Happy 60th birthday to Phil Maylin.

————-

From the Blueseum

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

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

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

When the home and away season concluded that year, Carlton had only Geelong perched above us on the ladder. The Blues seemed right in the hunt for another flag – before heavy defeats by Richmond and Collingwood bundled the Blues out of the finals in straight sets. Reacting swiftly, Carlton’s unhappy hierarchy promptly sacked Jones and installed former Hawthorn Premiership coach David Parkin in his place.

Meanwhile, Maylin had done everything asked of him in his debut year. He had played in 22 of Carlton’s 24 matches (including both finals) and notched 11 goals as a free-running wingman. When Parkin arrived, he and Phil found immediate rapport, and it wasn’t long before Maylin was being asked to shoulder more responsibility as a ruck-rover and occasional centreman.

Bolstered by more quality local and interstate recruits – including future champions Ken Hunter and Peter Bosustow – Carlton swept to the Premiership in 1981. Brushing aside Geelong and Collingwood in successive finals matches, the Blues claimed their thirteenth VFL flag. In those games, Maylin held his own in his first taste of the pressure-cooker tempo of finals football. Again running off a wing (alongside former Melbourne champion Greg Wells and youngster David Glascott) Phil was among the Blues’ best players in Carlton’s emphatic 40-point win over Geelong in the semi-final at Waverley Park.

Two weeks later, the same trio held sway across the centre of the MCG in a typically tough Grand Final watched by more than 112,000 spectators. The Blues – inspired by captain Mike Fitzpatrick and Norm Smith medallist Bruce Doull – over-ran Collingwood in the last quarter for a glorious 20-point victory.

One day short of one year later, the Blues made it back-to-back flags – after a torrid campaign of four sudden-death finals matches in successive weeks. Winding up the 1982 home and away rounds in third place, Carlton began their Premiership defence impressively, beating Hawthorn by ten goals in a Qualifying Final. Maylin played in the centre that day, releasing Wayne Johnston to roam across half-forward. But the plan went awry when ‘The Dominator’ was reported for striking, and suspended for two weeks.

To compound the disappointment, Richmond then comfortably beat the Blues by 23 points in the Second Semi-Final. Maylin supported Fitzpatrick in the ruck on that occasion and both battled hard, but the Tigers’ dominant first-quarter established a lead that Carlton couldn’t overhaul. That defeat forced the Blues into a Preliminary Final rematch with Hawthorn. Maylin returned to the centre against the Hawks, with Glascott and Frank Marchesani on the wings. All three played their part in an emphatic 31-point victory that set up another Carlton-Richmond Grand Final.

Wayne Johnston’s return to the Carlton line-up boosted the Blues on Grand Final eve, especially so because the star of the previous week; full-back Rod Austin, had been ruled out of the decider by a thigh injury. David Parkin recast his side, sending Bruce Doull to full-back, Jim Buckley into the centre, and Maylin back into a ruck-roving role at the feet of Warren ‘Wow’ Jones. Each of those moves clicked. The Blueboys withstood everything that a committed Tiger outfit could throw at them, steadying in the last quarter to win Carlton’s 14th Premiership by a margin of 18 points.

As has happened to so many players at every VFL/AFL club, the euphoria of double Premiership success lasted only until the following season for Phil Maylin. Injuries, and a tapering-off in consistency, restricted him to only eight senior appearances in 1983. He saddled up again in 1984, playing 11 games and booting eight goals, but by mid-season it was obvious that the blossoming potential of youngsters like Paul Meldrum, Mick Kennedy and WA recruit Wayne Blackwell was going make it increasingly difficult for Maylin to hold a place in Carlton’s senior team. He pulled on his boots for the last time as a Blue in the final round of the ’84 season, playing on a half-forward flank in Carlton’s six-goal win over South Melbourne at Princes Park.

Shortly afterwards, Phil applied for, and was granted a transfer to Footscray, where his qualities as a clubman and a mentor to the younger players was soon appreciated as much as they had been at Carlton. He played another 33 matches over two seasons for the Bulldogs, then retired from VFL football to accept an offer to captain-coach VFA club Springvale (now the Casey Scorpions). He was an immediate success with the Scorpions, taking them to the 1987 VFA Premiership with a win over Port Melbourne that is still celebrated as the defining moment in the club’s history.

In 1993, Maylin and two other former Blues; Alex Marcou and Peter McConville, formed an organization they called the VFL – Virtually Forgotten Legends. As well as being a social club for former players and officials, its aim was (and is) to raise funds for a wide variety of charitable causes. In the first five years of its existence, the VFL distributed over $200,000.

Later, Maylin returned to the Western Oval as an assistant to the Bulldogs’ senior coaches Terry Wallace and Peter Rohde, as a prelude to launching a coaching career in his own right. In 2003 he was appointed senior coach of the Eltham Football Club in the Northern (formerly Diamond Valley) Football League – a position he held for six years, before he somewhat sensationally switched to neighbouring Bundoora in 2009.

