Blog

Happy 60th birthday to Daryl Gutterson

 

————–

From the Blueseum:

Playing Career : 1971
Debut and only Game : Round 10, 1971 v Fitzroy, aged 18 years 27 days
828th Carlton Player
Goals : Nil
Guernsey No. 47 (1970 – 1972).
Height : 183 cm (6′ 0″)
Weight : 71.3 kgs (11.3)
DOB : May 8, 1953

Wearing guernsey #47, Gutterson played a single game for Carlton in Season 1971. Gutterson was 183cm in height and weighed 71 kilos. His game was against Fitzroy at Princes Park and Carlton won by 15 points.

Gutterson was recruited from Lalor and graduated from the Blues U/19’s.

Gutterson wore No.54 in 1970 when he played reserves grade for the Blues.

John Goold

Neil Chandler

Peter Hall

Paul Hurst

Brent Crosswell

Vin Waite

David McKay

Brian Walsh

Cliff Stewart

Alex Jesaulenko

Before the club enters in the significant events of 2014 to celebrate the Carlton Football Club’s 150th anniversary it is important that as many past players are actively involved as possible. That is why it is vital to become a member in 2013. As a result a membership mailout will commence shortly asking those past players that we have contact details for to join up.

Sadly, there are about one hundred past players who we are unable to contact due to lack of information. We are seeking to contact these men. If you are a past player who has not been in contact with the Spirit of Carlton or know a past player who would be happy to be contacted please let us know via email: admin@spiritofcarlton.com.au.

 

 

 

Peter Kerr

John Leatham

Ricky McLean

Adrian Gallagher

Lance Styles

Just a reminder that FREE premium reserve seats are available to Spirit of Carlton members for this Satuerday’s clash between the Blues and the Crows.

 

If you want these limited seats it is first in best dressed. If you haven’t signed up as a member as yet this is your opportunity to do so and get access to premium seats.

 

Please call Mandy on 03 9389 6256

A happy 86th birthday to Kevin Hart today!

Sadly, we do not have any contact details for Kevin, if anyone who reads this knows his whereabouts please let us know via email at admin@spiritofcarlton.com.au

 

——-

From the Blueseum:

 

Career : 1950
Debut : Round 1, 1950 vs Melbourne, aged 23 years, 1 day
Carlton Player No. 638
Games : 5
Goals : 3
Last Game : Round 11, 1950 vs Fitzroy, aged 23 years, 71 days
Guernsey No. 36
Height : 171 cm (5 ft. 7 in.)
Weight : 70 kg (11 stone)
DOB : April 21, 1927

A rover who made his senior debut for Carlton the day after his 23rd birthday, Kevin Francis Hart wore guernsey number 36 in his five matches for the Blues in 1950. Born in Moreland, he honed his football skills at Preston YCW, before he served briefly as an 18 year-old with the Royal Australian Navy in 1945 – the last year of World War II.

In 1947 he was recruited by Fitzroy, and appeared in 19 matches for the Maroons over three seasons. He crossed to Carlton in 1950, and was selected as a reserve twice before he made his on-ground debut when Carlton took on Geelong at Kardinia Park in round 9 of that year. A huge crowd of 23,000 packed into the stadium, and the home fans were in delirium when Geelong led by five goals at three quarter time. But helped by a freshening wind, Carlton swamped the Cats in the last fifteen minutes to win by a point. Hart shared the roving with Fred Stafford and was effective, kicking two goals.

That was the high-point of Hart’s brief stay at Princes Park, because he played only twice more for the Blues, and finished up after a surprise 25-point loss to his former club in round 11. His career as at Carlton lasted five matches over exactly 70 days, and produced a 3-2 win/loss result.

In 1951 Hart accepted an offer to join Diamond Valley League club Macleod, and played there for two seasons to round off his football journey.

Happy 83rd birthday to Doug Beasy!

