Spirit of Carlton Past and Present
We represent the past players and officials of the Carlton Football Club
Calling all past and present players and officials! Here is your opportunity to represent the Carlton Football Club again in competition with the AFL Combined Past Players bowls day where teams compete for the Ken McKaige Cup.
Details of the day are below, please contact Len Davies using the contact details below if you would like to take part in the day. If you are an SOC member we will pay for your participation.
2012 Bowls Day Flyer – November
Happy 40th to Ben Sexton!
From the Blueseum:
Career: 1996
Debut: Round 3, 1996 v Fremantle, aged 23 years, 168 days
1008th Carlton Player
Games: 4
Goals: 1
Last game: Round 14, 1996 v North Melbourne, aged 23 years, 250 days
Guernsey No. 25
Height: 191cm
Weight: 90kg
DOB: 29 October, 1972
Ben Sexton was originally drafted by the Western Bulldogs (then Footscray) who must have been impressed by the performance of Michael Sexton, Ben’s older brother and Carlton star.
Unfortunately for Ben his time at the Western Oval ended a few years later. Sexton played from 1991 to 1995, in this time he played 39 games and booted 32 goals.
Ben was traded to Carlton for James Cook after the 1995 Premiership win, and was welcomed with open arms. It was clear that Carlton were hoping for another Sexton in Michael’s mold. Instead, Ben played only 4 games, mostly in defence. However, he did kick a goal. Another brother Stephen Sexton played at Carlton but only at reserves level in 1995.
Ben was delisted after the 1996 season.
Noel Ascot Blackburn, the Carlton Football Club’s former Honorary Treasurer and Finance Committeeman through the mid-1970s and early 80s, died in Portland last Sunday at the age of 84.
Blackburn assumed duties as Treasurer from John Perriam (the former Carlton director who still serves the club’s finance department in a part-time capacity) in June 1974 during the reign of George Harris. He came in at a particularly trying time for the club’s administrators, given that the then secretary Bert Deacon – Carlton’s first Brownlow Medallist – had suddenly died whilst in office some five months previous.
Deacon was replaced by Allen Cowie (who himself died in office just two years later) and it was Cowie, according to Perriam, who encouraged Blackburn to join.
“Allen Cowie, Noel and myself all worked at International Harvester . . . that’s how we got to know eachother,” Perriam said.
“At International Harvester in those days there was an internal chief auditor who used to tour the states and Noel was junior auditor to the chief. He was a smart fellow and a good bloke.
“Noel never really followed the football until Allen first joined Carlton in the early 1960s. When Allen got involved Noel became interested and in the end he joined Carlton.”
Blackburn was a Carlton devotee who leant the club countless hours negotiating contracts with some of the club’s true greats of the game including Alex Jesaulenko no less.
At the other extreme, he manned ticketing booths at the club, selling finals admission passes to supporters who had faithfully queued at the ground for hours.
Notwithstanding the on-field achievements which punctuated his time in administration, Blackburn lent his energies as a director of the Carlton Football Club Social Club with the likes of Perc Bentley, Laurie Kerr and Ian Rice. He was also party to the planning for the construction of the old Hawthorn Stand (now the Richard Pratt Stand) at Visy Park.
He was also there when the club successfully negotiated an unprecedented naming rights sponsorship with the American-based AVCO Financial Services Ltd. for what was then the largest sum ever afforded a VFL club – $135,000 over three years.
Blackburn is survived by his wife Bonnie of 59 years, daughters Robyn, Debbie, Suzie and Karen and their partners, and seven grandchildren.
His funeral takes place this Saturday at Portland’s St Stephen’s Anglican Church, commencing at 11.00am, with a private cremation to follow.
Happy 70th Birthday to Ian Collins today!
From the Blueseum:
Career : 1961 – 1971
Debut : Round 1, 1961 vs St Kilda, aged 18 years, 173 days
Carlton Player No. 737
Games : 161
Goals : 49
Last Game : Round 22, 1971 vs Collingwood, aged 28 years, 308 days
Guernsey No. 19
Height : 175 cm ( 5 ft. 9 in.)
Weight : 73.5 kg (11 stone, 8 lbs.)
DOB : 24 October, 1942
Premiership Player 1968
Carlton Hall of Fame (2001)
President: 2003 – 2006
A courageous, uncompromising back pocket in the Blues’ 1968 Premiership team, Ian Collins went on to serve as Secretary-Manager and President through some of Carlton Football Club’s most successful, and later, most turbulent times.
After rejecting overtures from St Kilda and Melbourne, Collins arrived at Princes Park in 1960. He was widely regarded as a ready-made league footballer following an impressive junior career at his home town of Sale in Gippsland, from where he had starred in various representative teams as a quick and skilful centreman or half-forward flanker. At 175 cm and 74 kg he struggled at first to cement a regular place in a team not short of smaller, pacey types, until he was tried as a back pocket in his second year. Almost immediately, he made the last line his territory, and began forging a reputation as a courageous and difficult opponent in the number 19 guernsey.
In 1962 Carlton made the finals after many years in the football wilderness, and played Geelong in the Preliminary Final for the right to meet Essendon for the flag. In a willing, sometimes spiteful encounter, Collins suffered a broken jaw and a split tongue. Carlton won the match, so Collins was determined he would be playing the following week. Somehow, he managed to conceal the severity of the injury, and was far from our worst performer. Essendon, however proved too good.
Six years on, Carlton met the Bombers again for the 1968 Premiership, and turned the tables to claim our first flag in 21 seasons. Collins was solid as always on a great day when wingman Garry Crane was the Blues’ best in a hard-fought three point win. Alongside Collins at full-back as usual was Wes Lofts, and the duo were a daunting proposition. Later, Lofts served as the Blues’ Chairman of Selectors for many years, and he and Collins forged a strong partnership at board level.