Milestones

50 Games: Round 6, 1982 Vs St Kilda

Career Highlights

1980 – 6th Best & Fairest
1980 – Best First Year Player Award
1981 – 9th Best & Fairest
1981 – Premiership Player
1982 – 2nd Best & Fairest
1982 – Premiership Player
1983 – Night Premiership Player

Happy 50th birthday to Tim Rieniets.

——-

From the Blueseum.

Career : 1990 – 1991
Debut : Round 6, 1990 vs North Melbourne, aged 24 years, 21 days
Carlton Player No. 968
Games : 24
Goals : 6
Last Game : Round 18, 1991 vs Brisbane Bears, aged 25 years, 97 days
Guernsey No. 36
Height : 183 cm (6 ft. 0 in.)
Weight : 79 kg (12 stone, 6 lbs.)
DOB : 14 April, 1966

A smooth-running ruck-rover with impressive disposal skills, Tim Rieniets was a standout junior at Wangaratta Rovers when he was recruited by North Melbourne in 1985. He spent two seasons at Arden St. with the Kangas’ Under 19 (32 games) and Reserves (13 games) squads without breaking into the senior team, then crossed to Coburg in the VFA to became one of the stars of the competition.

Rieniets was an outstanding contributor in Coburg’s back-to-back Premiership triumphs over Williamstown in 1988-89, leading his captain, VFA legend Phil Cleary, to say later that Rieniets ‘played like he was superhuman’ in both Grand Finals. Largely because of those two best on ground performances, Carlton selected Tim at pick 27 in the 1990 pre-season draft, along with his team-mate Adrian Bassett.

The Blues’ judgement seemed sound at first, especially when Reiniets came off the interchange bench and goaled with his first kick – and perhaps his second but not even the player himself remembers! – in his senior debut against his former club in round 6, 1990 at Princes Park. He kept his place in the side for 11 more matches after that, although by late in the season it was obvious that his future lay in defence. Still, he had shown promise in his debut year, which ended on a high when he played across half-back in Carlton’s Reserves team that scored an upset victory over Melbourne seconds in the curtain-raiser at the MCG on Grand Final day.

But after a shocking loss by Carlton in round 18 of that forgettable year, and after suffering a partial tear in his ACL, Reiniets was not to be seen again in the Carlton seniors (although he did play Reserves in 1992 after a full pre-season). Thereafter he headed to back to VFA club Coburg for a season, then in 1993 played for rival VFA club Werribee with his ex-Blues team-mate Dom Fotia.

Rieniets was born in Creswick and educated at Galen College, Wangaratta. Outside of football, he was a clerk with the Melbourne City Council.

Career Highlights

1990 – Reserves Premiership Player

Happy 50th birthday to Mil Hanna.

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From the Blueseum

Mil Hanna

Career: 1986-1997
Debut: Round 1, 1986 vs Hawthorn
934th Carlton Player
Games: 190
Goals: 83
Last Game: Round 22, 1997 vs Richmond
Guernsey No. 47 (1 game) and 13 (189 games)
Height: 186cm
Weight: 89kg
DOB: 5 April, 1966
All Australian: 1992
Premiership Player: 1995

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

More commonly called “Mil”, or affectionately as “the Cranium” for Rex Hunt fans after Hanna’s golden barren dome (Hanna was prematurely bald at a very early age, with only fuzzy sprigs of hair at the commencement of his career), Hanna played 190 games for Carlton before retiring in the 1997 season.

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

Of Lebanese descent, Hanna had a long right foot kick on him but hardly ever used his left. Sometimes famous for his turnovers, Hanna’s pace and agility meant that he could be played in many positions across the wing or half back, plus the occasional stint up forward. A 5 goal game against the Hawks at Waverley in 1995 sticks in the mind – he was kicking them from everywhere on that day. Hanna also had a distinctive action when tackled of immediately dropping the ball and flapping his arms, giving away the occasional holding the ball free kick.

Hanna was to become a regular in the team over 1989 and 1990, with over 20 games each year, and a 100 game player by the time the Blues hit their straps in the early to mid 1990’s. Interestingly, Hanna was also in our top 5 goalkickers in 1991 with 23 majors at over a goal per game.

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

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

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

As a footnote, it was common amongst Carlton fans of the era to believe that Hanna’s lack of hair was due to disease. However, my research indicates that it is just baldness, plain & simple. Presumably this will be correct until this section of the Blueseum is updated for a more correct ‘truth’. (Steve)

One of the all-time most under-rated footballers. Capable of brilliant individual bursts that showcased both his dynamic athletic background and raw power His physical frame redefined positional AFL football on the wing. A Lebanese version of Jaime Oliver.

