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Happy 60th to David Dickson today!

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From the Blueseum:

Career : 1972 – 1976
Debut : Round 3, 1972 vs South Melbourne, aged 19 years, 338 days
Carlton Player No. 834
Games : 66
Goals : 23
Last Game : Round 22, 1976 vs Footscray, aged 24 years, 108 days
Guernsey No. 27
Height : 182 cm (5 ft. 11 in.)
Weight : 72 kg (11 stone, 5 lbs.)
DOB : May 12, 1951
Premiership Player 1972

In another vivid example of triumph over adversity, David Dickson overcame a disadvantaged upbringing – and the tragic early death of both of his parents – to play an important role in Carlton’s 1972 Premiership. Four years later, his on-field career was curtailed by a knee injury, so he moved on to coaching, and became an outstanding mentor to a generation of Victoria’s best young players.

Dickson grew up in suburban Coburg, and first attracted the attention of VFA club Preston when he began dominating inter-school matches for Newlands State High School. By 1971 he was a star in the red and white colours of Preston, and it wasn’t long before a number of VFL clubs – in particular Carlton – were taking a keen interest in the fiercely-determined centreman with pace, good foot skills and a happy knack of drawing the football. However, the 19 year-old was a reluctant recruit at first. “I never really wanted to go to Carlton, because I never thought I was good enough,” Dickson said, many years later, “but Bert Deacon and John Nicholls talked me into it, and they became like surrogate fathers to me, because I lost both of my parents at a young age.”

Following an impressive pre-season and a couple of reserves matches, Dickson was selected for his first senior game against South Melbourne at the Lake Oval in round 3, 1972. Wearing guernsey number 27, and sharing the roving duties with Adrian Gallagher, he started with the joy of a six-goal victory. In rounds 4 and 5 he was relegated to the bench, before his breakout match came in a home game for the Blues against Geelong at Princes Park in round 6. Playing on a wing, alongside champion Alex Jesaulenko, Dickson controlled his side of the ground that afternoon and confidently pushed forward to kick three goals, as the Navy Blues destroyed the Cats by 49 points. From then on, and throughout the following two seasons, he was a first-choice senior player.

In October of his debut year, Dickson was one of 20 Bluebagger heroes who wrote their names into football history with a magnificent upset Grand Final victory over Richmond in the highest-scoring VFL/AFL Premiership decider ever played. Despite a gruelling finals campaign that included a draw, and a heavy defeat by the Tigers only a fortnight beforehand, John Nicholls made eight positional changes to his team on Grand Final day and promptly smashed the yellow and black by 37 points. Carlton’s centre line of Dickson, Barry Armstrong and Ian Robertson was supreme for three quarters on that fabulous afternoon, and only eased up in the last term when the game was well and truly won.

Twelve months later, the Blues and the Tigers met again for the ’73 flag, only this time the result was reversed. Hell-bent on revenge, Richmond went hard at the man first and the ball second, and Carlton had no answer. Dickson’s second and last Grand Final as a player ended with the sour taste of a five-goal defeat.

By that stage of his career, ‘Dicko’ had missed only one game in two seasons. However that all went pear-shaped early in 1974 when he strained a knee ligament, was restricted to 16 games for the year, and promptly twisted the other knee. The damage was severe, forcing him into a full reconstruction that wasn’t a complete success. It took almost two years – until round 11, 1976 – for him to fight his way back into Carlton’s senior team, but his knees still weren’t right, and his career at Princes Park ended with a hard-fought draw against Footscray in the last home and away round of the year.

In 1977, Dickson was traded by Carlton to Collingwood in exchange for the Magpies’ veteran full-forward Peter McKenna – a surprise move that David found difficult to accept for some time. In a short stay at Victoria Park he didn’t play a senior match, and like McKenna, had retired from the VFL by year’s end. But he still had a passion for the game, and in 1978 he was appointed coach of the Bayswater Football Club – beginning a new phase of his life that would occupy the next 30 years.

After later coaching Preston (1993), Noble Park, then Balwyn in the Eastern Football League (and taking Balwyn to their first Premiership in 56 years) it was the advent of the elite TAC Cup Under 18 competition in 1992 that brought Dickson’s abilities to fruition. “The TAC Cup was a new concept, and the way to go with modern football development, ” he later explained.