Collins might well have collected a second Premiership medal if he had not suffered a serious achilles tendon tear that cost him the entire 1970 football season. While it was a severe blow to his sporting aspirations, the forced holiday did have an upside, in that “Collo” was at least able to complete his tertiary studies in accountancy. The skills he acquired were to prove more than handy when he announced his retirement from league football following the 1971 final series. He was 29, with 161 games and 49 goals to his credit. He spent the following season of 1972 as captain-coach of VFA club Port Melbourne (where one of his players was his former coach at Carlton, Ron Barassi), then hung up his boots for good to prepare for bigger things.
Happy 92nd birthday to Dan Beavais!
From the Blueseum:
Career : 1945
Debut: Round 8, 1945 vs Geelong, aged 24 years, 232 days
Carlton Player No. 607
Games : 4
Goals : 5
Last Game : Round 12, 1945 vs Melbourne, aged 24 years, 260 days
Guernsey No. 17
Height : 187 cm (6 ft. 1 in.)
Weight : 86 kg ( 13 stone, 8 lbs.)
DOB: 20 October, 1920
Dan Beauvais had a brief 4-game career at Princes Park in 1945 – one of the most tumultuous years in history. It was the year when World War II finally ended with the atomic bombing of two Japanese cities, and when the Carlton football club won a famous, controversial seventh VFL flag in the ‘Bloodbath’ Grand Final victory over South Melbourne.
One of ten young men to wear the Old Dark Navy Blue for the first time in 1945 was Dan Beauvais, a 24 year-old from Jeparit who did well when he came off the bench and kicked two goals in Carlton’s good win over Geelong at Kardinia Park in round 8.
Beauvais was rewarded with a place in one forward pocket the following week (alongside Lance Collins and Ron Hines) and put through another three majors during Carlton’s 9-point loss to Footscray at Princes Park. After this sixth loss of the year, the Blues were languishing in ninth place on the ladder, well out of finals contention.
However, a shock win over second -placed North Melbourne at Arden Street in round 10 revived the Blues spirit, especially when Collins returned to form at full-forward and kicked six terrific goals. Beauvais didn’t trouble the scorers that afternoon, but was still a little unlucky to lose his place in the side when the versatile Ken Baxter returned from injury the next week, and Carlton at home beat South Melbourne by six points.
Beauvais spent just that one week in the seconds before he was recalled as 19th man for round 12 against Melbourne. He sat on the pine throughout the game, even as Melbourne rattled home, kicking 4.1 to Carlton’s 2.1 in the last quarter at Punt Road. The Blues held on to win by 1 point, and moved to within 8 points of the top four.
Even so, Beauvais was apparently dissatisfied with his progress at Carlton, and soon afterward decided to switch clubs to Hawthorn. Carlton wanted him to stay, and the matter dragged on for some weeks until Dan was eventually released. Thereafter, while the Blues continued climbing the mountain toward the finals and eventually succeeded, Beauvais joined the Hawks, and played another seven matches before retiring in 1946.
He stood just five feet three, but there was a lot of dirt in Tommy Downs . . . and while his time at Carlton only took in 56 games, few before or since can lay claim to causing greater controversy.Born in inner city Fitzroy in 1901, Tommy cut his teeth – quite literally we suspect – at Preston in the rough and tumble of the VFA. These were the immediate years post-World War I, and took Tommy through to 1921 when he joined neighbouring club Northcote.
At Northcote, Tommy won a handsome reputation as a footballer, earning what was then known as the Recorder Cup for competition Best and Fairest player in 1925. In time, Tommy attracted the interest of Carlton’s talent scouts and by early 1927, when the first market tremors hit the United States’ financial markets, he resolved to make a go of it at Princes Park.
At Carlton, Tommy followed in the footsteps of his late cousin Lyle Downs, a more tragic figure there never was. In July 1921, Lyle, then 24, had collapsed and died of a heart attack in the change rooms after being party to an innocuous Thursday evening training session at the old Carlton ground.
It’s fair and reasonable to assume that Tommy’s time at Carlton through the 1927-’29, ’31 and ’33 would have landed him more than his game quota of 56 had he not been suspended for a total of 60 games in all (which is precisely 38 more than our very own David Rhys-Jones).
In all, Tommy had his number taken three times on a total of four charges, and clearly he reserved much of his fire and brimstone for Richmond. On the first occasion, in the 1928 semi-final against the Tigers, he was booked and duly rubbed out for 12 games for striking Jack Fincher (and Richmond’s Allan Geddes copped eight for biffing Tommy).
In the wake of the 1929 Preliminary Final, Tommy was also found guilty on two charges; one of striking, and the other of elbowing Richmond’s Don Harris. With the VFL judiciary under intense pressure to clean up the game, Tommy was used as the scapegoat and copped a whopping 19-game suspension for his troubles.
Then came the ill-fated return match against Richmond at Punt Road Oval in July, when Richmond’s captain Maurie Hunter reeled out a pack, and the field umpire reached for his book.
Found guilty of the worst crime in football – kicking – Tommy was suspended for 29 games, which ruled him out of the remainder of 1931, and all of 1932. But both player and club were united in their belief that Tommy was innocent of the charge, and that he had been convicted on his record rather than the evidence.
Support for Tommy in Carlton town was vociferous. In September of ’31, more than 1000 supporters converged on Princes Park to debate the case and lend morale backing to their beloved Blue. It was reported that at times the then President Dave Crone had difficulty controlling the mob, as devotees criticised the then VFL for failing to quash the verdict and contributed funds to support Downs’
A meeting of Carlton members was also called to protest the decision, and a crowd of around 2000 packed Brunswick Town Hall. Tommy’s case was taken up by Robert Menzies, QC (later Sir Robert, Prime Minister of Australia and Carlton’s No.1 ticketholder). Regrettably there was no avenue of appeal in place at that time, so Tommy and the club were forced to pay a very high price for what turned out to be an umpire’s mistake.
Tommy Downs and his golfing friends enjoy a well-deserved drink.
Some years later, The Sporting Globe published a photograph taken by a Richmond spectator at the match, which clearly showed that it was not Downs who had made contact with Hunter, but a teammate who had accidentally laid boot on the Tigers’ front man.