————–

From the Blueseum:

 

Career : 1951 – 1959
Debut : Round 1, 1951 vs Hawthorn, aged 21 years, 4 days
Carlton Player No. 647
Games : 129
Goals : 124
Guernsey No. 17
Last Game : Semi Final, 1959 vs Melbourne, aged 29 years, 148 days
Height : 178 cm (5 ft. 10 in.)
Weight : 75.5 kg (11 stone, 12 lbs.)
DOB : 16 April, 1930
Best and Fairest 1956
Victorian Representative 1955 & 1957

The son of 1932 Carlton captain Maurie Beasy, Doug Beasy was a fine player in his own right through nine lean seasons at Princes Park in the 1950s. An elusive midfielder-forward with neat foot-passing skills and an uncanny ability to lose his man, he won Carlton’s Best and Fairest award in 1956, and emulated his father by representing Victoria a year earlier.

Born Douglas Edward Beasy, he was raised on the family farm at Dunolly and won his local club’s Best and Fairest as an 18 year-old in 1948. The following year he came to Carlton, and made his senior debut on a half-forward flank in the Blues’ first match of 1951 – a memorable game against Hawthorn at Princes Park. Beasy was quietly effective and kicked his first career goal that afternoon, but he was outshone by his fellow first-gamer Keith Warburton, who dazzled the crowd by booting seven goals on debut at full-forward, in a big win by the Blues. Afterwards, Beasy was eased into the senior side over the season, playing the first two, and the last five games of the year inguernsey number 17. Carlton wound up in seventh spot on the ladder and missed the finals, but Doug continued on with the Reserves and was outstanding in a hard-fought Grand Final victory over Essendon.

Always confident of his ability, Beasy established himself in Carlton’s senior side in 1952, and didn’t miss a game. In 20 matches as a rover, half-forward or centreman, he kicked 20 goals and earned five Brownlow Medal votes – the third-best at the club behind Ollie Grieve andFred Davies. In early September, he played finals football for the first time, when Carlton lost a cliff-hanger Semi Final to Fitzroy by a solitary point. But from then on, he was to make only two more finals appearances during his career – losing both – as the Navy Blues entered a period of mediocrity that was to last a decade.

In June 1955, Doug Beasy and John James both represented Victoria against South Australia at the MCG. In his first representative outing, Doug came on to the ground as 20th man late in a game already won and had little influence. Two years later, on July 20, 1957 at the North Hobart Oval, Doug kicked three goals against Tasmania in Victoria’s 25-point victory. Between those two games for the Big Vee, he edged out his good mate James to win Carlton’s Best and Fairest award in 1956.

In 1957, Beasy celebrated his 100th game for the Blues by kicking three goals in a good win over Footscray in round 14 at Princes Park. By the end of the home and away rounds, Carlton had climbed back in the top four – only to be knocked out of contention in the first Semi Final by Hawthorn. Beasy shared the roving duties with Leo Brereton on that remarkable Saturday afternoon, when a monster hail-storm flooded the MCG at half-time, and the Blues lost by 23 points.

Almost exactly two years later, Doug’s VFL career wound up when he limped off the MCG on the way to his third successive loss in a final. In front of 72,000 spectators on a sodden and windy MCG, the Blues were no match for eventual premiers Melbourne in the 1959 second Semi Final, going down by eight goals. Beasy didn’t play in the following week’s Preliminary Final loss to Essendon, and announced his retirement from VFL football at year’s end.

In 1960, Doug was appointed captain-coach of VFA club Box Hill. Playing in the centre for the Mustangs, he won the 1961 Liston Trophy as the Association’s Best and Fairest player, even as his team languished near the foot of the table.

Milestones

50 Games : Round 16, 1954 vs Essendon
100 Games : Round 14, 1957 vs Footscray

100 Goals : Round 18, 1957 vs Essendon

Footnote

As at 2012, the Beasy football genes are still represented at elite level, in the person of Hawthorn’s Brendan Whitecross. The grand nephew of Doug, and the great-grandson of Maurie Beasy, Whitecross is a promising 183 cm midfielder-forward recruited by the Hawks at number 29 in the 2007 National Draft.

“Carlton footballer Doug Beasy went out to the North Balwyn Methodist Church Sunday School anniversary Sunday to talk to children. He took with him a Carlton guernsey to illustrate some point in his address.
“What is this?” he asked the goggle-eyed 300, pointing at the guernsey. They told him.
“And what does this mean?” he asked, pointing to the entwined C.F.C. on the front. They told him.
“And what’s this for?” he asked, pointing at the number on the back. One boy told him.
“For when you get reported.”
(Argus September 27 1955 p1)

Happy 84th to Tom Simmons today!