“I spoke to Kevin Sheehan (AFL National Talent Identification Manager) about getting involved, and he said ‘you’re too much about winning ‘Dicko’- we’re about developing players’. A few years later, I was with the Oakleigh Chargers and Kevin rang me and said; `we want you to coach the Victorian Under-18 Metropolitan’. I was really surprised. I didn’t think a young bloke coming out of the commission area of Coburg was able to coach at that level.”

But coach he could, as he ably demonstrated over the next decade, as his representative teams dominated the AFL under-18 National Championships while a long list of players that he had helped develop were drafted by AFL clubs. Between 1997 and 2008, Dickson coached Vic Metro to a staggering 34 wins from 38 matches – and when he retired in July 2008, his team had just won their eighth National Under-18 Championship from the twelve contested since 1997. “I think my time’s up – it’s a younger man’s game,” he said on the day he called time on his coaching career. “To be quite truthful, you’ve got to know when your time’s up. I’ve been doing it for 12 years, and I’m really proud of what I’ve achieved. When I was first appointed, I walked into (former VFL chief executive) Ken Gannon’s office and the first words he said were: ‘If you don’t win the national championships this year, I’ll sack you!’

“Well, we’ve won eight national championships out of twelve, and that’s a great achievement, but we’ve also averaged 17 (drafted) players a year, and in 11 years we’ve had 180 players enter the AFL ranks. No-one else has ever got near that.”

SOC “Thank You to Passionate Supporters” Match day Event

CFC v Adelaide at Etihad Sun May 20, Endeavour Room

The SOC wants to pay tribute to and thank the many passionate supporter past  members who have given us and the CFC great support over the past five years.

Please join many past players and officials at this function to celebrate your contribution and enjoy a great game of footy in the comfort of the Endeavour Room at Etihad Stadium.  Get in early.   Tickets including a prime seat are $50 each

Round 8, CARLTON vs ADELAIDE CROWS, Etihad Stadium, Sunday May 20, 3:15pm

To secure your tickets to this event please ring Mandy Hunter on 03 9389 6256.

Tickets are available up until 9:00am on the Wednesday before each game.

See you there

Geoff Southby SOC

We are excited to announce that tickets are now available for our huge luncheon on the 3rd of August celebrating the 1972 and 1982 premierships. Our ‘Taming the Tiger’ luncheon will feature John Nicholls and David Parkin as key speakers, so join the ’72 and ’82 premiership teams for a very special event.

To get your tickets download the following form using THIS LINK.

Jean Garby, wife of Carlton’47 premiership player Ray Garby (passed away March 2009) passed away peacefully on May 1, 2012, aged 88 years. Loving wife of Ray for 62 years and mother of two, grandmother of nine and great-grandmother of seven.

Our condolences to the Garby family.

Happy 50th Birthday to Blues premiership player, Jon Dorotich today.

Make sure you call into ABC radio tonight to wish Dorra a happy birthday!

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From the Blueseum:

Career : 1986 – 1993
Debut : Round 1, 1986 vs Hawthorn, aged 23 years, 338 days
Carlton Player No. 932
Games : 132
Goals : 103
Last Game: Round 15, 1993 vs Brisbane, aged 31 years, 74 days
Guernsey No. 6
Height : 193 cm (6 ft. 4 in.)
Weight: 97 kg (15 stone, 4 lbs.)
DOB : 27 April, 1962
Premiership Player: 1987

Jon Dorotich was a big, rugged, key defender from South Fremantle who enjoyed a notable football career on both sides of the continent for 17 seasons between 1981 and 1997. Blessed with vice-like hands and a raking left foot, he played in successive Grand Finals for Carlton against Hawthorn in 1986 and 1987; suffering a loss in the first, then taking sweet revenge in the second. After finishing at Carlton, he returned to WA and claimed more glory; as both a 100-goal full-forward, and captain of South Fremantle’s 1997 Premiership team.

Better known as “Dorra” throughout his career, Dorotich came under notice by the Blues when represented WA against Victoria at Subiaco Oval in 1984. Starting on the bench, he came on to take some telling pack marks as WA held out the Big V by four points in a clinker of a game. The Carlton recruiting machine swung into action, and Dorotich joined the Blues in time to make his debut at centre half-back against Hawthorn in round 1, 1986 on an auspicious day for the Carlton Football Club.