Despite the massive backlash, Tommy quietly served out his suspension, and came back to play again at Carlton in 1933. By then 32, he managed six games and six goals before retiring for good.
Tommy Downs died at the age of 80 in the Carlton premiership year of 1981. Recently a relative, Anne Downs, came forward with some wonderful images and documents relating to Tommy’s colourful career, including a poem drafted on the eve of his comeback in the ’33 season.
The following poem, entitled Our Hero and penned by a supporter unknown, is an 80-year throwback to Carlton in the days of coach Dan Minogue.
We’re waiting for the coming of our nippy little Rover,
They say that Carlton’s not a team without our Horrie Clover,
True he keeps them firm and steady, helps them take a stand,
But to even things up nicely, needs Downsie there on hand.
He waits his opportunities, and whenever there’s a chance,
He’s got the ball before them, his opponents lend a dance.
We hope he’s feeling fit and fine, before the Tigers he toes the line,
And when he hears the Tigers roar, remember twas them he did penance for,
And show them how to play the game, on him for lameness there’ll be no blame.
Cheers for our Hero, to welcome him back,
For Carlton had yet another trump in their pack.
The Magpies may warble, the Tigers loud roar,
Or any of the others that’s left in the four.
We’ve got what we wanted, our weakness made strong,
We’ll show to each team as we journey along.
Hats off! Cheer again, for premiers to be,
With the help we’ll receive from our Rover Downsie.
Max Howell, the 12-game Carlton centreman who joined the Blues on the end of their premiership season of 1947, has died at the age of 84.
Howell, the Benalla boy who appears in the club’s official portrait of the ’47 Premiership squad, first broke into the Blues’ senior line-up in the seventh round of ’48.
Named on a wing, he got his chance against Melbourne on the MCG after the ’47 Premiership player Fred Fitzgibbon was ruled out with injury. This was Norm Smith’s 200th senior appearance for the Redlegs who duly won by 51 points despite the best efforts of Carlton’s Ollie Grieve on the last line.
Howell managed to hold his place for another week, before Fitzgibbon was declared fit again for round nine. He returned to the reserves, but won a recall to play in the back pocket in three more games mid-season.
Howell managed just three senior appearances in 1949, each as 20th man, then was assigned the roving role by Senior Coach Perc Bentley in the opening round of 1950, once again against Melbourne. He kicked his one and only goal for the Blues that afternoon.
At Princes Park the following Saturday he was part of the winner’s circle after Ray Garby and Ken Baxter each booted five goals in a high-scoring mid-table clash against North Melbourne. Howell lined up at half-forward in that one, but didn’t trouble the scorers.
That would prove to be Howell’s last match for Carlton, and he promptly pursued his career with VFA outfit Oakleigh.
The former Carlton Premiership ruckman and coach Ken Hands, a lifelong friend of Howell’s, conceded that Max was “an in an out one” in his seasons as a player at Princes Park.
“I couldn’t tell you much about Max’s time at Carlton, because he was there all too briefly in the late 1940s,” Hands said. “I know that he went to Oakleigh after he couldn’t cut it at Carlton and was a premiership player there. For a time he also worked at KG Luke’s as a metal spinner before going door-to-door and for many years he was a keen golfer.
“Max was a terrific bloke. He was always spot on – he was never any different. Over the past two years he was in hospital more than anywhere else, but he never gave up and he fought all the way.”
Max is survived by Mavis, his wife of 61 years; sons John and Peter, daughters-in-law Karen and Dianne; and seven grandchildren whom, according to a death notice placed by son John, he brainwashed into barracking for the mighty Blues.
Happy 70th Birthday to Roger Hoggett!
From the Blueseum:
Career : 1964 – 1965
Debut : Round 11, 1964 vs Geelong, aged 21 years, 272 days
Carlton Player No. 766
Games : 12
Goals : 0
Last Game : Round 11, 1965 vs St Kilda, aged 22 years, 271 days
Guernsey No. 36
Height : 178 cm (5 ft. 10 in.)
Weight : 82.5 kgs (13 stone, 0 lbs.)
DOB : October 5, 1942
Recruited from Longford, Tasmania in 1964, Roger Hoggett was a capable centreman who played 12 senior games for Carlton in successive seasons, and was voted our Reserves Best and Fairest in his debut year.
After impressing in his first half-dozen games in the lower grade, Hoggett was selected to make his senior debut as 20th man in Carlton’s clash with Geelong in round 11, 1964. Wearing guernsey number 36, Roger got just the briefest of runs in the last few minutes against the Cats, and was omitted the next week. He returned to play in rounds 13 and 14 against Hawthorn and Melbourne respectively, but from then on, spent the remainder of the year with the seconds. There, his influence around the middle of the ground won him the Best and Fairest, and kept him firmly in the selectors’ sights.
During the 1964 off-season, Princes Park was at the centre of one of the most sensational episodes in VFL history, when a boardroom coup installed the rambunctious George Harris as the 21st President of the Carlton Football Club. Harris immediately created a storm by convincing Melbourne champion Ron Barassi to take on the role of captain-coach of the Blues. Barassi accepted, and hit the ground running. Over the summer months, Hoggett and the rest of Carlton’s list was put through a searching pre-season.
Quite early on, Barassi decided that Ian Collins was his preferred centreman, and told Hoggett that he could make the back pocket his domain if he wanted it bad enough. However, after the first six matches of 1965 Barassi had a rethink, and in round 7 he switched Collins to the last line of defence against Essendon. Collins’ tenacity and dash was instrumental in a surprise win by the Blues, and from that afternoon on, Hoggett’s place in the side was tenuous at best.
In round 11, Carlton met St Kilda for the first time at Moorabbin. It was a tense, even contest all afternoon between two of the top four sides, and scores were level with just a minute or two to play. It was then that former Blue Bruce McMaster-Smith snapped a clever goal, and pinched the win for the Saints. Hoggett was one of five Blues omitted from the seniors after that loss, and he wasn’t able to reclaim his place before season’s end. Shortly afterwards, he was told that his services were no longer required.
