Rod Waddell’s 60th
Happy 60th birthday to Rod Waddell.
Career : 1981 – 1982
Debut : Round 18, 1981 vs Geelong, aged 23 years, 70 days
Carlton Player No. 898
Games : 5
Goals : 2
Last Game : Round 8, 1982 vs Footscray, aged 24 years, 357 days
Guernsey No. 10
Height : 178 cm (5 ft. 10 in.)
Weight : 76 kg (12 stone, 0 lbs.)
DOB: 23 May, 1957
Rodney Steven Waddell was a talented, pacey, aboriginal footballer who forced his way into one of the strongest Carlton teams ever assembled when he made his debut for the Blues on the eve of the 1981 finals. Although he was a reluctant recruit at first – having already played Reserves football at Collingwood – Carlton claimed him under the VFL zoning rules in force at the time, and Rod eventually played five matches while the Navy Blues won back to back flags in 1981-82.
Waddell began his senior football career with Southern Districts in NSW, but it was his slashing performance as a ruck-rover for Lalor in the 1980 Diamond Valley Football League Grand Final, against Reservoir-Lakeside, that made VFL scouts take notice. Collingwood and Carlton soon became involved in a tug of war over his services, and the Magpies seemed to have come out on top when Waddell turned out for two Reserves games with them early in 1981. Carlton however, was convinced that the 23 year-old was residentially tied to us, and a VFL investigation quickly agreed. Collingwood were fined $500 for flaunting the zoning rules, and stripped of the four competition points they had earned with Waddell in their team. Rod was then welcomed to Princes Park, and presented with our number 10 guernsey.
After spending most of the remainder of 1981 with Carlton’s Reserves, Waddell was eventually called into the seniors in August, as one of six changes for the round 18 Match of the Day against Geelong at Princes Park. Stationed on a half-forward flank, he flashed in and out of the game, kicked a nice goal, and had a grandstand view as Carlton’s mercurial forward Peter Bosustow took Mark of the Year. Carlton won by 33 points, in a fitting tribute to champion defender Bruce Doull in his 250th game.
While elbowing his way up into the senior side was a creditable achievement by Waddell, the bigger task by far after that was to stay there. After all, Carlton had assembled a fleet of midfield runners that was the envy of every other club, and Rod faced intense competition for his place in the side each week from a galaxy of stars such as Ashman, Buckley, Sheldon, Harmes, Marcou, Keogh, Armstrong and Glascott. Although Rod didn’t lack self confidence, it was a daunting prospect indeed.
Waddell’s second match came on a Sunday afternoon at the MCG against South Melbourne in round 19, when he came off the bench to replace his captain Mike Fitzpatrick during the third quarter, and helped his side to 23-point win. His third was another unforgettable occasion; the second Semi Final against Geelong on the wide expanses of Waverley Park, in front of a crowd of 66,000. Waddell had a relatively easy day and warmed the bench for most of the game, as Carlton dominated the second half, and qualified for the Grand Final with an emphatic win by 40 points.
During the fortnight leading up to the Premiership-deciding clash between traditional rivals Carlton and Collingwood, the Blues’ concerns revolved around two players who were automatic inclusions if fit; full-back Geoff Southby, and rover Rod Ashman. Southby was never a real chance of playing because of a torn thigh muscle, and he was replaced on selection night by Scott Howell. Ashman, however – with ongoing concerns about a knee – only convinced the selectors he was right on the day before the match, and Waddell was the obvious choice to make way for him. On that fabled Saturday afternoon, Howell and Ashman both put in solid efforts in a spine-tingling contest that eventually fell to the resolute Blues by 20 points.
As Carlton set about defending that hard-fought flag in 1982, Waddell managed two more senior appearances by round 8, but then was informed by the match committee that his future lay down the Western Highway at Geelong. The Cats, knowing full well the depth of talented small men at Princes Park, had approached the Blues to secure the services of Waddell, and come up with an offer hard to refuse. Waddell too, realised that he would get far more opportunities at Sleepy Hollow, and was happy to make the move.
Rod added another 20 senior matches and 10 goals to his credit over the next three seasons, although the highlight of his time with the Cats was his dominant game in the 1982 Reserves Grand Final defeat of St Kilda. Playing as a ruck-rover, Waddell kicked six goals and was clearly Best on Ground.
After finishing at Geelong in 1984, he headed off to Darwin in the off-season and took part in another Grand Final when his team Nightcliff lost to St Mary’s in that season’s NTFL Grand Final. He then returned to Victoria, and rejoined the Lalor Bloods to finish off an interesting and varied career. He would later play at Ararat and Marong Football clubs.
Rod Waddell’s sister is the mother of Geelong premiership player Steven Motlop.
Scott Freeborn’s 40th
Happy 40th birthday to Scott Freeborn.
Career: 2000-2002 (Listed Player: 1998-2003)
Debut: Round 5, 2000 vs Essendon, aged 21 years, 324 days
1039th Carlton Player
Games: 48
Goals: 17
Last Game: Round 9, 2002 vs Adelaide, aged 24 years, 6 days
Guernsey No. 17 (2000 – 2003).
Height: 183cm
Weight: 87kg
DOB: 20 May,1978
Scott Freeborn was a blonde-haired left footer originally rookied by the Blues in 1998. Brother of Collingwood / Kangaroo player Glen, Scott played 48 games for the Blues between 2000 and 2002. He was recruited from Port Adelaide Magpies, but also played for Woodville-West Torrens.
Freeborn’s time on the rookie list was spent on the wing and half forward, in the No. 46 guernsey (1998 – 1999). His form was sufficient to be promoted by season 2000, when he made the seniors for the Round 5 clash against the Bombers. Over the season, he played as a defensive midfielder where his strength and endurance were most useful. Tight as a player, Freeborn also was an oddity in that he would slice his preferred left foot often, kicking the occasional airball.
In 2001, Freeborn played almost the entire season of 23 games in defence, including finals performances versus Adelaide (win) and Richmond (loss)- missing just one game due to a thigh injury. Come 2002 however, he would manage just 7 games- missing the start of the season with an Achilles injury and suffering a broken collar bone mid season, which would force him to miss the remainder of that year. Osteitis pubis and a debilitating foot injury would then severely impact on his career, forcing him to miss the whole of season 2003 without playing a single game and he was then delisted.
Career Highlights
2000 – Best First Year Player Award
Scott Howell’s 60th
Happy 60th birthday to Scott Howell.
Career : 1980 – 1985
Debut : Semi Final, 1980 vs Collingwood, aged 22 years, 126 days
Carlton Player No. 866
Games : 39
Goals : 12
Last Game: Round 6, 1985 vs Essendon, aged 26 years, 359 days
Guernsey Nos. 40 (1976 – 82) and 12 (1983 – 85)
Height : 193 cm (6 ft. 4 in.)
Weight : 88 kg (13 stone, 12 lbs.)
