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Greg Williams

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Trevor Fletcher

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Thanks to the Blueseum for player pics and bios.

Peter Motley

Career : 1986 – 1987
Debut : Round 2, 1986 vs Richmond, aged 21 years, 192 days
Carlton Player No. 937
Games : 19
Goals : 4
Last Game : Round 6, 1987 vs Sydney, aged 22 years, 218 days
Guernsey No. 2
Height : 185 cm (6 ft. 1 in.)
Weight : 82 kg (12 stone, 13 lbs.)
DOB : 24 September, 1964

On Friday, May 1, 1987, Carlton (second on the ladder) met Sydney (third) at the SCG. It was a fierce, physical contest. Despite five goals to Carlton captain Stephen Kernahan, the Swans were a shade too good and won by seven points. Among the Blues’ best that sunny afternoon was Peter Motley; a rangy, blonde-haired 22 year-old budding champion, playing just his nineteenth game of AFL football in navy blue number 2.

Within a few short days after the game, Motley’s career was tragically ended in an horrific head-on car accident. Although he survived the crash, Peter’s injuries were so severe that he could not play again. The Blues – and more so football in general, was stunned by the loss of one of its fastest-rising stars.

Peter was the son of SANFL legend Geof Motley, one of his State’s greatest players. Geof (his name was spelt this way on his birth certificate) pulled on the boots in 250 games for Port Adelaide in an amazing era in which they won nine SANFL flags between 1954 and ’65. Geof was a significant part of every one of them, either as a player, captain or captain-coach, and he represented SA on 28 occasions.

Peter began his football at Sturt, where he quickly showed that he had inherited all of his father’s football ability, and more. By the age of nineteen he was a 185 cm, 82 kg free-running half back with superb foot skills, pace and balance. He won Sturt’s Best & Fairest award in 1984, and again in 1985 when he was named All Australian. By then the AFL heavyweights were beating a path to the Motley’s front door. Sydney were the front-runners for his signature at first, before the chance to experience the football culture at its epicentre brought him to Carlton in the summer of 1985.

A series of minor muscle strains hampered Peter’s first year with the Blues, but by late in the ‘86 season he had made one half-back flank his own, in a strong Carlton team that finished third after the home and away rounds. Victory over Sydney, then a shock demolition of hot favourites Hawthorn put the Blues straight into that year’s Grand Final, but they were no match for a rampaging Hawks team who ran out winners by 42 points. The half-back flankers named for Carlton in that match were Peter Motley and Des English. English actually played in the back pocket, while Motley controlled his flank to be one of the Blues’ few clear winners.

That defeat, plus the shock of “Motts” accident early in ‘87, was compounded by further bad news when it was revealed that Carlton’s tough and popular defender Des English had been diagnosed with cancer. These twin tragedies galvanised the Blues, who dedicated their year, and their finals campaign, to their stricken team-mates. Carlton beat Hawthorn by 15 points in the second semi-final, then demolished the Hawks by 33 points to gain sweet revenge when they met again in the Grand Final.

As the victorious Blues ran a joyous, emotional lap of honour before more than 92,000 fans on that great day, their first stop was the players race. There, they shared the triumph of Carlton’s 15th Premiership first with Dezzy and Motts – the two special mates who would have, and should have, but couldn’t be out there with them.

 

Thanks to the Blueseum for player bio and pic.

The Spirit of Carlton Past and Present has been excited to produce two videos which feature past players David McKay and Ken Hands. We are hoping that these will be just the beginning of a long series of videos covering many of Carlton’s past players. An opportunity currently exists for sponsorship of the series.

If you are interested in sponsoring future videos please contact us via admin@spiritofcarlton.com for details.

Please see the videos below. Don’t forget you can see all of our videos on our youtube channel SpiritofCarltonTV, subscribe to us and you will not miss out on seeing our future videos.