Three years after leaving Princes Park, Hoggett was appointed captain-coach of NSW powerhouse Western Suburbs, and led the Magpies to a Premiership in his first season.
Last night the George Harris room at Visy Park hosted over fifty past players and officials including amongst others, Percy Jones, Vin Catoggio, Jimmy Buckley, Peter Fyffe, Max Dixon, Ron De Iulio, Syd Jackson, Geoff Southby and Bill Redmond. Players from every decade from the 1940s to the 2000s were in attendance to socialise, reminisce and talk about the future of the club we all love.
Our MC for the night was Ian Robertson who welcomed everyone before David Rhys-Jones took to the stage to say a few words on behalf of the SOC executive. Before long Carlton President was at the lectern giving some insight into what had been a very eventful week at the club.
The next speaker was Rohan Welsh who gave some great insight into his recent experiences with coaching youth teams including the Oakleigh Chargers.
It was wonderful to see Sam Cranage as well. It was his first time back at the club for ten years and the past players gave Sam a warm welcome back. Sam talked to us about his time at the club and what he has been doing since. The Spirit of Carlton would love to see more and more recent past players become involved as we all have a common bond and kinship which should be celebrated.
Then it was time for Manager of Football Operations, Andrew McKay to speak and he generously gave his time to speak in great detail about the 2012 season and the clubs plans for 2013. The past players at the function were very enthusiastic in the question and answer session where Andrew fielded many insightful and interesting questions about the club.
A big thank you to Peter Fyffe for supplying the door prize for the night, some superb Glenwillow wines. We hope next years dinner can be even bigger and better and encourage all past players and officials of the club to come along and enjoy it with us.
A special mention should be made to Bill Redmond who made the trek from Bendigo via train to attend on the night. Bill played for the Blues in the 1940s and is now in his 80s and still fighting fit, a superb effort!
We thank Bill for the following feedback on the dinner:
Ken Hopper and I attended the Spirit of Carlton, Past and Present, 2nd Annual Dinner.
Ken is 88 years of age and I am 85. We both played for the navy blues in the 1940’s and I was privileged to inherit what is now the famous number 2 Guernsey from Ken.
We were introduced on the night by the M.C. Ian Robertson, and were warmly welcomed by those in attendance.
Could you be so kind as to pass on our sincere appreciation to the Spirit of Carlton Executive members for what was a wonderful evening which both Ken and I enjoyed immensely.
It is always great to revisit the Carlton Football Club, as we have both done from time to time over many years, and we hope to be able to continue to do so on occasions such as the Annual Dinner just held.
Thank you again to all responsible for the evening, the effort and the occasion is very much appreciated.
Kind regards,
W.(Bill) Redmond.
A very happy 70th birthday to Doug Ringholt.
——————–
From the Blueseum:
Career : 1963 – 1964
Debut : Round 6, 1963 vs Geelong, aged 20 years, 259 days
Carlton Player No. 753
Games : 4
Goals : 0
Last Game : Round 6, 1964 vs St Kilda, aged 21 years, 257 days
Guernsey No. 35
Height : 178 cm (5 ft. 10 in.)
Weight : 72 kg (11 stone, 5 lbs.)
DOB : 8 September, 1942
Doug Ringholt was born with an impressive football pedigree. His father, Stuart, won Coburg Football Club’s Best and Fairest award in 1940, before playing in no fewer than six Premiership sides with West Coburg. Later, he was a leading coach in the Essendon District Football League. One of Doug’s uncles, Jack Conley, played 135 games for Carlton, including the sensational 1947 Grand Final victory over Essendon, and one of his early mentors at Coburg Technical College was legendary Hawthorn and North Melbourne coach, John Kennedy senior.
With all that going for him, it was almost compulsory that Ringholt would stand out as a junior star at West Coburg prior to joining Carlton’s Under 19 squad in 1960. A slim flanker with a good aerial skills and plenty of determination, he worked his way up through the grades to make his senior debut as 20th man against Geelong in round 6, 1963 at Princes Park. The Blues suffered their first loss in what would eventually be a deeply-disappointing season, as Doug warmed the bench for most of the afternoon.
As so often happens to newcomers, Ringholt was omitted in his second week, only to be recalled as a reserve again for Carlton’s round 8 clash with Collingwood. On that cold and drizzly Saturday afternoon, a huge crowd of 38,000 squeezed into Princes Park, and saw a low-scoring, arm-wrestle of a match that eventually went to the Magpies by two points.
Those two games were the only taste of the big time for Ringholt in 1963. After biding his time in the Reserves for almost twelve months, he earned a recall at last in round 5, 1964, and ventured to the other side of Nicholson Street for a rematch against Collingwood at Victoria Park.
This time, Ringholt was included in the starting line-up, and forced to brave the gauntlet of spittle, rubbish and abuse that was hurled at him and his team-mates as he ran down the visitors race and out on to the arena to take up his position on a wing alongside Ian Collins and Cliff Stewart. Sitting fourth on the ladder and playing at home, Collingwood were raging hot favourites against the eleventh-placed Blues, and their first quarter showed why. Well on top, they kicked 6.7 to 2.2 in the opening term and coasted after that to win by 19 points.
Although that defeat really hurt the Blues, Ringholt was spared the axe, and asked to play on a half-back flank against St Kilda at the Junction Oval in round 6. The Saints weren’t doing all that well either – they were eighth, with 3 wins and 3 losses – but they were made to like champions by the inept Blues, who were thrashed by 48 points.
Early in the second half of that match, Ringholt was in the midst of his best game for the Blues when he was caught in a heavy collision involving Darryl Baldock of St Kilda and Gordon Collis of Carlton. Crashed into the rock-hard St Kilda centre square, Ringholt suffered damage to his back that was to hamper him for the rest of his life. “In consultation with coach Ken Hands, we decided that the team may be better served if I went off,” Doug recalled many years later. “In retrospect, I think my career would have been different if I’d opted to stay on.”
