Author: Jamie Sanderson

Congratulations to Mitch Robinson and Kade Simpson, joint winners of the 2011 Spirit of Carlton encouragement award. Also congratulations to all the other winners on the night, especially to Marc Murphy for winning his first John Nicholls medal ahead of Chris Judd and Bryce Gibbs.

Barry Mulcair

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Damien Lock

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

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

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

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

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

 

Thanks to the Blueseum for player pics and bios.

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

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.

 

On Wednesday night about 40 past players and officials gathered at Visy Park in what was a wonderful social occasion. In the past, regular social gatherings by past players were commonplace. Unfortunately due to various factors these regular past player only events began to disappear from the social calendar.

This year we are attempting to revive the tradition and started off with the first Past Players dinner.

It was a real pleasure to see so many happy faces and the camaraderie amongst old friends. The schedule for the night was delayed somewhat because everyone was enjoying the chance to catch up and chat.

Several generations of players were represented on the night; past players from the 1940s all the way through to the 1990s were present.  Players such as Doug Beasy, Allan Greenshields, Paul Hurst, Ron Barassi, Vin Cattoggio, Ron De Iulio, Serge Silvagni, Ian Aitken, Ron Barassi, and Adrian Gallagher just to name a few. It was wonderful to see past officials of the club such as Kenny Kleiman and Frank Brosnan also in attendance.

MC for the night Dennis Munari gave the audience some information about the history of the past players association at Carlton and how the Spirit of Carlton Past and Present was trying to re-awaken the spirit around the club by providing social occasions to get the past players together again on a regular basis.

Rod Austin gave an informative talk about the current issues in the AFL related to the collective bargaining agreement, free-agency, and the draft and trading period.

Robert Walls gave the keynote speech of the night which was a passionate retelling of the story of his entire involvement with the club from a 15 year old to a premiership coach.

All in all we hope this was the start of something special that will grow from here. The approximately 40 players in attendance represent about 10% of the current population of past players. Next year we are hoping for many more to attend. So if there are any past players or officials out there that are reading this and are interested in future events please contact us at admin@spiritofcarlton.com to confirm if we have your contact details.

 

Happy 40th Birthday to Brett Sholl: September 7th

Career: 1992-1994
Debut: Round 1, 1992 vs Brisbane
979th Carlton Player
Games: 35
Goals: 9
Guernsey No. 9
Last game : Semi Final, 1994 v Geelong
Height: 188cm
Weight: 82kg
DOB: 7 September, 1971

Brett Sholl was a right footed wingman / half forward flanker who would play 35 games for Carlton in between 1992 to 1994. Sholl came to the Blues via Pick 44 in the 1991 National Draft via North Melbourne (0 games), and ultimately from Irymple.

Sholl was 188cm in height and kicked 9 goals in his brief stint. Sholl had two cousins who played senior footy at other clubs, premiership star Craig at North Melbourne, and Brad who played at both North Melbourne and Geelong.

Sholl had a strong 1993, with 19 games, and played on the wing in our unsuccessful 1993 Grand Final team, but his last game for the Blues would be in another unsuccessful finals attempt in 1994, the Semi Final.

He wore the #9 jumper.

 Leon Berner: September 8th

Career: 1955-57
Debut: Round 11, 1955 vs Richmond
Carlton Player No. 694
Games: 18
Goals: 4
Guernsey No. 20
Last Game: Round 4, 1957 vs Geelong
Height: 179cm
Weight: 74kg
DOB: 8 September, 1935

Berner played 18 games for Carlton after debuting in Season 1955, kicking 4 goals in the #20 guernsey.

He was recruited from University High School.

 

Doug Ringholt: September 8th

Career : 1963 – 1964
Debut : Round 6, 1963 vs Geelong, aged 20 years, 259 days
Carlton Player No. 753
Games : 4
Goals : Nil
Last Game : Round 6, 1964 vs St Kilda, aged 21 years, 257 days
Guernsey No. 35
Height : 178 cm (5 ft. 10 in.)
Weight : 72 kg (11 stone, 5 lbs.)
DOB : 8 September, 1942

Originally from West Coburg, Doug Ringholt worked his way up through the Under 19 and Reserve grades at Carlton to make his senior debut against Geelong in round 6, 1963 at Princes Park. A slim wingman with a bit of dash, Doug sat on the bench as 20th man for most of the afternoon, while his team suffered their first loss of what would eventually be a deeply-disappointing season.

