing in the world, the Carlton Football Club! The night was generously sponsored by Cameron Knight of Jim’s Roofing Services, you can see the business details in the photos associated with this article. The album of pictures can be accessed here: http://spiritofcarlton.com/blog/photos/carlton-vs-richmond-march-24-2011/

 About 40 minutes before the game started the MC for the night, the famous Jimmy Buckely got things started with a few well timed gags and then introduced Geoff Southby who spoke about what the Spirit of Carlton had been doing in recent times. We were informed about the preservation of history program the SOC is building in association with the club and in particular Tony De Bolfo. The most obvious result so far to Carlton supporters is the spectacular new display case in the foyer at Visy Park. Geoff also kindly talked about developments such as this website and how the SOC is getting serious about connecting with supporters through the internet and social media (as an aside our twitter account ticked over 1000 followers this morning, check us out at https://twitter.com/#!/SpiritofCarlton). The support that the SOC has given the current playing group was also mentioned. The SOC has contributed over $330,000 so far to the club for use in specific projects to benefit the current playing group. Some of the items the club now has thanks to the SOC include, a new golf cart for the property steward to transport training gear, GPS units for the players to track their matchday performance, iPads and accompanied software that helps with their weights management training and support for the father and son training academy to name a few.

 After this I was eyeing off the raffle item in the corner, a signed Brent Crosswell guernsey. This is quite a rare item and would be a fine addition to any supporters memorabilia collection. The picture of Barassi and Croswell on the item was a beauty as well and reminded me of the interesting path these two men followed through three different football clubs together.

 It was time to wander to my seat and I was happy to find a spot beautifully positioned on the ground level near the fifty. As usual the atmosphere at the MCG was magic and 60,000 Blues and Tigers supporters yelled and clapped and booed with gusto through the first half.

When the half time siren sounded I hightailed it back to the Ron Barassi room. Ken ‘Bomba’ Sheldon took the podium and gave a summary of the first half of the game. Also up on the stage were Peter McConville and Alex Marcou completing a trifecta of triple premiership players, the triple tripletts. Peter and Alex spoke with fondness about their time at the Blues and how close the team was as a unit back in those days. It was then time for the auctions and the raffle result. By this time I had made my way through several vietnamese rolls and party pies, the SOC put on a big spread of food which was enthusiastically eaten by guests in attendance. Apart from over 100 SOC members and supporters there were a lot of past players in the room apart from those already mentioned including Syd Jackson and David Rhys-Jones.  The auction items were a guernsey signed by the entire 2011 playing list and another guernsey signed by the three amigos, Garlett, Yarren and Betts. The lucky winner of the raffle prize was non other than the best racing caller in the land (and Richmond supporter) Greg Miles.

It was time to return to the game and despite some nervous moments the Blues managed a win. It was then time to enjoy a quiet after the game drink in the Ron Barassi room with the SOC boys and chat about the game.

All in all a great night out at the footy!

If you want to enjoy a night (or day) out like this one make sure to check out our upcoming home game functions on our calendar here: http://spiritofcarlton.com/blog/events/ The next home game event is for the round four clash against Essendon at the MCG. Be sure to secure your tickets by calling Justine Wratten on 0438 271 948 between 9am and 5pm weekdays.

Many happy returns to the following past players for their birthdays for the remainder of the month.

March 26th

Jon McCormick

Jon McCormick had a brief but thought provoking stay at Carlton. A great performer in the Murray league, McCormick was touted as a North rookie but Carlton snapped him up in the Rookie Draft nice & early, presumably on Pagan’s advice from their shared North days. McCormick had been recruited from the Murray Kangaroos, after stints with the Murray Bushrangers U/18’s and Wangaratta.

Given the #41, McCormick had a promising pre-season and was promoted for Round 1 of the year. And he made a huge impression, earning 19 stats and kicking 2 goals (with his first two kicks) as the Blues crashed to a large loss against the Swans. One of those goals was a pearler of a right foot snap, and it seemed that McCormick was a diamond in the rough that would help us through our draft penalties.