Carlton made eight changes to the team for the following week, including the omission of Ringholt with a severely bruised back. Eventually, he returned to the field with the Reserves, but as another wasted year wound down for the Blues it was obvious that Doug’s two-year tenure in Carlton’s number 35 guernsey was all but over.
He fielded offers from several interstate clubs, before accepting a recommendation from a former Blue in John Reilly, who convinced him to sign with the reigning WAFL premiers, Claremont. The Tigers used Ringholt at half back, and he gave them loyal and effective service. In just his third game in the WAFL, he ironed out West Perth captain Bob Spargo – establishing a reputation for tenacity that persisted throughout his 114 games over six seasons.
In 1970, a clash of wills with his coach Denis Marshall brought about Doug’s early retirement. He spent two years out the game, but was lured back to Claremont in 1972 to serve as the club’s runner when former St Kilda champion Verdun Howell took over the coaching role. Three seasons later, he repaid a debt in kind when he made a brief comeback for South Perth – coached by John Reilly – but lasted only seven matches before calling it quits for good.
During his years at Claremont, Ringholt developed a keen interest in blue water yacht racing – an interest that developed into a passion once his footballing days ended. As opportunities to join the crews of bigger and better boats came along, Doug was soon a regular at all the major ocean racing events in Western Australia. He participated in seven Sydney to Hobart races, winning Maxi Division honours on Freight Train in 1983, and fourth overall on Prime Suspect in 1984. Other notable contributions came aboard Allan Bond’s Apollo 3 in 1977, and Siska (under Roley Tasker) in 1979.
In more recent years, Doug has returned to grassroots football, serving as President of North Innaloo Football Club, and coaching youngsters in all age groups from Under 12 to Under 17.
A very happy 70th birthday to Bert Thornley.
——————–
From the Blueseum:
Career: 1969 – 1970
Debut: Round 3, 1969 vs Melbourne, aged 26 years, 228 days
Carlton Player No. 810
Games: 24
Goals: 3
Guernsey No. 13
Last Game: Grand Final, 1970 vs Collingwood, aged 28 years, 23 days
Height: 178cm
Weight: 80kg
DOB: 3 September, 1942
Premiership Player: 1970
Bert Thornley was a highly-credentialled West Australian rover who was recruited to Carlton in 1969, but who never really lived up to expectations. Before he headed east to Carlton he was captain-coach of East Fremantle in the WAFL. He played the last of his 24 games in the 1970 Grand Final, where he will forever be remembered by trivia buffs as the player coach Ron Barassi replaced at half time. Reserve Ted Hopkins was sent onto the field to boot four goals and spark the most famous revival in Grand Final history, as Carlton stormed home from 44 points down at the main break to beat Collingwood by 10 points.
Some years later, Bert said about that day; “I was shattered when Ron Barassi took me off, because there were a few of us that hadn’t done much. I was playing as second rover to Adrian Gallagher, and he would tell you he didn’t do much in the first half. But I never questioned Barassi’s‘s decision because I had enough faith in him to know it was right for the team and I remain very proud of that. It was a great side and a great club.”
After leaving Carlton, Thornley played at VFA club Preston and later coached at Torquay.
A very happy 80th birthday to John Chick.
—————–
From the Blueseum:
Career : 1952 – 60
Debut : Round 1, 1952 vs North Melbourne, aged 19 years, 237 days
Carlton Player No. 655
Games : 119
Goals : 29
Last Game : Round 18, 1960 vs South Melbourne, aged 28 years, 2 days
Guernsey No. 23
Height : 175 cm (5 ft. 9 in.)
Weight : 72 kg (11 stone, 5 lbs.)
DOB : 25 August, 1932
One of Carlton’s stars of the 1950’s, Johnny Chick was a talented wingman from Tasmania who forged a fine playing career in nine seasons at Princes Park. Determined and durable, he was a remarkably consistent performer, and won All Australian honours at the peak of his career in 1956.
Chick came to the Blues’ notice after starring for New Town in their 1951 TANFL Grand Final demolition of North Hobart. The very next year, the 19 year-old was at Princes Park, where he took a season or two to establish himself in Carlton’s senior side, but then became a crowd favourite.
In the number 23 guernsey previously worn by the great Bert Deacon, Chick finished among the top five in the votes for Carlton’s Best and Fairest each year between 1954 and 1957. In 1956, he represented Victoria in the ANFC Carnival in Perth, where his influence in a dominant VFL side was recognised when he was selected in the All Australian team.
In round 17, 1957, during a fiery encounter against Fitzroy at Princes Park, Johnny clashed with Fitzroy’s Wally Clark. He was reported by the field umpire, found guilty, and suspended for a whopping eight matches. A fortnight later, he was sorely missed as Carlton was well-beaten by Hawthorn in the first Semi Final.
Chick waited two more seasons for his first crack at finals football, but when it came at last in 1959, the Blues were found wanting. Having gained the double chance by finishing in second place on the ladder behind Melbourne, a ragged Carlton team lost to the Demons and Essendon in succession, to be bundled out in straight sets.
Chick served as vice-captain to Bruce Comben in his final two seasons, playing the last of 119 games for the club in a 19-point win over South Melbourne at the Lake Oval in round 18, 1960. In 1961 he returned to Tasmania to captain-coach New Town – by then renamed Glenorchy – and lifted the Magpies into a Grand Final in his first year.
Chick retired from the field in 1963, but maintained a close association with Tasmanian football for the next 20 years. His last coaching appointment ended in 1980, after two seasons at the helm of the North Hobart Demons.
In the year 2000, Chick was selected as a reserve in the Glenorchy Magpies’ Team of the Century.
A very happy 50th to Mark Buckley.
————–
From the Blueseum:
Career : 1982 – 1985
Debut : Round 18, 1982 vs Footscray, aged 19 years, 340 days
Carlton Player No. 905
Games : 27
Goals : 35
Last Game : Round 8, 1985 vs Richmond, aged 22 years, 266 days
Guernsey Nos. 55 (1982), 10 (1983-84), 4 (1985)
Height : 190 cm (6 ft. 2 in.)