Milestones

50th Game: Round 5, 1990 vs Footscray
100th Game: Round 15, 1992 vs Richmond
150th Game: Qualifying Final, 1994 vs Melbourne

Career Highlights

1985 – Reserves Best First Year Player Award
1985 – Reserves Equal Runner-up Goalkicker 38 goals
1987 – Reserves Premiership Player
1988 – 3rd Reserves Best & Fairest
1989 – 5th Best & Fairest
1991 – Equal 9th Best & Fairest
1992 – 2nd Best & Fairest
1992 – All Australian
1995 – Premiership Player
1997 – Pre-Season Premiership Player

Jim Clark played 161 games for the Blues from 1943 – 1951. (Photo: Carlton Football Club)

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Anthony Pavlou stands proudly beside his painting of Alex Jesaulenko’s moment of brilliance against Richmond in the 1972 semi-final replay. (Photo: Carlton Media)

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Former Carlton President Ivan Rohrt has passed away.

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Former Carlton bootstudder Dennis Turner has died.

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Gary Higgins by the locker bearing his old No.29. (Photo: Carlton Media)

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Happy 40th birthday to Damian Lang.

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From the Blueseum

Damian Lang

Career: 1998
Debut: Round 7, 1998 vs Port Adelaide, aged 22 years, 67 days
1025th Carlton Player
Games: 3 (8 AFL games in total)
Goals: 1 (5 AFL goals in total)
Last Game: Round 9, 1998 vs North Melbourne, aged 22 years, 81 days
Guernsey No. 44 (1988 – 1989).
Height: 191cm
Weight: 78kg
DOB: 3 March, 1976

Lang played 5 games with the Sydney Swans in 1994 and was later rookie listed by Carlton and played 3 games from round 7-9 in 1998. He was a 191 cm forward who could kick goals. In the reserves he could mark on the lead – he wasn’t a pack marker – from 40 metres out on the boundary and slot it through. His shots on an angle were a real highlight, and surely signs of a youth spent in the pocket. Unfortunately, Lang was also only 78kg and wasn’t of the size to be a key forward in the AFL.

He remained on the rookie list from 1997 to 1999 but did not manage a senior game in either of the 1997 or 1999 seasons and was not retained beyond 1999.

In 2000, Damian Lang headed off to play with VFL club Coburg-Fitzroy with ex-Blues teammates Matthew Hogg and Damien Lock. Lang then headed to Ovens & Murray team Wangaratta Magpies for the 2002 season.

Lang was originally recruited from Leeton, NSW.

Happy 80th Birthday to Ron Barassi.

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From the Blueseum

Ron Barassi

Career : 1965 – 1969
Debut : Round 1, 1965 vs Hawthorn, aged 29 years, 49 days
Carlton Player No. 768
Games : 254 (50 at Carlton)
Goals : 329 (35 at Carlton)
Last Game : Round 7, 1969 vs Melbourne, aged 33 years, 80 days
Guernsey No. 31
Height : 178 cm (5 ft. 10 in.)
Weight : 83.5 kg (13 stone, 2 lbs.)
DOB : 27 February, 1936
Captain: 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968
Coach: 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971
Premiership Coach: 1968, 1970

Two days before Christmas, 1964, the Carlton Football Club created a furore by announcing that it had signed Melbourne legend and six-time Premiership player Ron Barassi as captain-coach of the Blues for five years. The news rocked football to its foundations; at that time Barassi was to Melbourne what Lennon was to McCartney – or what sunshine was to summer. It was absolutely unthinkable that he would agree to play football for anyone else but the Demons.

Barassi was born to play for Melbourne. His father had represented the Red & Blue in 58 games – including the 1940 flag side – before he was tragically killed in action in World War II. When Ron’s mother remarried and moved to Tasmania, he stayed on in Melbourne to further his promising football career and boarded at the home of Melbourne’s great coach Norm Smith. Under Smith’s guidance, Barassi became a champion. At 178 cm and 83 kg Ron was a solid type, not particularly blessed with an abundance of pure football talent. But he was tough, relentless and an inspirational leader who hated to lose any sort of contest. In Melbourne’s golden era of 1953 to 1964, Ron played in no fewer than eight Grand Finals, winning six Premierships – two as captain. Wearing the same number 31 guernsey as his father, he was the games’ outstanding ruck-rover, and its most recognisable figure. Meanwhile, at Princes Park the Blues were in turmoil. Torn by disputes and divided loyalties, Carlton had made the finals only five times since their last Premiership in 1947. It was time for swift and drastic action. A reform group of committeemen and influential supporters, headed by club dentist George Harris and former star back pocket Laurie Kerr swept to power in an election landslide on December 7, 1964.