DOB: May 10, 1958
Premiership Player 1981
The only third-generation Premiership player in VFL/AFL history, Scott Howell spent nine seasons at Princes Park, beginning with the Under 19 team in 1976. Like his champion father Jack “Chooka” Howell, Scott was a loyal servant of the Blues, and he made the most of his ability with a memorable game in the 1981 Grand Final.
“Chooka” Howell played 137 matches for Carlton from 1942 to 1954, including the desperately-close ’47 Premiership victory over Essendon. Some 25 years earlier, Chooka’s father, Jack (Senior) was Best on Ground for South Melbourne when the Bloods beat Collingwood for the 1918 flag. So Scott’s triumphant victory in 1981 – also over Collingwood – completed the Howell family’s unique achievement of three Premierships in successive generations.
Scott was recruited by Carlton from East Sandringham as a 17 year-old in 1975. He developed his craft as a mobile tall defender in the thirds and seconds teams for four seasons, until he was called into the Blues’ seniors for the cut-throat first Semi Final against Collingwood in 1980. That made Scott only the second Carlton player to make his debut in a final, after Maurie Beasy in 1920. Starting on the interchange bench, Scott was sparsely used as Carlton went down to a rampaging Collingwood by 50 points. First-year Blues coach Peter ‘Percy’ Jones was then promptly sacked, and replaced by ex-Hawthorn Premiership coach David Parkin.
Under Parkin, Carlton collected the minor premiership in 1981, before brushing aside Geelong in the Second Semi Final to set up yet another Grand Final showdown against Collingwood. The Magpies had beaten the Blues in each of their three previous clashes that year, and their prospects were boosted in the lead-up to the game when Carlton’s champion full-back Geoff Southby was ruled out with a lower back injury. The player Parkin chose to replace Southby was Howell, who had enjoyed a consistent season of 14 games in the Blues defence.
In the 48 hours prior to the Grand Final, all eyes were on Victoria Park and Collingwood’s captain Peter Moore; their 198 cm star ruckman/forward and 1979 Brownlow Medallist, who was battling to recover from a hamstring strain he had suffered in the Magpies’ narrow Semi Final win over Fitzroy. After their last training session, Collingwood coach Tom Hafey gambled by selecting his match-winner as a permanent forward pocket, with the aim of stretching the Blues’ defence. David Parkin countered by assigning Howell to shadow Moore, and told him to run the Magpie skipper up the ground at every opportunity. Scott carried out his instructions to the letter, and although he had only a handful of possessions himself, Moore was hardly sighted. Carlton dominated the second half of the match to win by 20 points, and Howell completed the remarkable three flags in three generations feat for his family, whilst also becoming the first (and so far, only) Blue to wear guernsey number 40 in a Premiership team.
Although his career at Princes Park lasted another four years after that 1981 triumph, Howell was never able to claim a permanent place in a formidable Carlton team that remained a flag contender for more than a decade. He was overlooked for the 1982 flag side, and in 1983 changed his playing number from 40 to number 12. That same year, he warmed the bench when Carlton’s season ended with a 33-point defeat by Essendon in the Elimination Final.
Scott’s last senior game for the Blues came at Windy Hill in round 6 of 1985 against Essendon, when the Bombers thrashed their visitors by 109 points. It wasn’t the best way to finish up, but happily Scott’s place in Carlton’s history was already resting on more positive achievements. He played out the rest of the year with Carlton Reserves and experienced the thrill of one last Grand Final at the MCG when the Blues were beaten by Hawthorn in front of a massive crowd.
In 1986, Howell and his Premiership team-mate Mario Bortolotto were cleared to VFA club Sandringham. The Zebras took advantage of Scott’s versatility, and his first two years were outstanding. Playing primarily in the ruck, Howell kicked 36 goals in 36 games, and won consecutive Best and Fairests in 1986 and 1987. Injury curtailed his third season however, and he retired at the age of 30 in 1988.
Career Highlights
1976 – 4th Under-19s Best & Fairest
1981 – Premiership Player
1983 – Night Premiership Player
1984 – 6th Reserves Best & Fairest
1984 – Reserves Best Clubman Award
1985 – 5th Reserves Best & Fairest
Phil Poursanidis’ 50th
Happy 50th birthday to Phil Poursanidis.
Career: 1988-1989
Debut: Round 6, 1988 vs St Kilda, aged 19 years, 364 days
952nd Carlton Player
Games: 3
Goals: 3
Guernsey No. 49 (1988 – 1989).
Last Game: Round 22, 1989 vs Brisbane, aged 21 years, 117 days
Height: 192cm
Weight: 87kg
DOB: 9 May, 1968
Poursanidis was seen as a key forward prospect when he was recruited from the Paramount Football Club in the mid-eighties, he would play two seasons with the Carlton thirds and captained the team during the 1987 season. The highlight of his time at Carlton came when he kicked eight goals in a Reserves Grand Final win in a twenty point win against the Saints.
He was given three senior games at full-forward over 1988 and 1989, but could only manage three goals. Although he was a good mark, he was considered only as a full forward and unfortunately was never tried in other positions. He made his debut in the same game as Gerard Butts and Michael Garvey.
Poursanidis would later play a season at VFA club Preston before hanging his boots up at the age of 25.
Career Highlights
1986 – U/19’s 4th Best & Fairest
1987 – U/19’s 4th Best & Fairest
1987 – U/19’s Captain
1987 – Reserves Premiership Player
1988 – Reserves Leading Goalkicker 40 goals (5th in the competition)
Upcoming Event: AFLPA Game Day Function
AFLPA Game Day Function
Date: Sunday, 20th May, 2018: MCG
Venue: Medallion Club Dining Room (in the Great Southern Stand)
Enter Gate 6 and take Lifts 14 & 15 to Level 2.
Cost: $30 per head (This includes entry to the MCG, Platinum seating on 2nd level, and before game gourmet canapes and half-time finger food) NB: Cash Bar facilities are available.
Dining Room open: 11.45 am
Game start: 1.10 pm
Enquiries: Call Ciaran Sheehan (AFLPA)
Ciaran Sheehan
Alumni Programs Coordinator
D: 03 8651 4366 | M: 0409 020 054 | www.aflplayers.com.au
Former ruck-rover Tom Jones dies
Former Carlton footballer Thomas Jones, a seven-game senior player with the club through 1951 and ’52, has died at the age of 87.
Recruited from Altona, Jones pursued his football dream through the club’s Under 19s outfit for which he was a Premiership player in 1948 and ’49, and then its reserve grade outfit where he also savoured Grand Final victory in 1951 – the year he also completed his senior debut. He is pictured amongst the 49ers at Princes Park, the tallest of the Carlton players standing in the back row.
An old teammate from the 49ers, Hugh Cornell, remembered Jones taking on ruck duties back then.
“Tom was a big fellow, he featured in the ruck. I’m afraid I lost track of him. He was very tal, and very strong, and made all the difference when you’ve got someone like that.”
“I’m afraid I lost track with him in recent years, but I remember him as a very pleasant fellow to deal with. He was a nice person.”