Also making their first appearance in navy blue on that afternoon were two future champions in Stephen Kernahan and Craig Bradley, along with Mil Hanna and Bernie Evans. It turned out to be a less than perfect start, however – Hanna wrecked his knee in the first few minutes, and Carlton lost by six goals. But the Blues soon recovered and wound up the year third on the ladder. Wins in the early finals over Sydney and Hawthorn followed, to put Carlton into the Grand Final against the front-running Hawks.

By this time Dorotich had already begun a fierce rivalry with Hawthorn’s champion centre half-forward Dermott Brereton, and their clashes were eagerly awaited by fans of both teams. Throughout his career, Dorra never shirked the physical challenges, particularly when he was called to stand up for his smaller team-mates against the likes of Brereton, St. Kilda’s Tony Lockett, Brian Taylor of Collingwood or Roger Merrett from Brisbane. In the ’86 decider however, it was Brereton who took the honours when his team crushed Carlton by 42 points.

It took precisely 12 months for Carlton to revenge that humiliation, by downing Hawthorn by 33 points in the 1987 Grand Final. Carlton coach Robert Walls set up the victory with some courageous positional changes, particularly the switch of tall utility David Rhys-Jones onto Brereton at centre half-back. Dorotich was sent to a forward pocket as support for Carlton’s lone ruckman Justin Madden, and it was Dorra’s big effort in the ten minutes before half-time that helped give the Blues a vital half-time lead.

With Madden off the ground for a much-needed rest, Dorotich took on the ruckman’s role, competing fiercely and more than breaking even with the Hawthorn big men. Late in the term he charged onto the ball deep in attack, scooping it up on the run and kicking truly for Carlton’s fifth major. Soon afterwards, he initiated another attack that brought up a brilliant captain’s goal for Kernahan – off the ground, from a tight angle. Those goals gave the Blues a confidence-boosting 11-point advantage at the main break, and with Rhys-Jones keeping Brereton completely under wraps, Carlton controlled the match in the second half to run out worthy winners.

From 1988 on, Dorotich began spending more time up forward in a potent Carlton attack that featured Kernahan, Dorotich and Peter Sartori as the tall targets, with a host of quick and skilful runners around them. In round 16, 1988 at Princes Park, Dorra booted five goals in a big win over Geelong, but the year ended in dismay with a shock Preliminary Final loss to Melbourne.

Although on paper Carlton was still a powerful team, in 1989 the Blues slumped alarmingly to win only twice in the first nine rounds. And when the equally-inept Brisbane Bears knocked us over at home in round 10, Walls paid the price and was sacked. The new man in charge was club legend Alex Jesaulenko, back for a second stint at the helm after leading the Blues to the 1979 flag.

Jesaulenko’s strict but effective methods didn’t seem to gel with Dorotich. He was dropped after round 2, 1990 and from then on spent much of the year with the Reserves, playing only seven senior matches. Although he would have been discontented, he finished the year on a high when he was just about best on ground at centre half-forward when Carlton Reserves comfortably beat Melbourne on Grand Final day, to claim our eighth and final lower-grade flag.

Another change of coach in 1991 – to David Parkin, also back for a second crack at one of football’s toughest jobs – seemed to spur Dorotich into his best form again. He began in a blaze of glory with bags of five, five and six goals in rounds 2, 3 and 4 respectively, but by the second half of the year had been switched back into defence where he was sorely needed.

While Carlton languished on the middle rungs of the ladder in 1992, Dorra had another big season, highlighted by two impressive efforts against St Kilda. In the first, at Princes Park in round 6, he was sent to full-back at half time and quelled a rampaging Tony Lockett, allowing Carlton to overhaul a big lead and beat the Saints by 8 points.

Later, in round 21 at Waverley, Carlton trailed the Saints again by 15 points at the main break, so Parkin swung Dorotich from defence to full-forward in the third quarter, and he immediately began marking everything that came his way. Kicking three big goals in that term, he single-handedly sparked the Blues into an 11-goal blitz that put the game out of reach of St Kilda before three-quarter time. Despite that win and a couple of more just as rewarding however, Carlton still wound up in seventh place on the ladder. Dorra finished the year off well, and polled 12 Brownlow Medal votes to be highest-placed among all Carlton players.