Harris became the new President. He immediately declared the position of senior coach vacant, and called for nominations. More than twenty hopefuls replied, including the incumbent, Ken Hands, but few were interviewed – because Harris had heard a whisper that Barassi was interested in spreading his wings into coaching. Harris quickly contacted Barassi and arranged a meeting. After long discussions, Ron expressed interest and promised a quick answer. The following morning he called back, saying; “I’m sorry. I’ve changed my mind. I can’t leave Melbourne.” Harris however, refused the rebuff. At seven o’clock the next morning he was back on the phone to the Barassi home. It took three hours more of earnest discussion, but when Harris did eventually put the phone down, Ron was the new captain-coach of the Old Dark Navy Blues.

The news shook the VFL like never before. Author John Powers in his book The Coach wrote; “The move shattered many people’s beliefs in the traditional concepts of sportsmanship and loyalty. Letters of protest poured into the papers and the Melbourne Football Club. Small boys wept.” Leonie Sandercock wrote in Up Where Cazaly? ; ”It signified a critical point in the development of football in Melbourne, a turning point after which traditional notions of the game revolving around club loyalty meant less and less. It marked the beginning of the new professionalism, in which money and new challenges spoke louder than old loyalties.” Carlton’s tough back-pocket Ian Collins was just bewildered. He later said; “First of all, one committee was in, then they were all out. Then the coach, with whom I’d had four years experience – was suddenly removed, and a player I didn’t like terribly much was fronting up to coach at Carlton. Such things don’t happen very often. They were a shock to the system.”

And indeed there were some shocks in store. Barassi was a fierce disciplinarian as well as a visionary. His coaching ethos revolved around eliminating errors in both the individual and the team. “Practice makes perfect is bullshit,” he would say; “only perfect practice makes perfect.” Most importantly, his methods worked, and the Blues improved markedly from tenth to sixth in 1966 (when Ron himself finished 3rd in Carlton’s Best and Fairest award) to third in 1967. Then, after 49 games in Carlton’s number 31 guernsey, Barassi retired as a player late in the ’68 season, and guided the Blues into the Grand Final against Essendon from the coaches box. Before more than 112,000 people at the MCG, Carlton won a cliff-hanger by three points, and made Ron an instant Carlton legend.

In 1969 Barassi made a surprise comeback for one last game – in round 7 against his beloved Demons, to complete 50 matches for Carlton and ensure that any sons that came along in the future would be eligible to play for either the Blues or Melbourne under the father-son rule as it then stood. However, in an anti-climactic end to a great playing career, Barassi tore a hamstring in the third quarter and was coaching from the boundary line when the final siren sounded to herald a 30-point win to the Blues. Later that year, Carlton met Richmond in the Grand Final, and were were over-run in the final quarter by a fanatical Tiger team that was too quick and too committed for a Carlton side that gave it’s all, but fell short when it mattered most.

Precisely twelve months later came Barassi’s finest hour. It began at half time in the 1970 Grand Final, when Carlton trailed Collingwood by 44 points. With nothing to lose, Ron gambled on a bold tactic that he had nurtured for years – telling his team to play on at every opportunity, and to use handball to keep the ball moving at all costs. He also made some astute positional changes, and sent 19th man Ted Hopkins on to the ground in a forward pocket. In one of the greatest comebacks in finals history, Hopkins ran riot, kicking four goals as the Blues steamrolled Collingwood to win by 10 points.

Ron Barassi departed Princes Park following the 1971 season. In a VFL career in which he played 254 games and kicked 329 goals, he had worn our Navy Blue guernsey in 50 games, kicked 35 goals, and coached six seasons for two memorable Premierships. More importantly, he had swept away the complacent attitudes that existed before his arrival, and built the platform for Carlton’s dominance in the next decade. After leaving Carlton, he made a brief comeback as a player for VFA Club Port Melbourne in 1972 (where, coincidentally, he was coached by Ian Collins) before hanging up his boots for good to become heavily involved in the media.

Two seasons later, he signed to coach North Melbourne in similar circumstances to those that had occurred prior to his arrival at Carlton. The ‘Roos had had a shakeout, and were hellbent on success. Some clever recruiting paid off, and Barassi won two more Premierships at Arden Street in 1975 and 1977. In 1981 he returned to Melbourne at last, but during five years at the helm couldn’t lift them to a flag. Long an advocate of Australian Football as a truly national code, Barassi next answered an SOS from the Sydney Swans in 1993 but couldn’t lift them from the bottom rungs of the ladder in his three year stay. Despite limited success, one of his primary roles in Sydney was to lift the profile of the battling club , and it should not be overlooked that he blooded a lot of youngsters during his time in the Harbour City, many of whom helped them reach the 1996 Grand Final.

Still one of the most recognisable faces in the country, Barassi remains heavily involved in the game that has been his lifelong passion. Melbourne and The Kangaroos have legitimate claims to his allegiance, but he will forever be revered at Carlton for that wonderful stroke of genius – one day in September, 1970.

The late Colin Prosser. (Photo: Sunshine Coast Daily)

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Left to right: Graeme Emanuel, Ron Barassi, Graham Donaldson and John Nicholls embrace at the final siren during the 1968 Grand Final.