Tom Jones (the tallest player pictured) featured in the 1949 U19 team. (Photo: Carlton Media)
Jones’ first senior appearance came in the 16th Round of 1951 against Fitzroy at Brunswick Street, when he was named ruck-rover. He completed his senior debut with Bill Milroy and George Stafford.
The dramatic contest ended in a draw, with the lively Keith Warburton booting five goals for the visitors.
Recalled after a long layoff for the 9th round contest with Richmond in 1952, Jones savoured his first Carlton victory, by a solitary goal, in a low-scoring affair at Punt Road.
That afternoon, white waterproof footballs were used for the first time.
Round 10, 1952 saw Jones play his part in a 55-point win over Footscray at Princes Park, with Jack Spencer booting six goals in an inaccurate team tally of 15.22.
The following week, Jones booted two goals in the Blues’s comfortable 37-point win over Hawthorn at Princes Park – a match best remembered for Ollie Grieve’s report by a boundary umpire for attempting to strike a spectator.
At the subsequent hearing, Grieve told members of the Tribunal that he merely had lost balance after flying for a mark and had crashed into the boundary fence and the hapless spectator. The charge was promptly thrown out.
Named in a forward pocket for the 12th Round of 1952, Jones booted a goal in another drawn contest, with Carlton and Melbourne locked at 50-50 when the final siren sounded. The following week, he contributed to a hard-fought win over North Melbourne in sodden conditions at Princes Park.
Incredibly, Jones’ seventh and final senior appearance for Carlton – the Round 14 contest of 1952 with South Melbourne at the Lakeside Oval – mirrored his first and fifth matches matches, with final scores dead level.
In 1953, Jones resolved to pursue his playing career with Footscray, stringing together 13 senior appearances through the ’53 and ’54 seasons.
Jones died peacefully on April 20. His wife Coral predeceased him. He is survived by sons Brad, Steve and Michael, daughters-in-law Susan, Tish and Angie, and four grandchildren.
Latest Video – Neil Gaghan 1985
Tony Lynn’s 50th
Happy 50th birthday to Tony Lynn.
Career: 1994-1996
Debut: Round 3, 1994 vs Geelong, aged 25 years, 346 days
995th Carlton Player
Games: 27
Goals: 14
Last Game: Round 1, 1996 vs Collingwood, aged 27 years, 337 days
Guernsey No. 15
Height: 178cm
Weight: 78kg
DOB: 29 April, 1968
Tony Lynn was a right foot, back pocket player with a distinctive bowl style haircut, who played for the Blues between 1994 and 1996. Originally from Queensland (Morningside), but drafted from Central Districts in South Australia, Lynn was most probably picked up by the Blues after a fantastic game for the Allies where he had the ball on a string. He played his first game for Carlton just before he turned 26 years of age.
Lynn would play 27 games for the Blues, including 20 in 1994. A nuggety looking player, on occasion Lynn could roost a 50 metre goal and seemed to revel in running forward despite predominantly being played back. He kicked 14 goals overall.
Lynn turned up for the Brisbane Bears for a Season in 1988, in his time with the Bears he played six games and booted five goals.
Career Highlights
1995 – 2nd Reserves Best & Fairest
To the memory of Don Hall
DON Hall, a 10-game Carlton senior player in three seasons from 1958, has died after a short illness at the age of 80.
Born in Trafalgar, but recruited to Carlton from the late Vin Waite’s Morwell Football Club, Hall was nine days shy of his 21st birthday when he donned the dark Navy Blue guernsey for the first time at senior level. That was when he followed his captain Bruce Comben down the race and onto Princes Park for the Round 8 match of ’58 against Hawthorn.
In so doing, Hall, wearing the No.34 now sported by Andrew Phillips, became the 719th player since the VFL foundation season of 1897 to represent his club.
Named 20th man for that contest, and taking his place on the pine with Vic Garra, Hall savoured the moment, as the Jim Francis-coached Carlton accounted for the visitors by eight points.
His final appearance came in the fifth round of 1960, against Essendon at Windy Hill, on a day in which Leo Brereton (named alongside the former in a forward pocket) booted six goals in a losing team.
Hall’s son Peter said that while his father rarely reflected on his League career in the presence of others, he did open up to me “and I was pretty proud of him”.
“Dad told me that at Carlton he played in every position known to man and he did boast that he once kicked three goals on Verdun Howell,” Peter said.
“He was also a very good drop kick. He could hit the centre of Princes Park with a drop from full-back, but he also played forward and though he only stood six foot he played ruck. He had a good jump and a bit of speed.”
Carlton’s team of 1958. Don Hall is pictured in the back row, second from the left. (Photo: Carlton Football Club)
Asked the reason for his father’s all too brief time with the old dark Navy Blues, Peter explained that his father’s trade was the priority at the time.
“I think he was very proud and quite content with what went on,” Peter said. “He would have liked to play a few more, but circumstances dictated that. He was a builder by profession and in truth building came first and foremost and sport second.
“I know his time at Carlton was short and I think at one point he even asked for a clearance to Collingwood but thank God he didn’t get it. I just couldn’t have handled that.”
Beyond the Blues, Hall represented VFA club Oakleigh before heading across the border to Lockhart in the New South Wales Riverina.
“Footy got him up there and being a builder meant that he could also find work pretty easily – and he ended up coaching five teams there, from juniors through to seniors,” Peter said.
But Hall always kept an active interest in the fortunes of the Carlton team. A cherished moment was returning to a past players function some 15 years ago, and being reunited with Comben and also Sergio Silvagni, who completed his Carlton debut in that same season of 1958.
As Peter said of his father’s time at Carlton: “He loved it”.
“We lived in Geelong when Gary Ablett senior started playing and he fell in love with him, so much so that he used to say he barracked for Geelong. But don’t worry, he was a Carlton supporter through and through, and so am I . . . ”
Don Hall died peacefully in an aged care facility in Warrnambool on Monday. A private funeral was subsequently held at his request.
He is survived by his wife Helen, son Peter, daughter Natalie, daughter-in-law Kathy three grandchildren and three great grandchildren.
The Carlton Football Club also wishes to acknowledge the recent passing of lifelong supporter Keith Brown, aged 100.
In late January, Keith celebrated the significant milestone at the Mentone RSL by donning the famous dark Navy Blue guernsey presented to him as a birthday gift by Jed Lamb. On that occasion, Keith spoke of his fond memories of home matches at Princes Park and of his favourite all-time player the legendary Harry ‘Soapy’ Vallence.
College, kinfolk combine for Chapman
A TOTAL of 1194 men – the first of them Jimmy Aitken, the most recent Lochie O’Brien – have represented the Carlton Football Club at senior League level since the VFL’s foundation season of 1897.
Until today, all but 229 of that illustrious corps were represented by at least one portrait image safely stowed within the Club’s ever-expanding digital archive.