A right-footer, McCormick is also well remembered for his hairstyles which prompted many nicknames in the crowd. “Rockin’ Roddy” was one of my favourites, after his likeness for crooner Rod Stewart. As a player, his key strength was ball winning ability but he did not have a large frame or super strength to back it up, more relying on skill and footy smarts to get the ball out. His preferred right produced the odd grubber too.

He would play 21 games in 2003 and was presumably setting himself up for a permanent midfield role. Within the season were some stellar games, including a 26 stat game against the Bulldogs. Averaging 13.9 possessions a game, it seemed as though 2004 would be another strong year.

But McCormick would only play 5 games in 2004 as Pagan chose to prefer other players. With limited game time in those games, he would fail to gather more than 8 possessions and could only do one thing – excel at VFL level to try to get another crack. But he was delisted at the end of the 2004 season, after 26 games in the Navy Blue.

From: http://www.blueseum.org/tiki-index.php?page=Jonathon+McCormick

March 28th

Luke O’Sullivan

The story of Luke “Rhino” O’Sullivan is a pearler – was on the list for almost a decade, and only managed to reach his 50th game in his last year. A unique player, O’Sullivan was a 182cm barrel-chested, feet-pumping forward pocket / flanker who loved a goal. He was recruited from the Blues U/19’s, after originally playing for Xavier College (Kew) despite signing on for Footscray where his cousin Shane O’Sullivan had moved to a few years earlier.

Luke also had another brother affiliated with the Blues, older brother Brendan O’Sullivan played Reserve Grade footy with the Blues from 1978 to 1980, he was also later to be the Runner for the Senior team.

Wearing the #27, Rhino had these fantastic side-burns that he wore with pride. His signature move was to take a bounce, rock on to his left foot (preferred) and try to run through tackles. He gave away his fair share of holding the ball free kicks, but also ran over a few opponents. He was a unique player, a player with flair, and clearly a player the Blues loved to keep around despite injury.

First playing in 1988, and perhaps most memorable for a 4 goal burst in Round 6, 1992, O’Sullivan would ironically be delisted after his best year of football, 1997. In the 4 years up to 1997, Rhino would manage 0, 2, 6 and 1 game respectively, due to injury and our strong team a the time. Doing his knee at Waverley didn’t help – remember the surface giving way when he was wearing number 60 in the 1993 ‘Night’ game against Footscray when the Club left his jumper back at Carlton?

1997 was Rhino’s year. 15 games, kicking 12 goals 7 from the flank and occasional midfield role, provided a lot of enjoyment to the fans as Carlton slid out of the finals. Two cracking games – Round 9 versus Freo (26 stats, 2 goals) and Round 11 versus Brisbane are appropriate highlight packages for the man we all loved, the man we all wanted to succeed, the man with the sidies – “Rhino”.

Luke O’Sullivan is the uncle of Sydney Swans youngster Daniel Hannebery.

From: http://www.blueseum.org/tiki-index.php?page=Luke+O%27Sullivan

March 29th

Simon Verbeek

Simon Verbeek was a football journeyman. From his hometown at St Arnaud, he played in a Richmond 1985 U/19’s premiership, the next two seasons he played reserve grade football with the Tigers. He was then cut from the final list and then crossed to VFA club Oakleigh, Richmond again him and invited him to Punt Road for 1988 pre-season, but he was unable to break into the Tigers’ senior team. His coach at Oakleigh, was ex Blues premiership winger, Bryan Quirk, he notified Carlton and the Blues invited Verbeek to Carlton for a tryout.

The Blues gave him that opportunity by recruiting him with selection 12 in the 1989 Pre-Season Draft, and Verbeek responded with a solid debut season to win our Best First Year Player award. Verbeek’s strength was he had a good set of hands and was very strong overhead.

From then on, Simon always seemed to be on the verge of a good career, but unfortunately couldn’t take the extra step required to become an established League footballer. He spent three seasons at Princes Park, and despite occasional flashes of brilliance, was delisted in 1991.

Verbeek also played for the Victorian U/17’s team in 1984.

From: http://www.blueseum.org/tiki-index.php?page=Simon+Verbeek

March 30th

Adrian Hickmott

Adrian Hickmott was a tough, hard-at-it and fair right foot utility who would play 134 games for the Blues between 1996 and 2003. Hickmott would play mainly as a forward with the occasional stint at half-back, and was renowned for his fearlessness and toughness at the ball.