David McKay

Ken Hands

 

Kevin Bergin

Career: 1955-56
Debut: Round 9, 1955 v Essendon
Carlton Player No. 692
Games: 12
Goals: 12
Guernsey No. 36
Last game: Round 2, 1956 v Melbourne
Height: 175cm
Weight: 73kg
DOB: 15 September, 1936

Bergin played 12 games for the Blues commencing in Season 1955, and managed to average a goal a game in his brief time at Carlton. He wore guernsey #36.

Bergin was recruited from Carlton Districts and Old Paradians (Bundoora).

Jordan Doering

Career: 2001-2002
Debut: Round 5, 2001 vs St Kilda
1043rd Carlton Player
Games: 18
Goals: 11
Guernsey No. 48
Last Game: Round 22, 2002 vs Essendon
Height: 187cm
Weight: 87kg
DOB: 14 September, 1979

Doering was a left-footed back pocket / back flanker famous for zoning off on his own opponent and providing drive to the forward line. In 18 games for Carlton over 2001-2002, Doering was a useful flanker who could find the ball. Originally on the Essendon list, he was a member of Essendon’s reserves premiership team in 1999 before being picked up by the Blues in the Rookie Draft in 1999. Doering originally played with Sandhurst, and then played for the Bendigo Pioneers in the TAC Cup and while he was playing in the TAC he played 4 games with the Carlton Reserves as a top up player in 1997.

After spending all of 2000 as a rookie in the VFL, Doering was promoted to the main list in 2001 and played 7 games with minimal game time, averaging about 8 possessions and 1 mark a game. But in 2002 Doering would receive more opportunities as the Blues suffered a spate of injuries to senior players and fell dramatically down the ladder. He was again promoted from the rookie list and would play 11 of the last 12 games – in all of which he was named on the interchange bench. Neverthless he was still able to average a commendable 15.1 possessions and 3.6 marks per game, placing him in the top 10 at the club. He also kicked 7 goals, including decisive ones late in two of our rare winning games in 2002, against Richmond and the Western Bulldogs. Unfortunately with Carlton winning the wooden spoon that year, some tough decisions were made and Doering was not retained for 2003.

Doering would have one of the more distinctive kicking actions of the past decade, with a significant hunch back over his passing in much the same way some old golfers putt for greater accuracy.

Incidently, he is the games record holder at Carlton for the No.48 guernsey. His tally of 18 games easily eclipses that of Ashley Matthews who played 7 games in this number. He played a total of 50 Reserve games with with Carlton and scored 53 reserve games.

After being delisted, Doering played for VFL club’s Tassie Tigers and Bendigo Bombers, QLD club Labrador, and in 2010 lined up for EDFL club Strathmore being coached by Ex-Blue Digby Morrell.

By Tony De Bolfo

Carlton’s long-serving senior timekeeper Ralph Madge, fondly remembered as the man with his finger on the button, has died after a short illness at the age of 88.

Awarded life membership of the club in 1984, Madge served as senior timekeeper for almost a quarter of a century . . . and his timing, not surprisingly, was impeccable.

A Fitzroy supporter in his early years, Ralph Theodore Madge’s connection with Carlton was first forged through the club’s reserve grade team manager Bert Thomas, a next door neighbor.

The story goes that Thomas invited Madge to Princes Park to officiate as property steward after the sudden death of Norm Cattanach in 1966. In that first year, Madge leant his support to reserves coach Jack Carney.

According to son Greg, “Dad gave it a bash for a year”, then assumed duties from George Smith as Senior Timekeeper in 1967. It was a position Madge held until 1990 when Max Harvey took over, and it took in seven Carlton Grand Final victories – 1968, ’70 (when the final siren sounds incessantly in a mad Madge moment), ’72, ’79, ’81-’82 and ’87.

“Dad kept a collection of time cards from each of those Grand Finals, which he had each of the officiating field umpires sign. He had them framed in the end because he always thought of them as important,” Greg said.

“I must admit that I rode on Dad’s coat tails in those early days at Carlton. I got to sit in the old wooden press box by the Gardiner Stand where the timekeeper was, and I got to see the new faces like Alex Jesaulenko and Brian Kekovich.”

Greg described his father as “a fairly forthright character who spoke his mind and told you what he thought of you . . . and he had an incredible wit”.