Now make it 228. For with the assistance of Scotch College Archive & Museum Archivist Paul Mishura, a glorious image of Etienne Samuel ‘Sam’ Chapman has surfaced, more than 120 years after he first laced a boot for the old dark Navy Blues.
A portrait of former Blue Etienne Samuel Chapman. (Photo courtesy of Scotch College Archive & Museum)
Chapman is one of 11 Carlton players known to have been schooled at Scotch, amongst them Liam Jones. The 11 in order of senior debut with this Club are as follows;
William ‘Winky’ Weir (who represented his club in the historic opening round of the fledgling 1897 season), Chapman (Round 2, 1897), the club’s first Irish-born footballer Frederick Scott (Round 4, 1902), Jim (later Sir James) Kennedy (Round 1, 1905), Johnny Davies (Round 8, 1922), one-game player Ralph Peverill (Round 3, 1929), Bruce Scharp (Round 16, 1930), 1938 premiership player Jim Park (Round 4, 1932), David Honybun (Round 1, 1984), Ian Muller (Round 14, 1984) and Jones (Round 1, 2015).
And through the diligence of Petrina Dakin, to whom Chapman is a maternal great grandfather, the following story can accompany this precious image of the then 15 year-old, a member of Scotch’s Premiership-winning XI of 1891.
Etienne Samuel Chapman (1876 – 1949)
Etienne Samuel Chapman was the ninth child and the first son of Edward Samuel Chapman and Talitha Jane Chapman (nee Woolley). His parents were both born in Hobart, Tasmania, in 1842. They married in 1860 and moved to Melbourne in about 1863. The couple had 14 children.
Etienne’s father was known as ‘Augur’, a famous racing writer and sporting editor of The Australasian, weekly sister paper to The Argus, in the 1870s-1890s, until his untimely death from tuberculosis in 1892 aged 50.
Etienne was born on 26 April 1876 at the family home in Albert St, East Melbourne.
He attended Scotch College from 1888 to 1894. He was a keen sportsman and represented Scotch in football and cricket. He played in the Football First XVIII in 1892-93 and the Cricket First XI in the years 1891-94.
Etienne received a prize in football and cricket at the Scotch College speech day in 1892, according to a report in The Argus.
(Another) photo of Etienne has been found recently, thanks to the digitisation of The Australasian newspaper on the Trove website. He appears in a photo of the Scotch College cricket first eleven in December 1893, taken at their pavilion during a break in a game with Geelong Grammar.
An accompanying article, written by ‘Old Boy’, said the cardinal and blue sash of Scotch had not known defeat in several seasons. Etienne was described as “a good sportsman. He is one of the hard-hitting order”. It also mentioned his past success in football, although his form had dropped away that year.
Etienne regularly competed in school athletics, and was a star performer at the annual school sports meeting held on the Melbourne Cricket Ground on 13 November 1891. According to a report in The Argus, he won three track events and one field event in the Under 16s section, and named overall Under 16 champion with 23 points. He won the 100, 440 and 880 yard flat races, as well as the long leap event, and came second in the 120 yards hurdles. In the Open Events, he came third in Throwing the Cricket Ball.
His younger brother Percy Shakespeare was also at Scotch for one year (1892), and Etienne’s son Jack Edward Chapman was there from 1918 to 1921.
It is family legend that Etienne carved “E. S. Chapman” into a window sill at Scots Church in Collins Street, Melbourne. A relative says she saw the carved name many years ago; however the family has been unable to locate it again.
In an obituary of his father, The Australasian racing writer and sporting editor Edward Samuel Chapman, known as “Augur”, in The Mercury on 10 June 1892, the writer states: “Deceased … leaves a widow and large family, one or two of the sons being remarkably talented youths.” This can only refer to Etienne Samuel and brother Percy Shakespeare (a third brother died in infancy).
The 1893 Scotch College cricket team. Etienne is shown on the left, leaning on the post, holding the cricket bat. (Photo: The Australasian)
It is possible ‘Augur’ named his son after Etienne de Mastre, the owner of the first Melbourne Cup winner, Archer. He would have known de Mastre for many years.
Perhaps the family wanted to name him ‘Edward Samuel’, the same as his father and grandfather. However, his mother Talitha Woolley already had a child called Edward, born prior to her marriage. The choice of the name Etienne Samuel did continue the tradition of the initials of his forebears, E. S. Chapman.
In football, Etienne played for the Victorian Football Association team Fitzroy while still a Scotch student. In a match report in The Argus on 15 May 1893, he was described as “a sturdy young Scotch College colt, who never got the ball without doing something useful with it.”
The Blueseum website biography of ‘Sam’ Chapman says he played for three VFA teams before joining Carlton – Fitzroy, St Kilda and South Melbourne. However, according to historian Dr Mark Pennings, who with fellow historian Robert Pascoe is currently researching details of all pre-VFL players, this is incorrect. Club records show Sam only played for Fitzroy, in three games in 1893: May 13 v. St Kilda (he played on the wing), May 27 v. Port Melbourne (half forward flank) & June 17 v. Geelong (forward pocket).
Pennings says Chapman played with the “South St Kilda” club in a minor league before he was recruited by Carlton for its inaugural year in the newly formed Victorian Football League competition in 1897. According to an article in school publication “Great Scot”, Chapman was the ninth Scotch College student to play in the VFL.
Chapman’s first game was Carlton’s second in the new competition, against South Melbourne at the Lake Oval on 15 May 1897. He played 25 games and kicked 17 goals playing for Carlton in 1897-98. He usually played in the ruck or as a forward. According to the Blueseum website, he was 5’11” (180cm) and weighed 11st 5lb (72kg).
After his playing days, he went on to have a long career as a goal umpire in the VFL. Reverting to the name Etienne Chapman, he umpired 160 games between 1902-1913, including nine finals and three grand finals in 1907, 1911 and 1913.
A poster commemorating 100 years of VFL/AFL goal umpires was produced in the 1990s, showing names and photos of most of the umpires, however the researcher was unable to find a photograph of Etienne Chapman. Our family was unable to provide a photo at the time, and sadly his spot is blank.
Richmond Cricket Club historian Ron Reiffel advised me that Etienne Samuel Chapman made his senior debut for Richmond in the 1901-02 season, making him Richmond’s 84th player. He played only 13 games in two seasons in the senior team. He may have played for other clubs.
Etienne, who worked as a clerk, was 25 when he married dressmaker Winifred Kate Kelway, 24, at the Congregational Church, Richmond, on 5 December 1901. Their marriage certificate shows they were both residing at 110 Wellington Parade, East Melbourne.
Their only child was Jack Edward Chapman, born 22 January 1904, who married and had two children.
Etienne died at his home, 52 Durham Road, Surrey Hills, on 2 December 1949, aged 73 years. He was cremated and interred at Springvale Crematorium on 5 December 1949. He was survived by his wife Winnie, who died on 16 February 1961.
Brendan Hartney’s 60th
Happy 60th birthday to Brendan Hartney.