Weight : 79 kg (12 stone, 6 lbs.)
DOB : 25 August, 1962
Fair-haired, tall and slimly-built, Mark Buckley had a short yet notable senior career with the Blues between 1982 and 1985, during which he completed a family connection. Mark’s father was 116-game Carlton defender Brian Buckley, while his brother Stephen played six matches at Princes Park in 1980 after a long apprenticeship in the lower grades.
Buckley is still a favourite of football trivia buffs to this day; in particular because he wore three different guernsey numbers in his career, and was the first Blue to wear number 55 in a senior match. He also wore number 10, and had the honour of briefly carrying the sacred number 4 for one game between the departure of Peter Bosustow, and the arrival of Stephen Kernahan.
Like his father and brother, Mark began at Carlton with the Under 19 team. A natural left-footer, he grew into a dangerous forward who took often-spectacular marks and was a reliable kick for goal. At thirds level his thin build didn’t matter, but as he worked his way through to the seniors he was to find his lack of bulk something of a handicap. Before worrying about that, though, he celebrated a Premiership with the Under 19s in 1979, in a team managed by his father Brian, and coached by Carlton Premiership star Bryan Quirk. He was recruited from St Mark’s, he had also played for Fawkner.
The Old Dark Navy Blues dominated the VFL between 1979 and 1982, winning three flags while costing ourselves a fourth in the aftermath the Harris/Rice boardroom brawl. The team was as strong as at any time in our history during those years, so just gaining a place on the list was a creditable achievement. Mark had enjoyed a good, consistent year with the Reserves by July 1982, so when he was named to make his senior debut on the interchange bench for Carlton’s round 18 match against Footscray at Princes Park, it was a just reward.
Buckley’s first game was an unforgettable experience for the youngster. Led by the dynamic Waynes; Johnston and Harmes, Carlton shredded the Doggie defence to kick 10 goals in the first quarter, and from then on, dominated the match. The Blues piled on the second-biggest score in our history; 30.21 (201) to 10.12 (72), as full-forward Ross Ditchburn helped himself to 6 goals, Ken Sheldon booted 4, and Buckley joined in the fun with two on debut.
Mark played off the bench for all three remaining rounds of the ’82 home and away season, but was left out when the finals got underway. Three weekends later, Carlton claimed our third flag in four seasons with a gutsy, determined Grand Final victory over Richmond – a triumph that set the seal on that team as one of the best of all time.
Buckley swapped to guernsey 10 in 1983, and burst into the new season in the traditional Grand Final rematch at Princes Park in round 1. This time, Carlton hammered the Tigers by ten goals, even though full-forward Ditchburn damaged a shoulder and was forced off the field just after half time. Buckley (who had taken a couple of good marks and kicked a goal during a brief run in the first half) was sent to the goal square in Ross’s place, and set the partisan crowd alight by marking everything that came his way. He kicked five impressive goals in the second half that afternoon – including a pearler from an impossible angle in the forward pocket.
That game showcased Buckley’s potential, but other teams weren’t prepared to concede him time and space like the Tigers did, and from then on he was closely marked whenever he was sent to the goal-mouth. When centre half-forward Mark Maclure was sidelined by injury mid-season, Buckley proved to be a capable replacement, although the team as a whole lost its edge and was bundled out of the finals in the first week by Essendon.
That was the high-water mark for Buckley’s career, because in 1984 the arrival of boom West Australian Warren Ralph and the return to full fitness of Mark Maclure squeezed him out of the senior team for all but two games, both of which he started from the bench. He switched numbers again in 1985, taking on the number 4 worn with such distinction by Peter Bosustow, but only got to wear it once for the senior team – in a 17-point win over Richmond in round 8 at Princes Park.
Sometime soon after that game, Mark decided (or perhaps was told) that he would get more opportunities somewhere else, and that his time at Carlton was up. In the following weeks while his future was decided, Mark finished off his career in style with the Carlton Reserves, kicking 16 goals in three matches before heading off to the Junction Oval to play with St Kilda. He added seven games and four goals to his tally with the Saints, and in 1987 rounded off his career with another four matches and two goals with the B
A very happy 80th birthday to Graham Gilchrist today.
From the Blueseum:
————————————
Career : 1952 – 1961
Debut : Round 18, 1952 vs St Kilda, aged 20 years, 9 days
Carlton Player No. 661
Games : 114
Goals : 26
Last Game : Round 18, 1961 vs Melbourne, aged 29 years, 11 days
Guernsey Nos. 26 (1952) and 28 (1953-61)
Height : 180 cm (5 ft. 11 in.)
Weight : 73 kgs (11 stone, 7 lbs.)
DOB : August 14, 1932
An elegant, versatile player who celebrated Premierships at Under-19 and Reserves level during his first few seasons at Princes Park, Graham Gilchrist went on to play more than 100 senior games for the Navy Blues in two different guernsey numbers between 1952 and 1961.
While studying at Coburg High School, Gilchrist joined Carlton’s Under-19 squad in 1949. Two years later he was appointed captain, and led his team to a grafting Grand Final win over Essendon. Agile and strong in the air, he often played at centre half-forward in his early days, until it became obvious that he was better-suited to the centre or a flank.
In August 1952, Graham was rewarded for his consistency at Reserves level by gaining senior selection for Carlton’s clash against St Kilda at the Junction Oval, in the second-last round of the year. In the number 26 guernsey previously worn by dual Premiership defender Jim Clark, he showed his wares in a strong victory by the Blues, but had to be content to return to Reserves level the following week.