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Happy 40th birthday to Matthew Lappin

———

From the Blueseum

Matthew Lappin

Career: 1999 – 2007
Debut: Round 1, 1999 vs Essendon, aged 23 years, 36 days
Carlton Player No. 1 030
Games: 196 (Carlton; Overall: 251)
Goals: 221 (Carlton; Overall: 247)
Guernsey No. 12
Last game: Round 20, 2007 vs Essendon, aged 31 years, 182 days
Height: 182cm
Weight: 78kg
DOB: 17 February, 1976
Leading Goalkicker: 2001

What a pleasure it is to write a profile on Carlton star, Matthew Lappin. There’s no doubt that “Skinny” Lappin was a club favourite given his small stature, amazing skill levels, freakish goal abilities at times and well, let’s be honest, cheap trade price where we grabbed him from the Saints (together with Pick 58) in return for picks 22 and 53 in 1998. Begley and Schwarze were OK players, but nowhere in the league of our Matty Lappin.

Lappin was originally drafted in 1993 with pick #40. Over 5 seasons with the Saints, it is fair to say that Lappin, although seen to be skilled, underperformed with 55 games and 26 goals.

But the trade to the Blues suited Lappin, who found himself the key small forward on the list. He made an immediate impact, with a Mark of the Year in his first game for the Blues – Round 1, 1999, being leading goalkicker in 2001 (49 from a small forward) and fast became one of the senior players on the team. He has also become very reliable for injuries with minimal games lost, playing 178 games with the Blues between 1999 and 2006 at just under 20 a season.

But the best was probably yet to come. Although Lappin turned down a lucrative offer to join Richmond in 2002 as the Blues fell to the wooden spoon, Lappin was thrown back to defence in 2003 and 2004 and became a key rebounding defender. In 2004, Lappin made the All-Australian team and was very very very unlucky not to win the inaugural John Nicholls Medal, coming third in a tight contest with David Teague and Nick Stevens. The money was on Lappin, who had a standout year. In 22 games at half back he averaged 20.2 disposals and 5.2 marks a game

Lappin had a tougher year in 2005, as the entire team struggled to win matches and was thrown around all over the field. He still played all 22 games, averaging 16.8 possessions, kicking 25 goals and finishing sixth in the Best and Fairest. Come seasons end and some tricky contract negotations, Lappin remained loyal to Carlton, signing up for 2 more years. He was made vice captain in 2006.

In 2006, Lappin played the first 13 games but his unbroken run of 69 consecutive league games came to an end in Round 14 after withdrawing just before the game with a knee injury. He returned in Round 15 but struggled to get into the game, only gathering 7 possessions. He spent the next 2 games in the VFL but returned in Round 18 with renewed enthusiasm and had between 23 & 36 possessions in the final 5 games of 2006. For the seventh straight year, Lappin finished in the top 10 at the club for possessions. Even though 2006 had been an up and down year for Matthew, he again finished in the top 10 in the Best and Fairest.

Lappin would have an up and down 2007; from a slow start in Rounds 1 and 2 to a pivotal forward role in our resurgence in the Essendon clash, to near BOG against the Eagles the week after and 5 goals against the Bulldogs, and then again to a few quiet games in the middle of the year. Lappin would kick 18 goals to Round 15 to prove himself still dangerous around goals. He played his 250th AFL game against St Kilda in Round 17 and again managed to kick a goal.

Shortly after pulling out of the Round 21 clash versus North with a sore back apparently caused by unfolding a stroller, and on a sad day for Carlton, Lappin announced his retirement after 196 games in Navy Blue, and 251 AFL games overall. Unfortunately, Blues fans were not able to say goodbye to Lapin in his final game in Round 20, but he would leave us with 2 lasting memories in that game through his two majors of the day – a wonderful left foot impulse snap from 25 metres out after a contest, and a rollicking bouncing shot from outside of the 50.

Skinny was a Champion player and a favourite of many Carlton fans. Lappin also had International Honours in 2001, 2005 and 2006, proving again that he was one of the best, and most elusive, players in the land of this era.

Lappin’s stellar contribution to the Club was not yet complete, however, with his appointment as an Assistant Development Coach for 2008. The role saw him continue in Northern Blues colours in 2008 before moving to an Assistant (Forward line) Coach role at the Club for the 2009 and 2010 seasons. Lappin became part of Mick Malthouses’ stable in 2011 when he was appointed as an assistant coach at Collingwood.

Would lose weight just looking at a buffet. Although devoid of build his ability to control his body in any number of positions was exceptional. A complete player who could play well above his height when required, his flexibility allowed him to play the role of Mr. Fix-it to perfection.