“For him, Carlton was all about devotion. In time he forgot his history of being a Fitzroy supporter as a kid,” Greg said.

“I must admit I felt a bit bad when he said ‘Son, I’m going to retire soon, you don’t want to be Carlton’s new timekeeper do you?’ . . . I said to him ‘I’d rather be runner to be perfectly honest’.”

Max Harvey, Madge’s eventual successor as timekeeper, remained at the helm as Carlton timekeeper until the AFL took control on the night of the famed Millennium match at the MCG.

“I found Ralph very kind and very helpful . . . he certainly was to me anyway,” Harvey said.

“He could be pedantic about things in terms of getting them right, particularly in respect of timekeeping, but it’s all changed.

“It’s all run by the AFL now, but back then the timekeepers were employed by the clubs, so you could pull a bit of wool over the other bloke’s eyes in a tight game. A bit of that went on, and that was the way it was – you were a club timekeeper so you were extremely loyal to the club.”

Ralph Madge died the day before Carlton’s resounding elimination Final victory over Essendon. He is survived by his wife Jean, sons Greg and Bruce, daughter Robyn and their spouses, and seven grandchildren.

Paul Meldrum

Career : 1982 – 1992
Debut : Round 15, 1982 vs Melbourne, aged 21 years, 292 days
Carlton Player No. 904
Games : 158
Goals : 140
Last Game : Round 5, 1992 vs Sydney, aged 31 years, 217 days
Guernsey No. 23
Height : 183 cm (6 ft. 0 in.)
Weight : 82.5 kg (13 stone, 0 lbs.)
DOB : 13 September, 1960
Premiership Player 1987
Victorian Representative 1986, 1987

With his short, bleached blonde hair, his distinctive running style and his cheeky grin, ‘Molly’ Meldrum was a real crowd favourite throughout his 11 seasons at Princes Park. At 183 cm and 82 kg, he had wonderful endurance, was skilled, brave and versatile. Carlton was blessed with a number of similar types like Adrian Gleeson, Wayne Blackwell, David Glascott, Ken Sheldon and Peter McConville during Molly’s time at Carlton. All of them were happy forward or back, on the ball or tagging; and they caused constant headaches for our opponents.

Meldrum, who was born in London, is also remembered as the subject of one of the enduring football myths of that time. The story goes that he walked in off the street and asked for a game; that he was given a tryout, impressed; and went on to play in a Premiership for the Blues. It’s a romantic notion that has a basis of fact, but the story has been simplified over time. It goes like this.

Although he had played representative football in his early teens, Molly (whose nickname came from the TV music-show host of the same name) hadn’t been as committed to the game as many of his peers. However, by 1981 – when he was 20 years old and once again thoroughly enjoying playing for Princes Hill (in the E Grade Amateurs!) – he found himself at Princes Park one day in the company of his club’s President. By chance they met with Carlton’s Recruiting Manager Shane O’Sullivan, and on a whim, Meldrum asked how he could get a chance to trial with the Blues in the ‘82 pre-season. O’Sullivan assured Meldrum that he would arrange it, and that an invitation would be in the mail soon. Meldrum took O’Sullivan at his word, and waited. And waited. And waited.

Meanwhile, Molly’s work as a builder’s labourer proved ideal for strengthening his wiry frame, and, in anticipation of getting a chance to show his wares with the Blues, he had begun a punishing program of running the perimeter of Princes Park – against the clock – at least once a day, every day. By January, 1982 the promised invitation still had not arrived, so the super-fit Meldrum cheekily dropped in again to O’Sullivan’s office.

Of course, Sullivan had totally forgotten about their previous conversation. Somewhat embarrassed, Shane told Molly that okay, he could join in pre-season training later that week – but warned him that if he couldn’t keep up, he would be moved on very smartly. Well, as it turned out, Meldrum more than kept up. He impressed everyone, including the Blues’ match committee, and was rostered to play in an intra-club practice game, where he racked up 30 quality possessions.