As often happens to newcomers, Ringholt was omitted in his second week, only to be recalled to the bench again for Carlton’s round 8 clash with Collingwood. On that cold and drizzly Saturday afternoon, a huge crowd of 38,000 squeezed into Princes Park, and saw a tight, low-scoring, arm-wrestle of a match that eventually went to the Magpies by two points.

Those two games were the only taste of the big time for Ringholt in 1963. After biding his time in the Reserves for almost twelve months, he earned a recall at last in round 5, 1964, when he ventured to the other side of Nicholson Street for a rematch against Collingwood at Victoria Park.

This time, Ringholt was included in the starting line-up, and forced to brave the gauntlet of spittle, rubbish and abuse that was hurled at him and his team-mates as he ran down the visitors race and out on to the arena to take up his position on a wing beside Ian Collins and Cliff Stewart. Sitting fourth on the ladder and playing at home, Collingwood were raging hot favourites against the eleventh-placed Blues, and their first quarter showed why. Well on top, they kicked 6.7 to 2.2 in the opening term and coasted after that to win by 19 points.

 

Thanks to the Blueseum for the player bios and pics.

Career : 1951 – 1954
Debut : Round 8, 1951 vs Collingwood, aged 19 years, 283 days
Carlton Player No. 650
Games : 9
Goals : 4
Last Game: Round 13, 1954 vs Melbourne, aged 22 years, 314 days
Guernsey Nos. 22 (1951 – ’53) and 27 (1954)
Height : 170 cm
Weight : 71 kg
DOB : 6 September, 1931

Harvey Dunn Junior was the first VFL player recruited under the father-son rule, and therefore, the first to play a senior game. When this regulation was introduced in the early 1950’s, it came well before any form of draft, and gave League teams first option to recruit the sons of fathers who had played twenty or more senior games.

Harvey Dunn Senior had appeared in 71 matches for Carlton between 1924 and 1929. An elusive and dangerous small forward, he kicked 139 career goals. Dunn Junior was a similar type, only more of a specialist rover. While he had been born in Carlton, Harvey Jnr was living in Flemington in 1949 when North Melbourne claimed him as a resident of their zone, and insisted that he join their Under 19 squad. But Harvey was determined that he would only play at VFL level with the Blues, and so joined his father who was coaching at Box Hill, while the League thrashed out the details of a proposed father-son rule.

Eventually, the rule was adopted by the VFL, and Dunn Junior was welcomed to Princes Park in 1951. He went on to play nine senior matches for the Blues – seven of them as a reserve. He didn’t actually start on the ground in a senior match until round 14, 1953, but he made it a memorable occasion by kicking three goals in Carlton’s victory over Richmond at Princes Park.

Although his senior appearances were few, Harvey’s career at Carlton wasn’t without success. He was a very good contributor at seconds level, and was first rover in both the 1951 and 1953 Reserves Premiership teams. In ‘53 he kicked four goals in the Reserves Grand Final against Essendon, and vied with his team-mate Peter Webster for Best on Ground.

However, after sitting on the pine for most of Carlton’s round 13 game against Melbourne at the MCG in 1954 (lost by 35 points to the Demons) Harvey realised that perhaps there were greener and more rewarding pastures waiting back at Box Hill. He crossed back there later that same year, and gave the Mustangs some real bite around the packs. He won the club’s Best and Fairest in 1955, and played on until 1959.

Thanks to the Blueseum for player bio and pic.

By Tony De Bolfo

Denis Collins, the 30-game wingman with Carlton in two seasons through 1978 and ’79, has died suddenly of a heart attack in the Western Australian town of Hyden.

He was 58.   

The son of former Fitzroy and Essendon premiership player Jack Collins, and brother to Footscray’s one-game player Daryl, Denis was a born and bred Braybrook boy and a contemporary of Doug Hawkins.

Collins represented Footscray in 100 senior matches over six seasons before crossing town to Princes Park. He was 24 years and 333 days old when he first turned out for the Blues in the No.1 guernsey, against Melbourne in the third round of ’78 at Princes Park.

Carlton won.

Collins, who inherited the nickname “Scruffy” due to the full beard he sported when he played, is best remembered as a strong, aggressive footballer blessed with exceptional pace and evasive skills.

That his old team should meet St Kilda in the final round of the home and away season this Saturday night is somewhat ironic, for its was in the final round match of 1978 between the two teams that Collins found himself face-up on the Moorabbin following a confrontation with the Saints’ volatile footballer Robert “Mad Dog”Muir.