Milestones

50th Carlton Game: Round 1, 2001 vs Fremantle
100th Carlton Game: Round 7, 2003 vs St Kilda
150th Carlton Game: Round 13, 2005 vs Western Bulldogs
100th AFL Game: Round 21, 2000 vs Port Adelaide
150th AFL Game: Round 2, 2003 vs Collingwood
200th AFL Game: Round 8, 2005 vs Geelong
250th AFL game: Round 17, 2007 vs St Kilda

100 Goals (Carlton): Round 18, 2001 vs Essendon
200 Goals (Carlton): Round 18, 2006 vs Melbourne
100 Goals (AFL): Round 4, 2001 vs Adelaide
200 Goals (AFL): Round 3, 2005 vs Collingwood

Career Highlights

1999 – Mark Of The Year
1999 – 9th Best and Fairest
2001 – Leading Goalkicker
2001 – International Rules Series
2001 – 3rd Best and Fairest
2002 – 10th Best and Fairest
2003 – 4th Best and Fairest
2004 – 3rd Best and Fairest
2004 – All Australian
2004 – Most Carlton Votes in the Brownlow Medal
2005 – Pre Season Premiership Player
2005 – International Rules Series
2005 – 6th Best and Fairest
2006 – 8th Best and Fairest
2006 – Internatonal Rules Series
2007 – Pre-Season Premiership Player

By Tony De Bolfo

The Carlton Football Club is opening its doors to all senior footballers who ever wore the dark Navy Blue guernsey, together with former officials and staff members, to a reunion gathering and free barbecue breakfast at the old ground.

The club, in conjunction with the Spirit of Carlton, is extending the invitation to the aforementioned – together with their wives and/or partners, children and/or grandchildren – to also view a closed training session involving the current-listed footballers under Brendon Bolton’s watch on the morning of Saturday, March 5.

Carlton is opening up the inner sanctum – the locker room – to enable former players to be photographed on the day with their loved ones by the lockers carrying their old guernsey numbers. The club will also hold a free barbecue breakfast at which those players and officials who so ably served Carlton can renew their old friendships.

Recently setting the tone were descendants of dual Carlton Premiership player the late Charlie McInnes – his daughter Laurie Morgan, grandson Luke and great granddaughters Ava and Alexa – who paid the old ground a welcome visit to be photographed in front of ol’ Charlie’s No.31 locker.

For the McInnes clan, it was as if the club had given Charlie back.

“It was absolutely sensational to see Dad’s locker, but to have Luke there and my two granddaughters to share the moment made it really lovely,” Laurie said.

“It means a lot to go back. I’d only ever been in the old rooms a couple of times and they weren’t done up like they are now.”

Charlie McInnes (left) and Rod McLean join Richmond’s Dick Harris in pursuit of the pigskin, MCG circa 1930s. (Image courtesy of Luke Morgan)

Charlie, who died in neighboring Brunswick at the age of 76 back in 1992, represented Carlton in 118 senior appearances from 1938 to 1946, which also took in the wartime years. Those 118 games included the 1938 and ’45 Premiership games against Collingwood and South Melbourne, both of which Charlie started as 19^th man.

According to Laurie, her father famously (or perhaps infamously) crossed paths with the former Collingwood rover Lou Richards, when the latter debuted for the black and whites at Princes Park in the 6^th round of 1941.

“Lou mentioned Dad in his book and I suspect it’s a tale, but he said he introduced himself to Dad before the first bounce and Dad shook his hand and wished him well – but by the time the ball was bounced Lou was flat on his back having been punched in the face,” Laurie said.

“I remember Dad talking to me about the old boots they used to wear. He said they all wore highcuts, which is why there were never any ankle injuries.

“In truth, Dad was a quiet man. He didn’t say very much and he’d finished playing by the time I was born. But he had a love for Carlton all his life and in later years he used to take me to the old ground.”

As with Laurie, Charlie’s grandson Luke was similarly captivated by the Carlton locker room, specifically the locker No.31.

“It was fantastic to be in the room, it was quite emotional for Mum and it was great to get my girls involved too. They’re only young and this was their first experience in being immersed in the club,” Luke said.

“I was very nervous walking in to the locker room because I know it’s normally off limits. I had that incredible feeling walking in – it was very special and truly exciting.”

Carlton Past Players & Officials Reunion

Where: Ikon Park
When: Saturday 5 March 2016, 9:00am

Expressions of interest to attend should be directed to the form on the following page. http://www.carltonfc.com.au/news/2016-02-09/past-playersofficials-reunion-planned

As the Blues prepare to take on archrival Essendon at their traditional home in Princes Park, we’re giving you the chance to soak up all the pre-game excitement and atmosphere right before the first bounce.

On Sunday 28 February the Spirit of Carlton is holding a game-day luncheon in the George Harris Room at Ikon Park.

Col Kinnear will be your MC, while other past players including Geoff Southby will also be in the room.

Your ticket includes a two-course lunch and beverage package, as well as reserved seats to watch the Blues take on the Bombers.

CLICK HERE TO BOOK

Happy 80th Birthday to Len Cottrell.