Career : 1981 – 1985
Debut : Round 11, 1981 vs North Melbourne, aged 23 years, 44 days
Carlton Player No. 895
Games : 32
Goals : 0
Last Game : Round 18, 1985 vs Sydney, aged 27 years, 102 days
Guernsey No. 24
Height : 179 cm (5 ft. 10 in.)
Weight : 81 kg (12 stone, 11 lbs.)
DOB : 23 April, 1958
One of the all-time greats of the Bendigo Football League, Brendan Hartney came to Carlton in 1981 to play 32 senior matches over five seasons. At that time, the Navy Blues were on the way to three Premierships in four years, thanks to a playing list as talent-laden as at any period the club’s history. Had he been 5 centimetres taller and 5 kilos heavier, Hartney would surely have appeared at top level for the Blues far more often. He battled champions each week to find a place in Carlton’s team, and rarely disappointed when given a chance.
The son of Sandhurst Football Club stalwart Leo Hartney, Brendan played his first senior game for the Dragons as a 17 year-old, and by his late teens was one of the outstanding centre half-backs in the BFL. Although just 179 cm tall, his pace and spring, endurance, courage and intelligent reading of the play made him more than a handful for the competition’s best forwards.
Carlton had chased Hartney’s signature for some time before Sandhurst won successive BFL flags in 1977-78, but his lion-hearted efforts in both of those Grand Final victories over Golden Square convinced the Blues to ramp up their efforts, and in 1981 Brendan was welcomed to Princes Park by first-year coach David Parkin. Fresh from the 1979 Premiership, followed by the crushing disappointment of 1980, the Blues were intent on regrouping and hungry for more success.
Wearing guernsey 24, Hartney played the first half of the year with the Reserves before being chosen for his first senior game in round 11, 1981 when Carlton hosted North Melbourne at Princes Park and knocked over the Roos by 31 points. Hartney spent that match in a back pocket, doing enough to be earn two more games in succession, and six in total throughout the year. He wasn’t selected for either of Carlton’s finals campaigns that brought Premiership glory again in 1981-82, but that was perfectly understandable, because he was up against the likes of Wayne Harmes, Rod Austin, Peter McConville, Des English and Robbert Klomp – not to mention Geoff Southby and Bruce Doull.
In his debut year, Hartney finished runner-up in the Reserves Best and Fairest to Trevor Keogh. That set a precedent that would see him win the award in 1983 and ‘84, and finish among the top three in every one of his five seasons with the Blues. His optimism and determination was widely admired, and he was voted Carlton’s Best Clubman in 1983.
After playing his last senior match for Carlton against Sydney in round 18, 1985, Hartney returned to Sandhurst with many more weapons in his armoury, and began the third stage of a career that would make him a BFL legend. Already a two-time winner of Sandhurst’s Best and Fairest; the Leo McPherson Trophy, Brendan was appointed captain of the Dragons in 1986, and promptly collected another four McPherson Medals in succession from 1986 to ’89. In 1993, aged 35, he won it for a seventh time. In between, he was adjudged Fairest and Best in the BFL in 1987 and 1989 to join an elite band of just six players to have won the Michelsen Medal twice.
Another proud achievement came in 1989, when Hartney captained the BFL representative side that defeated the Geelong Football League in the Grand Final of the VCFL Division 1 Country Championship. Brendan was carried shoulder-high off the Queen Elizabeth Oval that afternoon, as the BFL collected its first Division 1 Country title since 1972. Always a star in inter-league matches, Hartney represented the BFL on more than 20 occasions, and was inducted into the League’s Hall Of Fame in August, 1996.
Hartney also wore No.35 whilst playing reserve grade football for Carlton in 1979.
Hartney’s nephew Fergus Greene was drafted by the Western Bulldogs with their 4th pick in the 2016 AFL National Draft.
Jones Files: Hartney’s two league medals place him among Bendigo elite.
BRENDAN Hartney was always destined to play for Sandhurst and follow in the footsteps of his late father, Leo. Leo Hartney not only donned the maroon and blue colors of Sandhurst, but when his playing days were over was a faithful servant of the club, serving for a period as chairman of selectors. Brendan’s playing days with the Dragons started when he was 17; 225 games later he pulled the pin on a distinguished career. He was a shining light as far as club loyalty and on-field courage were concerned. Not only did Brendan lead Sandhurst in the late 1980s and into the ’90s he was the skipper of Bendigo’s successful VCFL Division 1 country championship-winning team in 1989. He remains a revered Dragon. Finishing on top in the Leo McPherson Medal count as club fairest and best in 1979-80, before five seasons with Carlton, was just the start of a medal-winning spree. He played 32 senior VFL games with the Princes Park Blues between 1981 and 1985. Hartney then took out the Dragons’ club McPherson Medal from 1986-89 and added an astounding seventh trophy in 1993. In between he was adjudged fairest and best in the BFL in both 1987 (29 votes) and again in 1989 (31 votes) to join an elite band of players to have won the time-honoured Michelsen Medal twice. There are just six players who have won two Michelsen Medals. One of my most enduring BFL memories is of Hartney opposed to outstanding Eaglehawk key position player Robert O’Connell. The Bendigo Advertiser photographers of the day would regularly focus on the absorbing battle between the two BFL stars whenever they were pitted against each other. Their marking duels were just riveting, and an object lesson for the younger players of both clubs. Brendan started as a ruck-rover — a term never used these days when “midfielders” and “on-ballers” are the buzz words — before cementing his place in BFL history as an unrelenting defender. Regularly conceding height to opposing key forwards, centre half-back seemed Hartney’s natural position. His courage in gathering the loose ball and his uncanny ability to read the play set him aside from his peers. And he loved inter-league footy. Hartney played more than 20 games for the Blue and Golds. He, as captain, and the late Neville Strauch as coach were the cornerstone of Bendigo’s country championships campaigns. The BFL representative made the Division 1 grand final in three consecutive seasons two decades back: in 1988, 1989 and again in 1990. The bitter disappointment of losing the Division 1 grand final to Geelong in the 1988 play-off at East Geelong was wiped away 12 months later. Hartney was carried shoulder-high off the QEO in mid-1989 as the Blue and Golds earned their revenge on the GFL, winning 15.10 (100) to Geelong’s 9.5 (59). It was Bendigo’s first Division 1 country title since 1972 and was so momentous that the BFL board of management hosted a special commemorative dinner to celebrate the achievement. The path to that 1989 VCFL grand final was memorable enough in itself. Bendigo made the dreaded road trip to Ovens and Murray territory for the semi-final and prevailed: 10.10 (70) to 7.12 (54). It was Bendigo’s first ever win over the O and M on one of their northern Victorian grounds. An even sweeter victory for Hartney and his teammates was to come a few weeks later that ’89 season with the grand final success over the GFL. Apart from his senior coaching stint in 1988, Hartney has also served as club runner and a selector. These days it’s a family affair at Sandhurst home games, with Brendan on deck as a Dragon senior selector. Twenty-year-old son Tom has been a key member of the Dragons’ senior backline while in 2009 younger son Pat (19), who has graduated from the under-18s, lined up in the Sandhurst reserves. Chopper White’s reserves, with Pat Hartney in the side, bowed out to Kangaroo Flat in this month’s reserves first semi-final. Tom Hartney can glean some valuable advice from his father whenever Sandhurst takes on Eaglehawk. With Derrick Filo still running around in the Eaglehawk forward line — Brendan used to match up with Filo when the evergreen stalwart was at Castlemaine –– the dual Michelsen Medallist is able to pass on tips to his son. “Run him around a lot,” was his succinct advice when the youngster first lined up on the wily Borough veteran. Brendan Hartney was inducted into the Bendigo Football League Hall Of Fame in August 1996. I rate him in the 10 best BFL players I’ve been privileged to watch in a 30-year career broadcasting and writing about local footy. – September 16, 2009 by Richard Jones.