Although approaching 31, and therefore into the veteran ranks by 1993, Dorotich showed there was still fire in his belly when he up-ended Essendon’s enforcer Dean Wallis in one of the early-season games. Even so, as age and fluctuating form began making their mark, Dorra found himself relegated first to the interchange bench, and then to the Reserves.

He enjoyed what turned out to be his last senior match for the Blues in round 15, 1993 against Brisbane at Princes Park. Starting on the bench, he played in bursts in the back half, and had a relatively easy day as the Blues cruised home by nearly six goals. Five weeks later, while playing again with the Reserves, Dorra was reported by an umpire for unduly rough play against a St Kilda opponent, and suspended for four matches.

Because that penalty ended his season, Dorotich decided that that was as good a time as any to retire from AFL football – after 132 games, (including that precious Premiership) in the Navy Blue number 6. During that time he had kicked 103 goals, and represented WA in State of Origin matches on four occasions. Remarkably, even then, he wasn’t quite finished with representative football.

After a fond farewell from Princes Park, Dorotich returned to South Fremantle, and pulled on the red and white strip of the Bulldogs again after a lengthy absence. Although understandably less nimble than before, his wealth of experience and still-strong hands made him a daunting prospect at full-forward for any opposition defender – as was shown when he was the WAFL’s leading goal-kicker in 1995 with 78 majors, and in 1996 with 88.

But it was Dorra’s one special season in 1997 that rounded off his long and successful career. Because of his consistent big bags of goals – and the way they were being scored – Dorotich was selected in the WA state side for the game against Tasmania in Hobart in June. He may have been 35 years old by then, but he ruled the forward 50 on that cool afternoon at North Hobart Oval, as Tassie eventually won a skilful exhibition of football by 47 points. Dorra kicked seven of his side’s ten goals, never stopped presenting for his team-mates, and was a worthy winner of the Simpson Medal as the outstanding player of the match.

Perhaps with renewed confidence after that game, Dorotich went back to captaining South Fremantle, and finished off the year in a blaze of glory. The Bulldogs beat their traditional rivals East Fremantle by 7 points in a pulsating Grand Final, and Dorra was the competition’s leading scorer once again with a massive 120 goals. He retired from football after that amazing year – well, almost. Deciding on a comeback in 1999, he managed only one more game before finally calling it quits.

Shortly afterwards, Dorra established himself as a popular football commentator in his home state on radio and TV. And as we head into 2010, his media work seems to be evolving in the same way his football career did – because he just gets better with age.

Tickets are now available to our two open game day events for this season.

These events are open to everyone. So get some friends together and enjoy a special day at the footy.

Come and enjoy the football in the luxurious surroundings of the Endeavour Room at Etihad Stadium.

For $50 you get a premium level 2 seat as well as access to the Endeavour Room and its wonderful views of the action on the field. The choice is yours; enjoy the comfort of premium seating or watch the game from behind the glass with a glass in hand.

Tickets are available for the following games

Round 6, CARLTON vs GWS GIANTS, Etihad Stadium, Sunday May 6, 1:10pm

Round 8, CARLTON vs ADELAIDE CROWS, Etihad Stadium, Sunday May 20, 3:15pm

To secure your tickets to these events please ring Mandy Hunter on 03 9389 6256.

Tickets are available up until 9:00am on the wednesday before each game.

See you there!

Can you believe the 1987 Premiership was 25 years ago! A lot has changed in that time. Naughtons is no longer with us and thankfully some of the hairstyles have gone by the wayside as well. Please check out our latest youtube upload which shows some of the news reports of the boys celebrating after the big win in 1987.

Happy 60th birthday to Graeme Whitnall today!

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From the Blueseum:

Career : 1974 – 1981
Debut : Round 1, 1974 vs Melbourne, aged 21 years, 345 days
Carlton Player No. 842
Games : 66
Goals : 20
Last Game : Round 21, 1981 vs North Melbourne, aged 29 years, 118 days
Guernsey Nos. 7 (1974 – ’79) and 30 (1980– ’81)
Height : 180 cm (5 ft. 11 in.)
Weight : 79.5 kg (12 stone, 7 lbs)
DOB : April 5, 1952

The son of champion country footballer Noel Whitnall, and the father of 2006 Carlton Best & Fairest Lance Whitnall, Graeme Whitnall seemed set for a long and productive career when he won Carlton’s Best First Year Player award in 1974. Graeme hailed from Talbot, near Maryborough in central Victoria – a small town with a proud football history. His father Noel played 205 games for the Talbot Hawks, the club that also produced Carlton Premiership player Paul Meldrum.