 

——–

From the Blueseum:

 

Career: 1948 – 1949
Debut : Round 6, 1948 vs Essendon, aged 19 years, 39 days
Carlton Player No. 624
Games : 27
Goals : 23
Last Game : Round 16, 1949 vs Collingwood, aged 20 years, 115 days
Guernsey No. 2
Height : 183 cm (6 ft. 0 in.)
Weight: 82.5 kg ( 13 stone)
DOB : 13 April, 1929
Best First Year Player: 1948

Tom Simmons was recruited from Northcote Juniors. A superbly built 6-footer, he was a star junior all-round athlete, winning the 100 and 200 yard championships of Melbourne Technical Schools, as well as the high and long-jump titles. He also won the 220 yards dash at the Inter-Technical schools championship at Olympic Park. Later, the warm days of summer were filled by playing seconds for the Carlton Cricket Club.

Tom amassed an impressive 27 games in just two years, playing mainly on either the half back or half forward flank for the Blues – all before the age of twenty one. During this time Tom’s display of impressive pace, long kicking, high marking and a determined appetite for the ball made him a difficult opponent for opposition teams. Laurie Kerr opined, “He looked and performed like Mighty Mouse on the field.” Umpire Harry Beitzel referred to young Simmons on the field as ‘champion’. The future looked bright, Carlton had just played off in a Grand Final, a strong team full of champions pointed to a bright future, and perhaps Tom might soon also rise to the lofty level his potential suggested.

Then in a pre-season game before the 1950 season, a knee injury tragically struck down the young athlete. However, Tom was determined to return. After two knee operations, full fitness eventually returned to the point where in the professional running season over the summer of 1950-51 Tom won the Terang, Ararat and Maryborough Gifts within a few short weeks. Then a decision had to be made; to continue on the lucrative professional running circuit (albeit off shorter marks) for events such as the Bendigo 1000 and Stawell Gift – or attempt to resurrect a fledgling footy career.

Tom chose to return to his beloved Blues, aiming to fill the hole left by the retirement of champion full forward Ken Baxter. Regular track watchers soon observed the young Simmons at training, taking spectacular marks over seasoned veterans such as Bert Deacon and the towering Jack Howell. With pace to burn, and a strong pair of hands, the position of full forward seemed a natural progression for Tom. It is not clear what happened next; perhaps it was the demands of the lateral movement of football rather than the straight running of sprinting that pressured an already weak knee, or perhaps it was the sudden rise of freakish goalkickerKeith Warburton – but sadly, Tom never got to play another senior game for the Blues.

Tom married his sweetheart Lorraine the following year, and forged a successful career as an industrial chemist working for companies such as Revlon and Estee Lauder. Tom and Lorraine raised a family of seven children, and Tom regularly attended Carlton games with his family for years after his football career ended.

Happy 81st birthday to Carlton past player, Kevin O’Brien today!

———————-

From the Blueseum:

Career: 1954 – 1957
Debut: Round 3, 1954 vs Richmond, aged 22 years, 20 days
Carlton Player No. 680
Games : 9
Goals : 3
Last Game : Round 12, 1957 vs Hawthorn, aged 25 years, 86 days
Guernsey Nos. 22 (1954-56) and 37 (1957)
Height: 188 cm (6 ft. 2 in.)
Weight: 100 kg (15 stone, 10 lbs.)
DOB: 10 April, 1932

A vigorous ruckman with strong family ties to the Carlton Football Club, Kevin James O’Brien was born in Melbourne’s inner-western suburbs at Newport, and recruited by the Blues from Parade College at Bundoora in 1953.

A nephew of Carlton Hall of Fame member Paddy O’Brien, and brother in-law to North Melbourne’s Bryan ‘Skinny’ Martyn, Kevin wore guernsey 22 in his first couple of seasons at Princes Park, which began on a high when he was a member of the Blues’ 1953 Reserves Premiership team.