Hickmott started off as a Cat and played 50 games and scored 24 goals, including Geelong’s 1995 Grand Final loss to Carlton, where it must be said he was one of the better players and arguably had the better of Ang Christou by leading hard all day. Whilst the Cat’s big named forwards like Ablett, Brownless and Handley were all being swamped by the Blues defence, this red-head in hoops kept on bobbing up.

Come season’s end, Hickmott would find his way to the Blues in a 3-way trade including draft picks to Carlton, with Troy Bond leaving the Blues for Adelaide. Whether it was his floppy boyish red hair, or his slightly different kicking action, few at Carlton realised how tough and courageous young Hicky was; but over his 8 year career with the Blues he would demonstrate it over & over again.

“Hicky” would make an immediate impact in his new number 9 guernsey with 22 games and 17 in 1997, before a serious knee injury deprived Hickmott of then entire 1998 season. But he would return in 1999 and play all but 2 games from Round 7. A hamstring strain would force him to miss the Preliminary Final but he would be immediately recalled for the Grand Final.

But it would be 2000 and 2001 where we would see the best of Hickmott, with 21 and 23 games respectively and 20 + goals each year.

Hickmott’s fearless attitude to the ball and cheeky grin would endear himself to the Carlton crowd, even if he had come from another club. Some mindless marking attempt where he would be knocked out only added to the cause. His courage and desire led Hickmott to be appointed as Deputy Vice Captain for the Blues between 2002 and 2003.

But Hickmott would retire in Round 16 of 2003 due to a serious groin injury, which had plagued him all year.

Hickmott’s retirement, together with Brett Ratten‘s earlier in the season, would rob the Blues of two courageous leaders. But these were only the starting steps of a serious amount of change at Carlton, with 2003 marking a record level of changes in an AFL list.

Hickmott would step into the coaching game at VFL level in 2008 taking charge of the Bendigo Bombers as well as being an assistant coach under Essendon coach Matthew Knights.

From: http://www.blueseum.org/tiki-index.php?page=Adrian+Hickmott

 

The SOC executive held one of their regular meetings this morning in the salubrious confines of Visy Park. While there some members of the executive took time to appreciate the magnificent new display cabinet paid for in part by the Spirit of Carlton Past and Present.

By Tony De Bolfo originally for carltonfc.com.au

Former Carlton President Ian Rice has shed precious light on the tumultuous events of 1979 and ’80, as the club completes its preparations for the Hall of Fame Dinner and celebration of the 1981/’82 back-to-back Grand Final triumphs. Now living in London, and having been based in Europe for the past 23 years, Rice is an apology for Saturday week’s function at Crown Palladium, and will be represented by his son Richard – who as a seven year-old Carlton supporter was part of the Princes Park post-match pitch invasion for the mandatory kick of the footy. But Rice recently agreed to reflect on his four years at the helm at Carlton, and respond to a series of questions for carltonfc.com.au.

In the following Q and A, Rice talks candidly of;

 • initially refusing an offer from club powerbroker Wes Lofts to assume the Carlton Presidency;

• secret meetings with Ron Barassi, at which he offered Barassi first dibs at a return to the club as Senior Coach, replacing Peter Jones; and

• persuading the late Perc Bentley to crucially redirect his vote from Jones to David Parkin as Senior Coach on the day his (Rice’s) own casting vote secured Parkin’s place in history as Jones’ successor. 

The Rice interview is as follows;

Q: Thirty years on, what are your overriding memories of the 1981 and 82 years?

A: A mixture of pride that I was privileged to play a part in some of the most successful years in Carlton’s proud 147 year history.

Q: How did you come to be Carlton President and what do you believe was your greatest legacy?