While attending Maryborough Technical school, 17 year-old Whitnall was invited to train with Maryborough in the Ballarat Football League. He won a place in their senior side – without playing with their reserves – and by the age of 19, won their 1971 senior Best and Fairest Award. In 1972 he was a member of Maryborough’s senior Premiership team. He came to Carlton in 1973 and, wearing guernsey number 47, won Carlton’s Reserves’ Most Improved Player Award. In 1974 Graeme moved to number 7 and played seven senior games to win Carlton’s Senior Best First Year Player Award. His son Lance picked up the same award in 1997. Another son Shane Whitnall played a season of Reserves Grade football with the Blues in 1996.

Graeme was a handy pickup for the Blues; a true utility who could play anywhere, but was most useful as a hard-running ruck-rover. Unfortunately for Graeme, he came to Princes Park at a time when Carlton was assembling a player list rich in similar types, including established stars like Barry Armstrong and Neil Chandler. Whitnall proved a handy addition, but couldn’t command a regular place in the senior team for an extended period. In his seven years at Princes Park, he averaged nine senior games per season.

“Poppy” (so called because of his red hair) had his best season in 1977, when he was one of two Carlton players to play all games during this season (the other was Ray Byrne). In 1978 the fiery “Poppy” and Carlton’s newly-appointed captain-coach Alex Jesaulenko clashed, with the result that Graeme only played four senior games for the year. He applied for an open clearance, but that was refused, so he returned to play at Maryborough during 1979. After winning Maryborough’s Best and Fairest for a second time (from just 14 games) and after the off-field upheaval at Carlton over the 1979 / 80 summer, Graeme was invited to return to Princes Park. He played a further 11 senior games during 1980 and 1981, in guernsey number 30.

In 1980, Graeme picked up the Carlton Reserves’ Best & Fairest award, but at the end of the following year, he retired from VFL football after being overlooked again during the final series. Sixteen years later, Graeme’s strapping son Lance pulled on the Famous Old Dark Navy Blue for the first time, at the dawn of a career that would bring him a Grand Final appearance, All Australian selection, the 2006 John Nicholls Medal and over 200 games of fine service to the Blues. Graeme’s oldest son Shane also played 40 Reserve games for Carlton during 1996 and 1997.

Happy 50th birthday to Tom Alvin today!

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From the Blueseum:

 
Career : 1984 – 1994
Debut: Round 1, 1984 vs North Melbourne, aged 21 years, 344 days
Carlton Player No. 914
Games : 218
Goals : 95
Last Game: Qualifying Final, 1994 vs Melbourne, aged 32 years, 143 days
Guernsey No. 31
Height : 183 cm (6 ft. 0 in.)
Weight : 80 kg (12 stone, 8 lbs.)
DOB : 21 April, 1962
Premiership Player 1987
Carlton Hall of Fame : 1999Tom Alvin was recruited by Carlton in 1984 from the strong Latrobe Valley club Bairnsdale, where he had developed into an outstanding country footballer under the guidance of his coach; ex Blue Trevor Fletcher. Fletcher placed a lot of faith in the club’s youth, and Alvin was one of the main beneficiaries. To this day Tom credits Fletcher as being one of the greatest influences in his career, while Bairnsdale won a Premiership in 1981 with Alvin playing a key role. By 1983, the 21 year-old had been tied to Footscray for a season or two, but when his contract lapsed, Carlton believed in his potential and offered him a second chance at a league football career. It was a winning punt by the Blues, and Alvin was eventually able to play for the team that he followed avidly throughout his childhood. Wearing guernsey number 31, Tommy turned into a popular, consistent and long-serving defender who was an integral member of three Carlton Grand Final teams.