That clip found its way to the Seven Network’s well-worn “Sensational Seventies” package and still gets a run from time to time.

Following the tete a tete with Muir, Collins took to the field for what was only his second career final when Carlton met Geelong in an eliminator at the MCG, and he contributed significantly to the team’s 33-point triumph.

At the conclusion of his time at Carlton, in what was a premiership season under Alex Jesaulenko in 1979, Collins pursued  his career with Richmond. There he turned out for a further 17 matches, and was named as an emergency for the 1980 Grand Final.

In the early 1980s, after a brief run with WAFL club East Perth, Collins made his way to Hyden, about 330 kilometres east of Perth in the Western Australian wheatbelt. He chased the leather for the local football club and together with his future wife Sheenagh managed the local Wave Rock Hotel Motel near the famous geological formation.

It was at Hyden that Carlton Assistant Coach Mark Riley forged a friendship with the Collins’ who became godparents to his daughter.

“I’d never been outside the city and they sent me out there with teaching, and they really looked after me. He and I became great mates,” Riley said.

“He was a very giving person, very community-driven and incredibly generous . . . any profits that he and Sheenagh made were pumped back into the town, and If you can imagine where he lived – this tiny little town in the middle of an arid wheatbelt where it rains once every ten years and suffers drought the other nine.

“I remember seeing him at a recent Spirit of Carlton day. I left him at the bar with ‘Sellers’ (Mark Maclure), Jimmy Buckley and those sort of blokes, and it would have been the first time in 20 or 30 years that he’d had the chance to catch up with them because he’d put so much time and energy into his work.”

Maclure, Carlton’s 243-game triple premiership player who last saw Collins in Port Douglas, remembered his old teammate as tearaway footballer who’d fared well against the Blues in earlier contests.

“They got him from Footscray because he was speedy and quick, and he always gave us a lot of trouble when we played them,” Maclure said.

“I’m not quite sure why he missed out in ’79, but he fitted into the club quite well. He was a very affable sort of bloke and quite a nice guy.”

A family friend  Bernie Mouritz, said from Perth yesterday that the entire Hyden community was shocked and deeply saddened with the loss of one of its own.

“Denis was here only ten days ago having a kick of the footy with my young bloke,” Mouritz said. “I spoke to him again the other day, he’d been to the  doctor about his high blood pressure, but he’d had tests and was on medication and everybody thought ‘Okay, he’s got it under control’”. He was feeling good about life and was looking forward to the coming season .It was all coming together, then this. We are all Gutted

Mouritz said that Collins complained to his wife early yesterday that he was feeling unwell and promptly checked himself in to the local Silver Chain Medical Centre. The flying doctor was called, arrived and every care was available and taken. But Collins suffered a massive heart attack while being stabilized  and could not be revived.

“Denis was a good man ,  he was  community-spirited and didn’t ever ask you to do anything he wasn’t able  to do himself on or off the footy or cricket field. Anybody who has a hard word to say about him is probably jealous because he could actually do it,” Mouritz said.

“He leaves a massive void, a huge hole in the community. Ironically he’d just helped raise the funds, he built the infrastructure and had automated the lighting  system at The Hyden airstrip he had also  helped build. So that the flying doctor could arrive at any time at all.

Collins is survived by his loving wife Sheenagh and his many friends he had made over his time in Hyden . Funeral arrangements are yet to be determined.

Stephen Kernahan

Career : 1986 – 1997
Debut : Round 1, 1986 vs Hawthorn, aged 22 years, 211 days
Carlton Player No. 936
Games : 251
Goals : 738
Last Game : Round 22, 1997 vs Richmond, aged 33 years, 364 days
Guernsey No. 4
Height : 196 cm (6 ft. 5 in.)
Weight : 97 kg (15 stone, 4 lbs.)
DOB : 1 September, 1963
Premiership Captain: 1987, 1995
Captain: 1987-1997
Best and Fairest: 1987, 1989, 1992
Leading Goalkicker: 1986-1996
All Australian: 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1992, 1994
Carlton Hall of Fame Legend Status: Inducted in 1993
Team of the Century Captain: Centre Half Forward
AFL Hall of Fame: Inducted in 2001
AFLPA Best Captain: 1987, 1994

The numbers are impressive enough; 251 games, 738 goals, All-Australian, twice captain of Carlton Premiership teams, three times club Best & Fairest, captain (and leading goal-kicker) for eleven seasons in a row – yet this fabulous record only goes part of the way toward explaining why Stephen ‘Sticks’ Kernahan is revered as one of this proud club’s greatest players and most inspirational leaders.