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From the Blueseum

Len Cottrell

Career: 1958 – 59
Debut: Round 3, 1958 v Geelong, aged 22 years, 89 days
Carlton Player No. 715
Games: 12
Goals: 2
Last game: Round 18, 1959 v North Melbourne, aged 23 years, 214 days
Guernsey No. 32
Height: 185cm
Weight: 83kg
DOB: 27 January, 1936

Cottrell played 12 games for the Blues commencing in season 1958. He was recruited from Myrtleford.

In his debut match against Geelong The Age said;
“Recruit Len Cottrell did a splendid job in his first League match but, against a team with stronger rovers, the Blues could have been in trouble.”

He kicked 2 goals and wore the No. 32 Guernsey.

Happy 70th birthday to Ian Robertson.

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From the Blueseum

Ian Robertson

Career : 1966 – 1974
Debut : Round 1, 1966 vs Richmond, aged 20 years, 90 days
Carlton Player No. 779
Games : 129 (125 at Carlton)
Goals : 86 (85 at Carlton)
Last Game : Round 8, 1974 vs Footscray, aged 28 years, 120 days
Guernsey No. 34
Height : 185 cm (6 ft. 1 in.)
Weight : 89.5 kg (14 stone, 1 lb.)
DOB : 25 January, 1946
Premiership Player 1968, 1970, 1972

A familiar figure to generations of young fans as a television commentator with the Channel 7 network, Ian Robertson had previously been a star in three Premiership teams for Carlton – an elegant, pacey, versatile player who was a brilliant exponent of the running drop-kick.

Born in suburban Footscray in 1946, Ian Anthony ‘Robbo’ Robertson grew up in the lush farming country around Wonthaggi in south-east Victoria. By his mid-teens, everyone at Dalyston Football Club was predicting a VFL career for the rangy key forward, so early in 1966, Ian’s father wrote to the Footscray Bulldogs, requesting a trial for his son. But when no answer came from the Western Oval, another letter was sent to Carlton Football Club, and the Blues’ new captain-coach Ron Barassi replied with an invitation to a trial game. Impressed with the tall youngster’s attitude as much as his ability, Barassi signed him on the spot, and their association couldn’t have begun at a better time. After years of mediocrity, Carlton had stunned the football world by recruiting Barassi, and the Navy Blues were on the road back to Premiership glory.

Robertson’s first senior game was played on Anzac Day, 1966, against traditional rival Richmond at the MCG. It was a big occasion and Carlton’s half-forward line was very well synchronised. Flankers Bryan Quirk and Jim Pleydell wore guernsey numbers 32 and 33 respectively, while at centre half-forward Robertson made his debut in number 34. The trio kicked five goals between them, but an open, entertaining contest eventually went to the Tigers by one straight kick.

Robbo went on to play eight games in his debut season, switching between centre half-forward, full-forward, centre and wing. At 185 cm he was appreciably taller than most wingmen of that era, yet he was rarely beaten for pace when he played out wide. And his marking skills and penetrative kicking made him an exciting prospect. Although Carlton missed the finals in 1966 by ending up sixth on the ladder, with a little more luck (we lost four games by a goal or less) the Blues might have sneaked into the top four.

Before the 1967 season began, Footscray complained to the VFL that Carlton’s recruitment of Robertson contravened AFL rules. According to the Bulldogs, Ian’s father had assured them that his son would play at the Western Oval before Carlton intervened. Those allegations were strenuously denied by the Blues, and the matter dragged on for weeks – only ending when the Blues reluctantly agreed to settle the matter by clearing our big-hearted ruckman Ken Greenwood to the ‘Dogs as compensation for missing out on Robertson.

Carlton’s determination to hang on to Robbo was quickly justified, when he blossomed into one of the rising stars of the VFL in ’67. Barassi shared the conviction that tall wingmen were an advantage in ideal conditions on the MCG at finals time, and so challenged Robertson to make one side of every league ground his own. More often than not, that’s exactly what he did. He played in all 20 of Carlton’s matches in ‘67, and kept his attacking skills ticking over with a handy contribution of 21 goals. Carlton finished second on the ladder to qualify for ourfirst final series for five years, only to be knocked out of contention by Richmond and Geelong in successive weeks. Even so, there was no doubt that the Blues were building momentum.

The re-emergence of Carlton as a league power began with our 1968 Grand Final victory over Essendon – the Blues’ first Premiership in 21 long years. On a windswept MCG, in front of almost 117,000 spectators, Carlton beat a dogged Bombers team by three points in a low-scoring thriller. The Blues’ superb centreline of Gary Crane, Brent Crosswell and Ian Robertson – aided by the ruck dominance of captain John Nicholls – was the springboard for the Premiership that had been yearned for at Princes Park since 1947.