Career Highlights
1981 – 2nd Reserves Best & Fairest
1981 – Reserves Most Improved
1982 – 3rd Reserves Best & Fairest
1982 – Reserves Best Clubman
1983 – Best Clubman
1983 – Reserves Best & Fairest
1983 – Senior Night Premiership
1984 – Reserves Best & Fairest
1985 – 2nd Reserves Best & Fairest
Mark Majerczak’s 50th
Happy 50th birthday to Mark Majerczak.
Career: 1987 – 1991
Debut: Round 10, 1987 v Brisbane Bears, aged 19 years, 40 days
946th Carlton Player
Games: 17
Goals: 20
Last game: Round 18, 1991 v Brisbane Bears, aged 23 years, 92 days
Guernsey No. 33 (1988 – 1991) and 48 (1987).
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.
Magic was later picked up by the Bulldogs in the 1992 pre-season draft, but he did not add to his games tally at the Western Oval.
Career Highlights
1987 – 6th Reserves Best & Fairest
1987 – Reserves Premiership Player
1987 – Reserves Leading Goalkicker 53 goals
Dennis Munari’s 70th
Happy 70th birthday to Dennis Munari.
Career : 1967 – 1970
Debut : Round 8, 1967 vs Geelong, aged 19 years, 45 days
Carlton Player No. 799
Games : 54 (41 at Carlton)
Goals : 21 (20 at Carlton)
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 second on the ladder behind minor premiers Richmond.
In September 1967, before he had played even a dozen senior matches, Dennis experienced the thrill of running out onto the MCG for his first taste of finals football. The Blues fell short of expectations when they lost in successive weeks to the Tigers and Geelong, but one of the many positives to come out of that season was that Munari had shown that he was worth persevering with. In particular, his three goals in a tough debut final against Richmond won him a lot of fans.
He switched to guernsey 8 in 1968, and began a keen rivalry with Ian Nicoll for the second rover’s spot. Strengthened by the addition of Brent Crosswell, Neil Chandler and Ted Hopkins, Carlton rated as real Premiership contenders all year, before firming to favouritism by comprehensively beating the Bombers in the second Semi-Final. Essendon then overcame Geelong in the Preliminary Final, to set up a rematch with the Blues for the ’68 flag. Munari had damaged his left knee late in the season, which ruled him out of the last two home and away games, and that Semi-Final win over the Bombers. Fate then intervened when Nicoll was injured in the clash against Essendon, leaving Barassi to turn to Munari (even though he was short of match fitness) as Nicoll’s replacement for the Grand Final.
On that cool, blustery September day at the MCG, a huge crowd of 116,828 saw Barassi’s Blues break a 21-year drought with a hard-fought win over the persistent Bombers, in a match ruined as a spectacle by a strong cross-wind. Carlton had eight more scoring shots and hung on for a nail-biting three point victory. Although Blues wingman Garry Crane was a worthy Best on Ground, the platform for Carlton’s victory was provided by the ruck dominance of John Nicholls and his rover Adrian Gallagher. And when Essendon surged towards victory late in the third term, ruck-rover Serge Silvagni was rock-solid across half-back. Munari was prominent up forward in the first half, but faded later as his condition gave out.
Coming off the euphoria of that long-awaited Premiership, no-one would have been surprised if the dreaded Premiership hangover had kicked-in in 1969 – but it didn’t. The Blues held their form right through the year, finishing runners-up to Collingwood after the regular season, and knocking over the Magpies by six goals in an impressive second semi-final. Munari shared the two-man reserve bench with future Carlton President Ian Collins in that match, but both took little part in proceedings.
Awaiting Carlton as our Grand Final opponent in ’69 was Richmond, gunning for their second flag in three years under their charismatic coach Tom Hafey. This time however, Grand Final week proved a forgettable time for Munari. On selection night, he lost his place in the team to Nicoll, and on the following Saturday afternoon joined the many thousands of Carlton fans who watched helplessly as a rampant Richmond triumphed over the Blues by 25 points.
Munari’s last game for Carlton came in the final round of the home and away season in 1970, against Melbourne at the MCG. Sharing the roving duties once more with ‘Gags’ Gallagher, Dennis had a good match on an auspicious occasion for the Carlton Football Club – the day when champion forward Alex Jesaulenko became the first Blue to notch up 100 goals in a season. And three weeks later, ‘Jezza’ took his season tally to 115, with three telling goals in Carlton’s magnificent, come-from-behind Grand Final victory over Collingwood.
Munari signed with East Perth for 1971, but instead, ended up as playing coach of Hobart. This came about after Carlton’s former WA recruit Bert Thornley (a pivotal figure in the 1970 Grand Final) requested a release from his contract with Hobart just a few weeks into the season. The Tasmanian club was incensed that Thornley wanted to leave the Apple Isle, until Carlton stepped in to broker a deal, offering them Munari instead. When Hobart agreed, Thornley returned to his home state, and Munari travelled south to begin a turbulent 18-months as captain-coach of the Tassie Tigers. Unfortunately for all concerned, Hobart hardly won a match during that time, and before the mid-point of the 1972 TFL season, Munari was sacked – although many players and supporters of the club felt that he had been unfairly made the scapegoat for problems that ran deep within the administration of the club. By late 1972 Dennis was back at Princes Park playing Reserves football, before Preston lured him to the VFA in 1973.
Munari was contemplating giving football away for good in 1974, when a chance meeting with Ron Barassi (who by then was coaching North Melbourne) led to an invitation for Dennis to join the Kangaroos – who were short on experience and leadership. Barassi’s encouragement rekindled Dennis’ enthusiasm for the game, and he was appointed as assistant to North’s renowned Under-19 coach, Ray ‘Slug’ Jordon. In four years at Arden Street, Munari added another 13 senior matches to his tally, while twice winning the ‘Roo’s Reserves Best and Fairest award.
North’s memorable victory over Collingwood in the 1977 Grand Final replay marked the end of Munari’s time at Arden Street, and by 1989 he had returned to Princes Park to become an active member of the Carlton Past Players Association.In 2003, he was elected President of the Association – a post he held with distinction for a number of years.