He made his senior debut in a defeat by Richmond at the Punt Road Oval in round 3, 1954, and kicked his first career goal the following week against Footscray at Princes Park, in an extraordinary game that saw the Bulldogs’ full-forward Jack Collins boot nine goals in the first half (and none thereafter) as the Bulldogs held off the fast-finishing Blues by 11 points. The following Saturday, Kevin’s third match brought up his first win – by 3 points over Essendon at Windy Hill in round 5.

In 1955, O’Brien was granted leave of absence by the club, but retained on the list “to be considered for selection when available.” As things turned out, that wasn’t until midway through 1956, when Carlton lost to Melbourne at the MCG in round 13, and he spent most of the afternoon sitting outside the boundary as 19th man.

In 1957 O’Brien switched to guernsey 37 before adding another five matches to his tally. In four of those games, he started from the bench as either 19th or 20th man – including his last appearance for the club in a nine-point win over Hawthorn at Glenferrie Oval in round 12.

Happy 81st birthday to Blues past player, Harry Sullivan today.

—————————————

From the Blueseum:

Career : 1950 – 1954
Debut : Round 18, 1950 vs South Melbourne, aged 18 years, 139 days
Carlton Player No. 646
Games : 31
Goals : 16
Guernsey No. 2 (1950), No. 3 (1951 – 54)
Last Game : Round 13, 1954 vs Melbourne, aged 22 years, 99 days
Height : 183 cm (6 ft. 0 in.)
Weight : 82.5 kg (13 stone, 0 lbs.)
DOB : April 8, 1932

Harry Sullivan joined Carlton from Brighton Technical School in 1949 at the age of 17, and played in our Under 19 Premiership side in that same year. Over the next two seasons he made his way up through the Reserves, and was selected for his senior debut in round 18, 1950, when Carlton finished off a dismal year by losing to South Melbourne by almost six goals at Princes Park.

By then, the strongly-built youngster was looked upon as a likely replacement for Carlton’s champion centre half-forward Ken Baxter, who was due to retire at season’s end. But as Sullivan’s potential couldn’t be properly assessed until he had played more games at the top level, he was sent to the key forward post in round 6, 1951 and stayed there throughout the season.

By the end of that year, there was no denying that Sullivan’s all-round skills were quite good – the problem was that as a key forward, he just didn’t kick enough goals. His first 15 matches produced only 12 majors, with a best haul of two. He was briefly tried in defence in 1953 – with unspectacular results – and although his season ended on a bright note when he was a member of that year’s Reserves Premiership team, it seemed as though his future at Carlton lay as a spare parts player and a regular bench-warmer.

Understandably, Harry wasn’t happy with that situation, especially when he wasn’t selected in the seniors again after round 14, 1954. So, after 31 games in five seasons at Princes Park, he was granted a clearance to Collingwood.

His first season at Victoria Park was much like those that came before; 10 games, 5 goals and regular demotion to the seconds. Then, in early 1956, someone had the bright idea of trying Harry at full-back, and a star was born.

In September of that year, Sullivan was at full-back for the ‘Pies in their Grand Final loss to Melbourne, and played there again when they defeated the Demons two years later to deny Melbourne four flags in a row. Cool under pressure, near-impossible to shake off, and renowned for his ability to punch the ball from his opponent’s grasp at precisely the right moment, Harry also represented Victoria in 1958, on the way to 78 games and immortality among the Collingwood legions.

Surprisingly, Sullivan retired from VFL football in 1960 at the age of 28, due to the pressures of his burgeoning business interests.

The latest edition of the AFLPA’s ‘Inform’ magazine can be read by Clicking The Link.

Just a reminder that FREE premium reserve seats are available to Spirit of Carlton members for this Thursday’s opening clash between the Blues and the Tigers.

 

If you want these limited seats it is first in best dressed. If you haven’t signed up as a member as yet this is your opportunity to do so and get access to premium seats.

 

Please call Mandy on 03 9389 6256

Happy 88th Birthday today to Jim Clark!