Easily distinguished on the field by his long, shoulder-length hair, Tom said later that he rarely visited a hairdresser because the males in his family had a history of premature baldness, and he wanted to flaunt his locks while he still had them. “Eventually I may have my hair cut,” he said; “but it won’t be because it hinders my football.” That it certainly did not. By the end of his first VFL season Alvin was a fixture on one half-back flank in a strong Carlton team that made the finals, but couldn’t do better than fourth, followed by fifth in 1985.

In 1986, David Parkin was replaced as Carlton coach by Robert Walls, who saw in Tom Alvin something other than a gifted defensive flanker. At 183 cm and 81 kg, with surprising pace, good hands and superb concentration, Tom became more of a true utility. Often ruck-roving or pushing forward to kick handy goals, he had a wonderful season and was selected in the Victorian State team. In September he ran onto the MCG for his first Grand Final, only to have the day end in bitter disappointment as the Blues went down to Hawthorn by 42 points.

That heavy defeat was the spur for Carlton’s sweet revenge in 1987. The Blues dominated the home and away rounds to finish on top of the ladder, then demolished Hawthorn in the Grand Final by 55 points to claim our 15th flag. Tom started in the back pocket and was a rock all day in a watertight Carlton defence, doing a superb job in tagging the Hawks trump card Gary Buckenara virtually out of the game.

Alvin’s third and last Grand Final appearance in 1993 was not so joyous. Carlton was simply no match for young, vigorous and switched-on Essendon team. In a Carlton side with few real winners, Tom was sent everywhere to try to stem the tide, and won many admirers for his grit against the odds.

After 218 games that produced 95 goals, Tom Alvin retired from league football following the 1994 season. In his eleven year career from 1984 to 1994 he represented Victoria on six occasions. After leaving Princes Park, he went on to captain-coach VFA club Sandringham in 1995, and in 1999, was elected to the Carlton Hall of Fame.

For those who have obtained their special SOC premium seating for the Carlton v Essendon game this weekend below is a map for the seating and the location of the past players room.

There are still seats available, just call Mandy Hunter on 03 9389 6256 before close of business today.

If you are sitting elsewhere in the ground all SOC members are welcome to join us in the past players room at half time and after the game.

Seats and room are in Blue! Click on the picture to see a larger copy.

By Tony De Bolfo

Could this be the great Australian game’s oldest footy card?

The hand-coloured item, depicting a Carlton footballer proudly sporting a dark navy top and knickerbockers blue and white hooped socks and high-cut boots in a bushland backdrop, was released by local business Paterson Brothers, which occupied the premises at 68 Lygon Street from 1887-1891.

It was part of a lot that went under the hammer at Leonard Joel auction house some 18 months ago and acquired by Carlton supporter Simon Davis.

“It was sold by people who don’t tend to sell a lot of football memorabilia so not a lot of people knew it was being sold,” Davis said.

“A friend of mine, a Footscray supporter, saw it featured in a catalogue and contacted me about it. So I went along to the auction and pleasantly discovered that while there was some interest there wasn’t a lot of interest… and I picked it up for under $1000.”

Certainly, it would be difficult to envisage a card pre-dating this one. The oldest known Carlton footy card is that featuring Tommy Leydin, the club’s captain from 1887-1889. That card was published by the American firm Goodwin and Co., manufacturers of Old Judge cigarettes.

Tommy Leydin – Club’s captain from 1887-1889.

Noted Melbourne card collector Damien Green believed Davis’s acquisition raised more questions than answers.

“I’ve searched for a means of classifying this card and it appears to come under the classification of ‘carte-de-visite’,” Green said.

“A carte-de-visite is, in reality, a studio photo pasted onto a backing card that advertises the studio that produced them. I’m trying to get some more advice on whether it qualifies as a footy card, but I would think not at this point as these items were crafted for personal use rather than those specifically produced as a set then made available to the public.

“Today’s equivalent of a carte-de-visite would be Chris Judd’s head printed on a business card then passed off as a footy card.”

Regardless, the carte-de-visite in Davis’ collection is no less valuable according to Green, particularly if the subject featured is a Carlton footballer.

“If it’s a Carlton footballer it may be worth thousands of dollars because photographs of that period fade and this one appears to be in great condition,” Green said.

It is a fantastic piece of ephemera from an era where not too much photographic material has survived, especially the colourised variety.”

Whatever the merits of the item’s status, the burning question remains. Who is the Blueboy featured?