Footnote
Munari also wore No.53 when he played Reserve grade football for Carlton in 1972.
Tim Powell’s 50th
Happy 50th Birthday to Tim Powell.
Career: 1993-1994
Debut (Carlton): Round 7, 1993 vs Sydney, aged 25 years, 25 days
990th Carlton Player
Games: 11 (Carlton) (75 overall)
Goals: 10
Last Game: Round 7, 1994 vs West Coast, aged 26 years, 24 days
Guernsey No. 22
Height: 183cm
Weight: 80kg
DOB: 14 April, 1968
Tim Powell came to Carlton via a trade with Richmond for Pick 28, a pick that would deliver Jamie Tape to Richmond (and then on to Collingwood for Aaron James). Powell Was originally from Berrigan, NSW, he later honed his skills as a footballer at Assumption College in Kilmore. Powell had played 64 games and booted 40 goals for the Tigers in his stint from 1988 to 1992.
Powell was a useful enough player – a right footed wingman with a bit of toe. He would play a couple of cracker games for the Blues with 21 possessions off the wing, or half forward flank, in Round 14 (v West Coast) and 15 (v Brisbane) in 1993, and raise hopes throughout Princes Park with 10 goals in 9 games for the year, but at other times he struggled to find the ball. It was the West Coast game in particular that had raised the hopes – he seemed to be able to find space on the outer wing and from memory kicked 2 goals as well. Powell looked dangerous at the time. Powell kicked two crucial goals in the Blues thrilling win over the Bombers in the 1993 Qualifying Final which included a lovely snap at the City end. He played in the Blues losing Grand Final to Essendon in 1993.
Powell was runner-up in the 1993 Gardiner Medal whilst playing for the Blues.
Powell would play a further 2 games in 1994, before finishing up with 11 games at the end of that season. Powell wore the #22 guernsey.
Powell took over the coaching reigns of VAFA club Monash Blues midway through the 2001 season, he was reappointed for the 2002 season.
Career Highlights
1993 – Reserves 2nd Best & Fairest
Baggy blue a classic Carlton throwback
With the coveted baggy green having copped an absolute battering in the international court of public opinion, it’s rather timely that the baggy blue, after almost 100 years, should make a return.
For more than half a lifetime, this coveted item of Carlton apparel – a throwback to the Depression days of the 1920s and ’30s – was the prized possession of its wearer, the long-serving club trainer Perc Gillett.
The superior quality woollen cap, manufactured by Australian firm Men’s Cricketers and sporting the football club’s famed tri-letter monogram, is now in the keep of Percy’s daughter Lorraine Gillett, who wished to share the item with historically-minded Carlton people.
The baggy blue cap. (Photo: Carlton Football Club)
A close-up of the baggy blue cap. (Photo: Carlton Football Club)
For Lorraine, the cap means the world, for as she recalled: “My father always wore the baggy blue and I’ve been a lifelong supporter of the club because of him”.
Percy Charles Robert (‘Perc’) Gillett was born in the old Victorian goldfields town of Castlemaine on January 23, 1899. Not long after his birth, Perc’s parents relocated to Melbourne and settled in a rental home, before taking occupancy of a house at No.2 Dudley Street (at the corner of Pleasance Street) in North Fitzroy, where Perc spent most of his single life.
Perc carted his books to the local Miller Street Primary School, but pursued an early interest in cycling. According to his son Rob, Perc excelled as a cyclist through his teenage years and secured trophies for the half-mile and ten-mile open road races staged by the Victorian Amateur Athletic Association.
“It was at about this time that my father gave away cycling on medical grounds,” Rob said. “I can only guess that he was advised to do so due to a heart murmur, but in the end my father died of a stroke rather than of any heart condition.”
Percy Gillett, pictured second from the right in the front row, during the Blues’ 1947 premiership year. (Photo: Carlton Football Club)
Crucially, that misdiagnosis set in train a series of events which ultimately led Perc to Princes Park, for what would be the beginning of a beautiful friendship spanning more than 30 years.
“I never asked my father when he first went to the Carlton Football Club and why,” Rob conceded. “Was it to get a kick? Was it to play footy? When you’re younger you don’t think to ask and eventually that opportunity passes,” Rob conceded.
“But he must have got involved with the club around the time he completed cycling, probably 1917 or ’18. In time he became a trainer and the club and the game were his true passions.”
Life Membership of the Carlton Football Club came Perc’s way in 1933, in a year in which fellow trainer Charlie Anderson and Carlton players Fred Gilby, Joe Kelly and Harry “Soapy” Vallence were similarly acknowledged. The Grand Final triumphs of 1938, ’45 and ’47 also eventuated as Perc proficiently plied his training craft.
At the conclusion of the 1949 season, Perc gave the training caper away. Family then became the priority for him and his wife Maude Davies, and their two children the subjects of all their attentions.
For Rob, Perc’s baggy blue cap, was but part of his father’s cherished Carlton wardrobe. Also included was a matching beret, blazer and cream pants.
“The beret was a genuine French beret, although I doubt the club would have been able to afford bankrolling a trainers and players trip to Paris,” Rob suggested.
“All I know is that the beret was around the family home for decades and I can remember running around wearing it as a kid.
“My father also kept the blazer and cream pants he wore as a trainer, which I used when I started playing cricket. Lorraine has all those items now because she was and remains such a loyal Carlton follower.”
Percy Gillett was 77 when he died in Melbourne in July 1976, predeceasing Maude by more than a quarter of a century. Though fishing and horse racing became his pursuits in later life, ol’ Perc always kept the club close.
To quote Rob: “He was Carlton to the core and Carlton to the end”.
Bill Bennett’s 70th
Happy 70th birthday to Bill Bennet.
Career : 1966 and 1968
Debut : Round 2, 1966 vs St Kilda, aged 18 years, 18 days
Carlton Player No. 781
Games : 11
Goals : 9
Last Game : Grand Final, 1968 vs Essendon, aged 20 years, 169 days
Guernsey Nos. 13 (1966) and 12 (1968)
Height : 185 cm (6 ft. 1 in.)
Weight : 79.5 kg (12 stone, 7 lbs.)
DOB : 12 April, 1948
Premiership Player: 1968
A fortunate footballer who was in the right place at the right time, David William (Bill) Bennett played at centre half-forward in Carlton’s 1968 Premiership team in just his 11th VFL game. Although he was still not yet 21, he left Princes Park shortly afterward, and never pulled on the Navy Blue guernsey again.
Originally from Maffra, Bennett caught the attention of former Carlton captain Graham Donaldson who played a big role in recruiting for the Blues in the Gippsland region during the early 1960s. Donaldson liked the look of the agile teenager with real football smarts, but getting him to Carlton proved no easy task. Bill was a country boy, apparently bereft of any burning ambition to be a League star, and it took a lot of talking by Donaldson before Bennett eventually agreed to come to Princes Park in 1966 and use up the four match permits that had been negotiated with his club. At Carlton he was greeted by the Blues’ controversial new coach Ron Barassi, and issued with the number 13 guernsey as worn by Donaldson throughout his 106-game career.