In 1953, he switched to guernsey number 28 and again spent the season almost exclusively with the seconds, as an understudy to incumbent wingers Laurie Kerr and Johnny Chick. When Chick tore a groin muscle in mid-August, Gilchrist was called up for the last two matches of the season; against Hawthorn and North Melbourne respectively. He kicked his first career goal against the Kangas, before rejoining the Reserves for their finals campaign. On Saturday, 26th September 1953, Carlton seconds won their fifth lower grade Premiership by defeating Essendon in front of 80,000 fans in the Grand Final curtain-raiser at the MCG. Gilchrist played well across half-forward that afternoon, kicked two goals, and staked his claim for a regular place in the seniors throughout the following eight seasons.
Graham was unfortunate in that Carlton was a mediocre team for most of his career, and he played only three senior finals in his 114 games, including the 1957 first Semi Final loss to Hawthorn, and the 1959 Preliminary Final defeat by eventual Premiers Melbourne. Still, his pace, balance and smart disposal made him one of the first selected each week throughout his time at Princes Park, and he was always popular with his team-mates and fans alike. He notched up his 100th game against Collingwood at Victoria Park in round 8, 1960 – sharing the milestone with defender Denis Zeunert – and finished up after a remarkable contest against Melbourne in round 18, 1961 at Princes Park.
On that blustery afternoon, lowly Carlton led Premiership contenders Melbourne by 20 points at three-quarter time, and were on the verge of causing a boilover. In the centre, Gilchrist had the better of his opponent Laurie Mithen for three quarters, before the Demons charged home with a strengthening wind at their backs to pip the gallant Blues by one point. As well as bidding farewell to the VFL that day, Gilchrist kicked his 26th and last goal in Navy Blue. Carlton finished out of finals contention in eighth place on the ladder, but the clubs’ spirits were lifted enormously when star defender Johnny James won the Brownlow Medal, and first-year full-forward Tom Carroll was the League’s leading goal-kicker, with 54 majors.
50 Games: Round 9, 1957 vs North Melbourne
100 Games: Round 8, 1960 vs Collingwood
Under 19’s (3rds) Premiership Player and Captain 1951
Reserves (2nds) Premiership Player 1953
Peter “Percy” Jones and Rob Warnock
Last Friday afternoon I was amongst those who attended the spirit of Carlton’s “Taming The Tigers” function in the Victory Room at Etihad Stadium.
More than 600 Carlton people, some of them former Carlton premiership players, celebrated the two Grand Final triumphs of 1972 and ’82, both at Richmond’s expense.
I had an idea of what to expect – primarily because Carlton is in a privileged position to celebrate its premiership anniversaries almost on a yearly basis, whereas other clubs have very few Grand Final successes to hang their hats on.
As a consequence, the former Carlton players remain tightknit because of the precious successes they’ve celebrated, and that’s a great thing.
One of the Carlton players I refer to is Peter “Percy” Jones, the 249-game former Carlton ruckman. Now Percy has been part of four Carlton premierships – a quarter of those his old club has earned in total – which is quite amazing really. Some blokes are lucky to be around for four years let alone four flags, but Percy is one of the privileged few. So too Wayne Johnston, whose son Tomi is a good mate of mine.
Percy was one of a long line of premiership ruckmen in a great Carlton era – John Nicholls, Mike Fitzpatrick, Warren Jones and Justin Madden included, so it is always great to have a chat to him and hear some stories about the old days.
John Nicholls and David Parkin also enjoy reliving glory days, and for me their underlying messages really struck a chord. I remember sitting at the table with a few of my current teammates and thinking: “Imagine if this was us?”.
Funnily enough, I came to appreciate Carlton given my early allegiance to Essendon and the knowledge that both teams share the most number of premierships. I remember listening to the ’99 Preliminary Final in the car on a family holiday and understanding how great the rivalry was. It was a rivalry fuelled by history and the Carlton- Essendon games of today are still as big as they were then.
As you get older, your football life cycle changes. When you’re first drafted into the game you just hope to play a senior game, but as time goes on the bigger picture becomes more evident and as a collective group, your only ambition is plain and simple and that is win a Premiership. We could see it with the past players, the team spirit is still there – the more successful the team the stronger the bond and that will last a lifetime
Carlton’s stirring four-point win over Richmond provided the perfect tonic for last Friday’s “Taming the Tigers” luncheon – in celebration of the 30th and 40th anniversaries of Carlton’s Grand Final conquests of the yellow and black in 1972 and ’82
More than 600 people, the Carlton Senior Coach Brett Ratten and all members of the current senior playing group included, filed into the Victory Room as two of this club’s greatest triumphs were acknowledged with great gusto.
Members of the captive audience heard from the 1972 captain-coach John Nicholls, who revealed with methodical detail the master plan that delivered Carlton’s its 11th premiership with a record scoreline, They also heard from David Parkin as he conveyed with characteristic passion the events that conspired in his players favour to secure the second of the 1981-’82 back-to-back flags, and who rated his teams of that era on a par with any before or since.
Through the course of the afternoon, video interviews with the 1982 captain Mike Fitzpatrick (an apologist due to his commitments at the London Olympics as AFL chairman) and the reclusive Bruce Doull (the only man to have represented Carlton in both Grand Final triumphs) were screened. Peter Jones and Adrian Gallagher were also on hand to recount their memories of the ’72 Grand Final, as did Jim Buckley and Warren Jones in respect of ’82.
Current players Eddie Betts, Andrew Carrazzo and Zach Tuohy also took questions from resident MC and ’72 premiership player Ian Robertson, and in doing so conveyed their understanding and appreciation of the rich history that is uniquely Carlton’s.
Robert Walls, Alex Jesaulenko, Marc Murphy, Sergio Silvagni, Bryce Gibbs and Chris Judd.
Happy 80th birthday to Peter Webster today!
From the Blueseum:
———–
Playing Career: 1953 – 1959
Debut: Round 12, 1953 v Footscray, aged 20 years, 339 days
672nd Carlton Player
Games: 97
Goals: 6
Last Game: Semi Final, 1959 v Melbourne, aged 27 years, 37 days
Guernsey Nos. 33, 3
Height: 183 cm
Weight: 82.5kg
DOB: 6th August, 1932
Peter Webster played 97 games and kicked 6 goals after making his debut in 1953. Webster won the club’s 2nd Best Player award in the finals series for the Under 19’s team in their premiership year of 1951, he was also Vice Captain.