Boosted by that performance in his first Grand Final, Robbo stepped up a gear in 1969, when his spectacular long kicking and rock-solid consistency made him one of the most popular of Carlton’s stars. After beating Collingwood in the second semi-final of that year, the Blues qualified for their second successive Grand Final as favourites against Richmond. But on match day the Tigers staged a massive form reversal, and with Robbo’s opponent Billy Barrot chopping us up across the centre, they eventually triumphed by 25 points.

The deep disappointment of that loss lasted only until the 1970 Final Series, when Robbo wiped the slate clean with another fine game in the most famous Grand Final of them all. Facing a fit and confident Collingwood at a packed MCG, Carlton trailed by 44 points at half time, forcing Barassi into engineering a football miracle. Urging his team to play on at all costs; to run, to back each other up and handball, handball, handball – he saw his boys come roaring back into the game after the long break. Kicking eight goals to three in the third quarter, and five goals to one in the last, the Blues overwhelmed Collingwood to snatch the flag by ten points. Understandably, Barassi, Robbo and every Bluebagger celebrated long and hard after that incredible day.

Robbo made his fourth Grand Final appearance and earned his third Premiership medal in 1972, this time at the gleeful expense of Richmond. The Tigers had beaten Carlton convincingly in three of their four matches that year, including a replay of the drawn second semi-final. After thrashing the Blues by six goals in the rematch, the Tigers became red-hot Premiership favourites.

However, it was Carlton who came out smoking on Grand Final day, fired-up by the passion of new captain-coach John Nicholls. Looking to unsettle the Tiger’s confidence, Nicholls and the match committee opted for a game plan of all-out attack from the first bounce, and the ploy worked beautifully. In another superb display of skill and accuracy in front of goal, Carlton slammed on a record score of 28.9. 177, coasting in the last quarter to allow Richmond to salvage some pride and finish with a scoreline of 22.18. 150. Robbo controlled his wing all day as part of a dominant centreline, while Peter Jones, Robert Walls, Bruce Doull, Alex Jesaulenko and Nicholls himself were simply outstanding on another glorious day for the Old Dark Navy Blues.

That third ascent to the top of the football mountain marked the high point of Robbo’s career. He had missed only a handful of senior games in the previous five years, but in 1973 he was struck down by injury and played just one game. Form and fitness then eluded him into early ’74, and he was forced to wait until round six before he was given another opportunity at senior level. Whatever the cause, the old spark was proving hard to rekindle for Robbo, but it was still a shock for many Carlton Fans when the club announced that all parties had agreed to his mid-season transfer to – yes, Footscray.

Ironically, Robbo’s last game for Carlton – in round six of 1974, was against the Bulldogs at Princes Park – and ended in a draw! One week later he was at the Western Oval, where he managed just four games before bowing to the inevitable and hanging up his boots at season’s end. In an enviable career, he had racked up 129 games, 87 goals and three Premiership medals.

Happily, Robbo wasn’t immediately lost to either the Carlton Football Club or the wider football community. For many years after his retirement he was a regular on the sports night circuit and later, a long-serving television football commentator. While he was sometimes accused him of bias toward the Blues, most fair-minded viewers appreciated his incisiveness behind the microphone. Carlton supporters on the other hand, loved the obvious fact that Robbo always wore his heart on his sleeve – and his heart beat Navy Blue.

Milestones

50 Games: Round 2, 1969 vs Hawthorn
100 Games:Round 16, 1971 vs St Kilda

Happy 90th birthday to Allan Greenshields.

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From the Blueseum

Allan Greenshields

Playing Career : 1947 – 1949
Debut : Round 1, 1947 vs Melbourne, aged 21 years 86 days
Carlton Player No. 614
Games : 16
Goals : 2
Last Game : Round 6, 1949 vs Geelong, aged 23 years 119 days
Guernsey Nos. 29 (1947-48) and 19 (1949)
Height : 178 cm (5 ft. 10 in.)
Weight : 74 kgs (11 stone, 9 lbs.)
DOB : January 22, 1926
Premiership Player : 1947

A capable utility who was a reserve in Carlton’s 1947 Premiership team, Allan Greenshields spent three seasons at Princes Park without managing to establish himself in a strong Carlton line-up. He earned the wry nickname of ‘Splinters’ in his debut year, by being named on the bench in ten of his thirteen senior games.

Two of those matches were memorable finals victories over Essendon; the 1947 second Semi Final, and two weeks later, the famous last-minute triumph over the Bombers in the Grand Final. Yet despite that promising start to his career, Greenshields played only three more times for the Blues over the next two seasons, and in 1949 decided that perhaps there were more opportunities elsewhere. He played his last match in navy blue against Melbourne at Princes Park in round 6, 1949, and went out on a high note when he slotted both of his Carlton career goals in a solid 39-point win over the Demons.

Later that same year, he turned out for St Kilda, in the first of 57 appearances he would make as a defender for the Saints in a six-year stay at the Junction Oval.

Greenshields played at various clubs, that included; Rainbow, Pascoe Vale and Coburg.