After that performance, he was approached again by O’Sullivan. “I was given the number 23 jumper, a pair of boots, and told we would talk about money later,” said Molly. He made his senior debut only a couple of weeks afterward in the pre-season night competition at Waverley, starting a memorable eleven-year career for the Navy Blues that included the Grand Finals of 1986 and 1987. He was also a Victorian state representative in those two seasons, and in the latter, finished third in the Brownlow Medal count behind the joint winners; Tony Lockett (St Kilda) and John Platten (Hawthorn).

 

Thanks to the Blueseum for player bio and pic.

A huge day today in front of a massive crowd at the MCG. Carlton playing the old enemy Essendon in a final. We have played Essendon once before on this day, way back in 1909. It was a win, lets hope that is a good omen.

Semi Final, 1909

Carlton 4.1 25 7.4 46 12.7 79 14.8 92 Essendon 3.1 19 5.1 31 6.2 38 9.2 56	Venue: MCG	Date: 11 September 1909
Result: Win by 36 points	Umpire: J Elder	Crowd: 39,584
Goalkickers: F.Caine 3, F.Elliott 2, H.Kelly 2, G.Topping 2, G.Bruce 1, M.Gotz 1, F.Jinks 1, J.Marchbank 1, G.Johnson 1.
Best: A.Lang, G.Johnson, M.Gotz, C.Hammond, J.Baquie, A.Ford, G.Bruce.
Reports:	Injuries: Jinks

 

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Game Review

Carlton was by far the stronger side in this contest, winning all over the ground. Fred Jinks sustained an early injury which immobilised him, but despite this the Blues were never challenged. Billy Payne took the field for Carlton with great bravery, he had received medical advice warning him that a knock to his infected eyes could result in the loss of his sight. He went on to be one of the Blues best.

 

Bruce Doull

Career : 1969 – 1986
Debut : Round 5, 1969 vs South Melbourne, aged 18 years, 234 days
Carlton Player No. 811
Games : 356
Goals : 22
Last Game : Grand Final, 1986 vs Hawthorn, aged 36 years, 16 days
Guernsey Nos. 4 (1969-71) and 11 (1972-86)
Height : 185 cm (6 ft. 1 in.)
Weight : 89 kg (14 stone)
DOB : 11 September, 1950
Premiership Player: 1972, 1979, 1981, 1982
Best and Fairest: 1974, 1977, 1980, 1984
Norm Smith Medal: 1981
Carlton Hall of Fame (1987)
Team of the Century: Half Back Flank
AFL Team of the Century: Half Back Flank

Bruce Doull was a champion. One the greatest defenders of all time, he was an outstanding competitor, a four-time Premiership player and Carlton Games Record holder until Craig Bradley came along – however we know less about him than dozens of others who managed just a handful of appearances. He was a fixture in Carlton teams for 15 years, and played in six Grand Finals, yet Bruce shunned publicity and rarely gave interviews. Instead, he let his football do the talking – and what a joy it was to watch him play!

He first came to Princes Park to play with the Under 19’s in 1966; a raw 15 year-old from Jacana with a conservative haircut, sideburns and a burning ambition to be a league footballer. But it took him until 1972 to claim a regular place in the senior side. Although no giant at 185 cm and 87 kg, he quickly showed a remarkable ability to “play tall” in the key post at centre half-back. Deceptively quick, beautifully balanced and a strong, reliable mark, he was equally as sound at full-back, in a pocket or on a flank.

In the ’72 Grand Final he announced his arrival on the top shelf of league football with an inspiring game on the taller, heavier Richmond champion Royce Hart. It was the highest-scoring decider ever. Richmond kicked 22 goals – but Carlton booted 28 to claim our eleventh flag. Doull was superb in keeping Hart to a handful of possessions and two goals. His concentration, cat-like reflexes and ice-cool response under pressure marked him as something special. Not surprisingly, the media clamoured for information about him. But his uneasy relationship with them soured completely after he was apparently misquoted in one of his first interviews. From then until his retirement, Bruce was off limits. No quotes, no more comments – thanks.