Webster was also a member of the reserves premiership team in 1953, after be recruited from Princes Hill, he graduated from the 4th’s through to the senior ranks.
Webster later coached Merebin in the powerful Sunraysia League.
Courageous and adaptable, Peter Webster carved out a useful VFL career for himself with Carlton despite suffering from a weakness of the heart. He played under-age and seconds football with the club before making his senior debut in 1953, and went on to play a total of 97 games and kick 6 goals over seven seasons. For much of his career he played in defence, where his brilliant overhead marking, sound kicking and fine sense of anticipation showed up to good effect. However, he could also perform serviceably on the ball, and even on occasion on the forward lines.
A very happy 95th birthday to the third oldest living Carlton senior player, Keith Rae today!
From the Blueseum:
——————-
Career : 1939, 1943
Debut : Round 15, 1939 vs Footscray, aged 22 years, 5 days
Carlton Player No. 550
Games : 15
Goals : 2
Last Game : Round 16, 1943 vs Fitzroy, aged 26 years, 28 days
Guernsey Nos. 29 (1939), 23 (1943)
Height : 180 cm (5 ft. 11 in.)
Weight : 70 kg (11 stone)
DOB : 30 July, 1917
Keith Stanley Rae was a capable midfielder whose career at Carlton was heavily interrupted by World War II. After playing in two memorable games for the Blues late in 1939, he joined the Royal Australian Navy, where his wartime duties kept him away from Melbourne for three full seasons. Back at Princes Park in 1943, he racked up another 13 matches, but was left out of Carlton’s Semi Final team and departed at the end of that year.
Rae’s path to Princes Park began at Williamstown in the VFA, the suburb in which he was born. He later joined Carlton’s affiliated amateur side, Carlton Juniors, and in 1939 was training with the Blues when captain-coach Brighton Diggins told him that he would be playing his first senior game for Carlton in the following weekend’s round 15 clash at home against Footscray.
Named in the centre, with Jack Carney and Bob Green as his wingers, Rae’s debut was an unforgettable experience. Sitting one win out of the top four, but with the second-best percentage in the competition, Carlton launched a last-ditch assault on a finals place and slaughtered the Bulldogs by 88 points. Forwards Ken Baxter and Paul Schmidt kicked 8 goals each, and clever rover ‘Mickey’ Crisp bagged another five.
That great form continued with another big win the following week, against Hawthorn at Princes Park. This time, the margin was 62 points, as Baxter and Schmidt starred again with four goals each. However, Rae was omitted from the team after just those two appearances, and Carlton missed out on playing finals football when we crashed to a heavy defeat against Richmond in round 17 at Punt Road.
A few weeks later, just as the ‘39 finals began, the world was plunged into crisis by the outbreak of another war in Europe. Because he was already serving with the RAN Volunteer Reserve, Rae was quickly called up by the navy, and spent the following three years in various ships and naval depots in Australian waters. In 1943 he was posted back to Melbourne, and wasted little time in rolling up at Princes Park, where coach Percy Bentley made him welcome.
Rae’s comeback match, a home game against Richmond in the first round of the new season, resulted in another huge win to the Blues, and another brilliant individual effort by a Carlton forward. This time it was Jim ‘Bones’ Baird who provided the game’s highlight, by booting ten great goals in a 44-point victory. Rea was a handy contributor on a centre wing, and from then on held his place in the side for most of the season.
Carlton wound up the ’43 home and away season in fourth place on the ladder – one win behind minor premiers Richmond, but with a healthier percentage. The Blues were considered a real chance of pinching the flag that year, but stumbled when it mattered most and were bundled out of contention by Fitzroy in the first Semi Final. Although Rae had appeared in thirteen of the sixteen regular season games, he was omitted from the Semi Final side, and never represented the Blues again.
The Navy called Keith back to the colours in 1944. Football again took a back seat, and he was still on duty when World War II eventually ended in August, 1945. One of those who could genuinely claim that they served ‘for the duration,’ he was eventually discharged in May, 1946.
Later that same year, he turned up at Richmond, where he impressed enough to be given a go by the Tigers, but managed only two more senior games and one goal.
Footnote:
Williamstown Chronicle, September 26, 1941;
“Mr. and Mrs. Stan Rae, of 32 Hosking-street, have received word that their son Keith, who was a gunlayer on an armed cruiser, has been saved after his ship was sunk by enemy action. Prior to his enlistment Keth was a well known athlete, being a centreman with the Williamstown and the Carlton Football Clubs and also a cricketer with the Colts team, graduating from the Williamstown Cricket Club.”
Dear Past Player / Official
Please find attached an invitation to join us for our 2nd Annual Spirit of Carlton Dinner to be held at Visy Park on September 12th 2012 from 6.30pm – 10.30pm.
This is a great opportunity to come back to the club and enjoy the fellowship of our mates and keep the kindred spirit of the Carlton Football club alive
This Annual Dinner is exclusive to all our senior, reserve and under 19 past players and officials from all eras, and we hope that you can join us to make the evening a great success.
Our special guest speakers will include – Andrew Mackay General Manager Football Operations who will provide us with a review of this season and insights into what we can expect in 2013.
Please note that the cost of the two course dinner is $60 per head, pensioners $30 per head and drinks will be subsidised by the SOC.
Gentleman we sincerely hope that you can organise a few of your former team mates to join us and enjoy what will be a great evening of camaraderie.
Bookings and payment details for the evening are on the attached form and we request that you pay in advance to assist us with catering.
The SOC Executive look forward to seeing you on the night.
Dennis Munari
For SOC Past and Present Executive
Just a short note to advise that for anyone collecting tickets for this Saturday night’s game against Richmond.
The ticket collection point is now:
AFL COLLECTION AREA
IN BETWEEN GATES 6 & 7
IN FRONT OF LIGHT TOWER 4
regards,
SOC Executive