Less than three weeks after his 18th birthday, Bennett played his first senior match as 19th man against St Kilda at Moorabbin in round 2, 1966, and was on the end of a 53-point hiding. Moved to full-forward the following week against Fitzroy, he kicked his first career goal in a 32-point comeback win, and followed up with another four goals when the Blues smashed Essendon by 61 points in round 4. His hard leading and quick thinking in that game impressed Barassi , who pencilled Bennett in as the team’s future spearhead – if the club could convince him to stay.
Bennett’s fourth and last match for the year was another effortless victory over Melbourne on the next Saturday afternoon. Then, having used up all his permits, he was back in Maffra by mid-year. After that, it took more than twelve months for Barassi and Donaldson to cajole Bill into having another crack with a Carlton side that was looking a definite contender for the ’68 flag. By then, the dynamics within the team had changed, and the emergence of Brian Kekovich at full-forward had straightened up Carlton’s game plan. So when Bennett returned to the senior side against St Kilda in round 10, 1968 he was wearing guernsey number 12 and playing on a half-forward flank. But he was obviously underdone, so he was sent back to the Reserves to find form before being recalled for round 16 against Footscray at the Western Oval. Although Carlton lost by five goals in a shock result, Bennett showed flashes of his best and kicked two clever majors.
By round 19 – the second-last of the home and away matches – Carlton was clinging to fourth spot on the ladder behind Essendon, Geelong and St Kilda when they hosted Fitzroy at Princes Park. Barassi sent Bennett to centre half-forward, and the Blues attack found real cohesion to pummel the visitors by 52 points. Another win over North Melbourne in round 20 lifted the resurgent Blues to second, and set up a much-anticipated Semi Final clash against minor premiers Essendon.
Playing just his tenth senior match in front of more than 100,000 fans at the MCG on the following Saturday afternoon, Bennett started at centre half-forward, but went down with a serious ankle injury in the second term and was replaced at half-time by Neil Chandler. In a pivotal move, Barassi shifted Robert Walls into attack after the long break, and the resolute Blues drew away to win by six goals.
Bennett was cleared of structural damage to his ankle in the days following, although he was still in doubt for the Grand Final right up until selection night. Meanwhile, Essendon vanquished Geelong in the Preliminary Final and qualified to meet the heavily-favoured Blues in the flag decider. Another enormous, record-breaking crowd of almost 117,000 packed into the MCG to see a tense, dour struggle ruined as a spectacle by a strong cross-wind, but the closeness of the scores kept fans on the edges of their seats throughout.
Carlton clung to an 11-point lead at three-quarter time, and withstood a spirited surge by the Bombers to win the club’s first flag for 21 years – with Bennett watching on from the boundary. Bill’s suspect ankle collapsed on him during the hectic last term, and Neil Chandler came on again to take three timely marks that helped get the Blues home in a hectic finish.
For various reasons, three members of the ’68 Premiership side retired in the days and weeks after the prolonged celebrations; Peter McLean, Brian Kekovich and Bill Bennett. In Bill’s case, he headed home to Maffra, from where he continued to play and coach in various country leagues for more than a decade.
In 1977 he was in Darwin, playing for St Mary’s in the NTFL when he was voted the joint winner of the competition’s Best and Fairest award; the Nicholls Medal, in a tie with Mark Motlop (Nightcliff) and Ian Wallace (North Darwin). He later crossed to Nightcliff, and coached them from 1981 to ’83.
Bill Bennett coaches West FC
As has earlier been indicated, the present site of the Gillen Club became Wests in the mid- 1970’s. In 1978, with Rod Rose as President, the committee decided that, to be truly successful, a top playing coach, who could attract other good players, was required. As this was going to need considerable money, Rod commenced a very successful bingo night at Wests club, with all players rostered to assist. “Bustling” Bill Bennett, a member of Carlton’s victorious 1970 grand final, then a champion for South Adelaide and a Darwin player, was duly appointed. He is remembered most for his ferocious training for fitness, and his demand for skills. All people associated with Wests at that time recall such as his first night’s training ending with 10 laps of the oval, and then later training nights requiring 5 repeats of runs up and down Tank Hill; the training camp out at Glen Helen when players had to carry sizeable rocks above their heads for 2km; another run from the Westies Club to Heavitree Gap, followed by sprints in the sand, a run up the Todd to Anzac Hill, 3 runs up and down the hill, and a long run through the railway yards back to the Nadich home; and as a final illustration at the start of the 1980 season, a series of exercises at Westies oval followed by a run out through Heavitree Gap, along the dump road, then up the hill to the towers. After a recovery of about 5 minutes, the exercises commenced again, we had to run down the hill and then, at Heavitree Gap, commenced sprinting to the front of the line of players, back to the Westies oval. Wests burst out of the blocks that year, and with Bill rucking non- stop, and no one taking a backward step, won their first game against a shell-shocked Federals by 13 goals, their first-ever game after 8 seasons against a very good Rovers team, and all games until the grand final. Players like Leo “Choco” Nadich and Rob Floreani flourished; Adam and Giana Nadich (Choco’s parents) became life-long Wests supporters; and Adam’s brother-in-law Enzo Floreani went on to coach Wests B grade to their first-ever premiership. Unfortunately two key players were reported in the preliminary A grade final so that Rovers, under astute coach Phil O’Brien, a former Hawthorn player, were successful in a very close grand final. It was a big disappointment, but the next year Bill took Wests to their first ever A Grade Premiership over Pioneers. This was an absolute thriller of a game, with both sides no more than a goal or two in front at any stage, John Green (a decathlete and former S.A. F.L. player) at centre half-forward best-on-ground, and Robbie Goodwin (a former South Adelaide player) dominating his wing. With about one minute to go, Robbie kicked to Bill, who marked on the siren then kicked truly for the victory. The celebrations continued until Tuesday night of the next week!
Latest Video – Rod Ashman 1985
Luke O’Sullivan’s 50th
Happy 50th birthday to Luke O’Sullivan.
Career: 1988-1997
Debut: Round 20, 1988 vs North Melbourne, aged 20 years, 138 days
953rd Carlton Player
Games: 62
Goals: 58
Last game: Round 18, 1997 vs Adelaide, aged 29 years, 128 days
Height: 182cm
Weight: 94kg
Guernsey No. 41 (1988-9), 27 (1990-97) & 60 (1993 night game)
DOB: 28 March, 1968The 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”.
O’Sullivan wore No.54 in 1987 & 1988 whilst playing with the Blues reserves.
Luke O’Sullivan is the uncle of Sydney Swans youngster Daniel Hannebery.
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Milestones
50 Games: Round 3, 1997 Vs Adelaide Crows
Career Highlights
1987 – Reserves Premiership