Sensationally appointed captain of Carlton in only his second season of VFL football, Sticks led by example throughout his career. He was wonderfully skilled, courageous, surprisingly good at ground level, and a glorious high mark. While his kicking style sometimes seemed a touch awkward, time after time he slotted crucial goals when it mattered most. He was at his very best on big occasions and scrupulously fair on the field, winning the respect of team-mates and opponents alike.

The Stephen Kernahan at Carlton story began in 1979. The club’s Promotions Manager at that time, Shane O’Sullivan, was about to head to Perth for that year’s ANFC Schoolboy Championships when Chairman of Selectors Wes Lofts jokingly said to him; ‘Shane, find me another Royce Hart.’ O’Sullivan came back a few days later and said, ‘I think I’ve found him.’ A sixteen year-old, tall, skinny forward from South Australia – son of Glenelg Football Club legend Harry Kernahan – was one of stars of the carnival, and the chase for his signature had begun. Essendon, Melbourne and Carlton led the pack.

O’Sullivan was hell-bent on getting Sticks into navy blue, and for the next three years he stayed in regular contact with Stephen and his dad. The youngster continued to impress as he rose through the ranks at Glenelg, where he made his senior debut in 1981. In ’82, after thorough discussions with three VFL clubs, Stephen finally agreed to sign with Carlton – but he honoured his father’s wishes with the proviso that he would only transfer across when Glenelg had won another SANFL Premiership.

In 1983 Sticks was sensational. He polled 43 votes in the Magarey Medal – 8 more than runner-up Tony Antrobus – but Antrobus took home SA’s most prestigious individual honour because Kernahan had been suspended during the season. Sticks still won Glenelg’s Best & Fairest – the first of three in a row. Then in 1985, the moment that both Carlton and Glenelg were yearning for arrived. At last, the Bays beat North Adelaide in the SANFL Grand Final to win only their third flag after a 12-year drought. Alternating between the key forward posts, Kernahan was unstoppable all day to be unanimously voted best-on-ground. He was the club’s leading goal-kicker for the second time, on the way to being named All-Australian centre half-forward. No wonder the phone ran hot between Adelaide and Princes Park in the days after that Grand Final!

After 136 games and 290 goals in Glenelg’s black & gold, Sticks arrived at Carlton in 1986 to join a Blues’ outfit shaping as a flag threat under new coach Robert Walls. By then a seasoned 22 year-old, scaling 196cm and 97kg, Kernahan slotted straight into the team and made an immediate impact as a key forward, in tandem with Blues’ captain Mark Maclure. Carlton wound up Sticks’ first home & away season in third place, and accounted for Sydney in a torrid Qualifying Final. They then caused a huge upset by knocking over hot favourites Hawthorn in the second Semi Final, only to be out-gunned in a Grand Final rematch. The Hawk forwards were unstoppable that day, blitzing Carlton by 42 points in Blues’ legends Bruce Doull and Mark Maclure’s last match. As compensation, Carlton fans knew afterward that the club had unearthed three future champions; Craig Bradley, Peter Motley and Stephen Kernahan.

Sticks was the Blues’ top scorer of the year with 62 goals, and was named All-Australian for the second time. Then, early in the following year, Carlton shocked the football world by announcing that Stephen Kernahan, after less than 30 games for the club, would captain the Blues in season 1987. In hindsight it was a master stroke, but at the time the decision was widely questioned.

 

Thanks to the Blueseum for player bio and pic.

Perhaps inspired by attending the Spirit of Carlton 1981 Premiership Luncheon last week the current playing group took to the weights session today with an 80s inspired theme.

Click here to see original: http://lockerz.com/s/134438332

 

Compare and contrast

 

We are building up a gallery of photos from the recent Spirit of Carlton 1981 Premiership Luncheon (which you can see below). If you have any photos or videos you would like to share with us from the day please contact us either via email at admin@spiritofcarlton.com or through our facebook fan page at www.facebook.com/SOCPP and we will add them to our gallery.

Thanks to Rushdi for most of the photos in the following gallery. As you can see Rushdi had a great time at our Luncheon, meeting media personalities, Carlton greats both past and present and a former Prime Minister!

Edit: Thanks to Bec for adding some more photos to the gallery. We would love more, if anyone out there has some please send them our way!

https://www.facebook.com/SOCPP#!/media/set/?set=a.205003222895972.54734.149079251821703&type=1