Afterward, and throughout his long career, Doull was a folk hero at Princes Park. Supporters loved his no-nonsense, honest approach, his courage and his consistency. In keeping with his shy nature is the story of his playing numbers. In his first three seasons, he wore number 4, but was never comfortable in the locker room with the attention lavished upon some of the club’s biggest stars, like Sergio Silvagni (number 1), John Nicholls (2), Kevin Hall (3), Syd Jackson (5) and Garry Crane (6). Before the ’72 season, he asked for and was given guernsey number 11, which had become available with the retirement of another great Carlton defender in John “Ragsy” Goold.

With his new number, sporting even longer sideburns and hair to his shoulders, he took on and beat the best in the business, week after week. He won Carlton’s Best and Fairest award in 1974, then followed up in ’77, ’80 and ’84. In 1979 he picked up his second Premiership medal when the Blues knocked over Collingwood, and two years later he was on the dias again on Grand Final day, 1981. Carlton came from 21 points down in the third quarter to vanquish the Magpies yet again – by 20 points – in Doull’s finest hour. Impassable at half-back all day, he beat four opponents and was a worthy winner of the Norm Smith medal.

 

Simon Wiggins

Career : 2001 – 2010
Debut : Round 5, 2001 vs St Kilda, aged 18 years, 229 days
Carlton Player No. 1045
Games : 116
Goals : 36
Last Game : Elimination Final, 2009 vs Brisbane, aged 26 years, 359 days
Guernsey No. 34
Height : 186 cm (6 ft. 1 in.)
Weight : 81 kg (12 stone, 11 lbs.)
DOB : 11 September, 1982

The glue that holds any football club together is loyalty, and no quality is more highly respected than that which sees an individual stick to their chosen colours through good times and bad, for better or for worse. Simon Wiggins fitted precisely into that category throughout his decade-long, 116-game career with the Navy Blues from 2001 to 2010, bringing dedication and big-hearted commitment to a Carlton side at its lowest ebb in our club’s long and proud history.

Nicknamed ‘Wiggo,’ ‘The Wiggler’ or ‘The Chief’ (after Chief Clancy Wiggum; a character from the hit television show The Simpsons) Simon was drafted by the Blues from the Tassie Mariners Under 18 side, after rising to prominence as an outstanding junior with the Glenorchy Magpies. Carlton’s third selection in the 2000 National Draft (number 15 overall), he is the younger brother of Patrick Wiggins, who was himself recruited by the Western Bulldogs in 1999. A tall, mobile ruckman, Patrick managed only 12 senior games in an injury-ravaged, three-season stay at the Western Oval.

Like Patrick, Simon battled hamstring problems throughout his career, as well as knee and shoulder injuries. Versatile, if somewhat prone to inconsistency, he never managed to play out a full season with Carlton’s senior team, but his professional attitude and cheerful demeanour helped keep spirits up at Princes Park, even as the Navy Blues languished on the lower rungs of the ladder in seven of Wiggo’s ten seasons. In fact, the only finals match of Simon’s career was his last; Carlton’s 2009 Elimination Final loss to Brisbane at the Gabba. He was retained on the Blues’ list in 2010, but couldn’t force his way back into a steadily-improving young team, and so retired at year’s end.

Over the next couple of weeks we will be presenting video from our recent 1981 Premiership Reunion luncheon. The first video was one of the highlights of the day, the famous Alex Marcou story about the 1981 premiership celebrations at the lodge and ‘Fabulous’. What made this even more special on the day was the presence of Malcolm and Tammy Fraser who enjoyed this story as much as the rest of the audience. It was truly an honour for the Spirit of Carlton Past and Present to have The Right Honourable  Mr and Mrs Malcolm Fraser attend this event.

LANGUAGE WARNING: Please be aware that there is frequent use of coarse language in this video, therefore use caution with where you play this video.

Proving what a goldmine of information the internet is one truly observant Blues fan has pointed out that you can see Fabulous and Alex at the end of the following clip walking into the Lodge. I have ta ken a still shot as well for those not inclined to watch the whole video.