A: I had been a club Patron and as a Melbourne City Council chairman I was able to assist Carlton in its ground development and the arrangements for Hawthorn to share Princes Park. On Monday December 3rd, 1979 the Club President, George Harris dramatically resigned at the Annual Meeting. The Premiership club was in turmoil. The Captain-Coach, Alex Jesaulenko wrote to the Club that he would not continue in any capacity unless Harris was returned as President. Amongst the Harris/Jesaulenko comeback terms was ‘Jezza’s’ appointment as Chairman of the Match Committee, Captain and Coach . Subsequently at a meeting of players Jezza was advised this was not acceptable as Mike Fitzpatrick was appointed Captain , Mark Maclure vice captain and ‘Percy’ Jones Coach. On Tuesday 4th December the Chairman of the Match Committee, Wes Lofts bumped into me at Sydney Airport and asked if I would take on the Presidency. I said I was not interested. The club`s finances were in a mess, the Committee and Club were split over the Harris/Jesaulenko proposals and the chaos was front and back page every day. The Committee, split down the middle, was due to meet on Thursday 6th December to address the Harris/Jesaulenko proposals – without a President and with feelings running very high amongst the membership . Under these incredible circumstances, I was approached again hours before the crucial meeting and accepted the position with a lot of misgivings. The chaos surrounding Carlton dominated the national media for the summer. Harris and Jesaulenko called for an Extraordinary General Meeting of members to be held at Festival Hall on 7.30 pm Tuesday, 19th February. The Supreme Court ruled on which members were entitled to vote. There were eleven motions, the first of which was to remove me as a Director. Each side had four speakers to the motion. I received 72 per cent of the vote and Harris and Jezza left the club. It was such a tragic ending for one of Carlton’s all time greats. My greatest legacy was to bring order out of chaos which enabled the focus and attention to be placed on the people that most count – the team.

Q: Did you expect the spectacular successes to happen so quickly after the internal divisions?

A: I knew we had a great team, as I had consulted some of our former champions, but my major concern was how to unlock that ability. The squad of 30 was a well-bonded unit, with a strong club spirit , but we had an untried, inexperienced coach in Percy Jones.

Q: Obviously the appointment of David Parkin was crucial to the club’s turnaround after the disappointment of season 1980. Do you recall how Parkin’s name first appeared on the radar as a prospective Carlton coach and do you remember the chain of events leading to his appointment?

A: After our crushing loss to Richmond by seven goals in the Qualifying Final and the even greater disaster against Collingwood in the First Semi I knew that to win the Premiership we had to have a very successful, experienced coach who could bring out the world class ability that we squandered in 1980. The Committee wanted to give Perc another chance as one of the club’s most favoured sons. I was the only person opposed to his re-appointment. It was obvious that we needed Barassi or Parkin, both Premiership coaches. I first went after Barassi and had secret meetings in my Collins Street office which was embarrassingly discovered by Channel 10. Barassi decided to return to Melbourne so I turned to Parkin. He was interested. On the morning of the decisive committee vote I knew the count was 7 for Perc and 5 for Parkin. I met Perc at lunch to tell him it was my opinion that to maximise the team’s talent we needed a Premiership coach and tonight I wanted Parkin selected. Perc was not happy. On the way to Princes Park for the fateful committee meeting I saw Percy Bentley, a former champion player, premiership coach and committee member. We talked and I convinced him to change his vote to Parkin. The vote was 6-6 and I used my casting vote to select Parkin as the 1981 coach. The rest, as they say, is history. There is no doubt that the 1981 and 1982 teams rank in the pantheon of the greatest League teams.

Q: What message would you like to convey to the players who represented Carlton in those famous back-to-back years? What was it about the Carlton of this period that made it such a success story?

A: It was an honour to be their President. We had such fun together – the team, committee, backroom staff (who were all honorary then) and the members – they loved their club and showed it . Those four years were some of the happiest, most eventful of my life.

Q: For the record, where are you now living and what are you doing professionally? Do you still keep abreast of Carlton’s performances and how often to you get back to take in a game?

A: I live in London, have been living in Europe for 23 years and am very active in the investment business. I read The Age daily online, so am reasonably up to date on activities. I also see some games on TV here and occasionally I come back for a Grand Final. I have mates who ran other clubs – Craig Kimberley at South Melbourne, Wayne Reid at Melbourne, Bob Ansett and Albert Mantello at North Melbourne and Lindsay Fox at St. Kilda, and they also keep me up to date. I came home for the 1981 and ’82, 25th Anniversary celebrations, and when ‘Fitzy’ (Mike Fitzpatrick), (David) Parkin and I spoke to the boys it was just like it was yesterday. They haven’t changed. I am so proud of them