Career : 1943 – 1951
Debut: Round 7, 1943 vs Melbourne, aged 18 years, 86 days
Carlton Player No. 582
Games : 161
Goals : 2
Last Game : Round 18, 1951 v Essendon, aged 26 years, 160 days
Guernsey No. 26
Height : 178 cm (5 ft. 10 in.)
Weight : 76 kg (12 stone)
DOB : 24 March, 1925
Premiership Player: 1945, 1947
Victorian Representative : 1948, 1949, 1951
Club Best & Fairest 1951

Invariably described as loyal, brave and determined, James Robinson (Jim) Clark was a star for the Blues through the uncertain years of World War II, and the youngest member of Carlton’s 1945 Premiership team. Playing alongside Bert Deacon and Bob Chitty at half-back in that torrid ‘Bloodbath’ Grand Final against South Melbourne, Clark stood his ground – time after time – when it mattered most. His persistence and ability under pressure that day earned the respect of his opponents and his team-mates alike.

Two years later, he won his second flag when Carlton beat Essendon by one point in another fabled moment in club history. Seemingly headed for defeat deep into time-on in the last quarter of the 1947 Grand Final, the Blues snatched a last-ditch victory when rover Fred Stafford swooped on the ball at half-forward, and goaled on the run from 25 metres. Again, Deacon and Clark – this time joined this by Jim Baird – held the Carlton defence together and provided the springboard for the last-quarter attacks that eventually brought victory.

With those two VFL Premierships to his name by the age of 22, it may have seemed that Clark’s career had peaked – but this was far from the case. Carlton met Essendon again for the 1949 flag, only this time the Bombers were far too good and thumped the Blues by 73 points. Essendon’s sensational full-forward John Coleman was the difference between the two sides; his sixth goal late in the last quarter was his 100th for the season. Although the year ended in disappointment, Clark enjoyed another good season and held his place in the Victorian state team for a second successive year.

After three Grand Final appearances in six years, Carlton hit the wall and slipped to eighth in 1950, and seventh the year after. But while the Blues were struggling as a team, Jim Clark’s career peaked on a personal note when he was a popular winner of Carlton’s Best and Fairest award. As well, he was selected for Victoria a third time, and became the youngest Carlton player to reach the 150 game milestone in round 6 of that year against Melbourne at the MCG. It was a record that would stand for 21 years, until eventually surpassed by Adrian Gallagher in 1972.

A very happy 50th to Neil Gaghan today!

 

——-

From the Blueseum:

 

Career : 1985
Debut : Round 11, 1985 vs Collingwood, aged 22 years, 78 days
Carlton Player No. 928 
Games : 3
Goals : 0
Last Game : Round 13, 1985 vs St Kilda, aged 22 years, 90 days
Guernsey No. 52 
Height : 183cm
Weight : 79kg
DOB : 24 March, 1963

When the ill-fated Brisbane Bears were established at Carrara on the Gold Coast in 1986, the AFL decreed that to supplement the fledgling club, each of the other league teams were required to release two or more players to them.

One of Carlton’s nominations was Neil Gaghan, a 23 year-old utility who had managed just three senior games for the Blues before taking a prominent role in Carlton’s 1986 Reserves Premiership. Neil agreed to the move, and travelled north to play another three senior games for the Bears in 1987, but was then delisted. Having taken a liking to life in the Sunshine State, Gaghan settled in Brisbane, where he joined the Kedron-Grange Football Club and gave them good service for a number of seasons.

In 1993, Gaghan took over the role of coaching Kedron-Grange, where he was ably assisted by two very high-profile ex-Blues in Jim Buckley as part-time football manager, and Wayne Johnston as the club’s star new recruit. Then, only three weeks into the season, Gaghan stepped down from his role because of work commitments – thus allowing Johnston to become captain-coach of the club.

Neil’s younger brother was an absolutely outstanding prospect as a junior, and would have been eligible to go to Carlton from one of the Blues’ prime recruiting zones. Sadly, he was killed in his mid-teens in a car accident on the Hume Highway.

Neil Gaghan was originally recruited through Fawkner / Moomba Park and then the Blues Under 19’s. At a very young age, he had also played with the Blues Little League in 1974.

Career Highlights

1984 – 7th Reserves Best & Fairest
1985 – Equal 6th Reserves Best & Fairest
1986 – Reserves Premiership