“I’d really like to know who the player is and a little bit about his history,” Davis said. “He’s clearly a Carlton player, he’s clearly in the Carlton uniform and the image can be sourced to between 1887 and 1891.”

If you know the identity of the footballer featured in this carte-de-visite, please call Tony De Bolfo at the club on 9389 6241.

Happy 40th Birthday to Ron De Iulio!

Played over 100 games for the Blues in a succesfull era.

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Career: 1992-1999
Debut: Round 1, 1992 vs Brisbane, aged 19 years, 341 days
976th Carlton Player
Games: 104
Goals: 71
Last Game: Round 21, 1999 vs St Kilda, aged 27 years, 128 days
Guernsey No. 34
Height: 180cm
Weight: 82kg
DOB: 15 April, 1972

Ron burst on to the scene with 29 goals from 19 games as a pacy half-forward in the 1992 season, wearing the #34 guernsey. He was recruited from VFA club Box Hill, previous to that, he had played with VFA club Brunswick.

After battling with Luke O’Sullivan and the resting rovers such as Mitchell, Gleeson and Heaver for that role in subsequent years, Ron went back to the reserves and was was tried in defence. He eventually returned to the senior team, often picking up the opposition’s fastest and smallest forward. In this role, De Iulio had breakthrough years in 1996 and 1998 (playing 21 and all 22 games respectively) and began to make a name for himself as a defensive stalwart whilst the Blues struggled.

He had many battles with Sean Charles and later Jeff Farmer playing against Melbourne and was a valuable member of the team.

But he struggled to maintain his place in the side in 1999, after playing the first 5 games, playing his final game in Round 21. He remained at the club in 2000 but spent the entire year in the VFL, where his career ended.

He ended up playing 104 games in the #34- a fair achievement and just enough to earn him a place on the locker, as only the third Blue to do so.

Milestones

50 Games – Round 13, 1996 v Sydney Swans
100 Games – Round 17, 1999 v Collingwood

Highlights

1997 – Pre-Season Premiership Player

A modern incarnation of Ron De Iulio most likely would not have played AFL football given the current sporting landscape in Melbourne . Instead his renowned skill as a junior player may have been recognized and developed in the sport of soccer where his speed and finishing abilities were honed. Looking back at Ron’s hard earned career two distinct memories come to the fore that of jubilant goal kicker and/or unconscious victim.

Links

Blueseum: Summary of playing statistics for Rocket Ron | Career Breakdown | De Iulio’s Blueseum Image Gallery

Our latest upload to our Youtube Channel, SpiritofCarltonTV is Geoff Southby winning full back in the Channel 7 Hall of Fame night in the early 80’s where they chose their premier team of players from the 25 years they had been broadcasting football.

By Tony De Bolfo

The Carlton-Collingwood rivalry has long been considered the marquee rivalry in the game – yet it is a rivalry that unfortunately cannot be given its due recognition due the lack of film footage remaining in terms of these two combatants.

On a world sporting level, the Carlton-Collingwood rivalry pre-dates those of the NFL (Green Bay Packers v Chicago Bears), English Premier League (Liverpool v Manchester United) and Major League Baseball (Boston Red Sox v New York Yankees). Yet the great shame is that unlike these international rivalries, precious little remains in terms of footage of Carlton-Collingwood contests, especially prior to the 1980s.

Though Carlton and Collingwood have contested nine finals matches since 1969, complete footage of almost half these matches has been lost.

And at the time of writing, one such Carlton-Collingwood game of historical importance continues to gather dust in the Seven studio archives. The match in question is the 1969 Second Semi-Final, which drew 108,544 people through the turnstiles and featured club legends from both sides of the divide – Nicholls, Jesaulenko, Gallagher, Jackson, Silvagni and Jones of Carlton; McKenna, Price, Greening, Richardson, Tuddenham and Thompson of Collingwood.

Carlton took out the match by an even six goals that afternoon. But how do we, as Carlton supporters, get to turn the key to unlock the Seven vault?  In truth, it takes only 15 supporters to express an interest in viewing the match and parting with $31.95 of their hard-earned for AFL Name-A-Game to release the footage in DVD format.

So if you would like to be amongst the privileged few to view the 1969 Second Semi in all its black and white glory match for the first time in more than 42 years, please email your name and contact details to christian@veg.com.au.

And as a postscript, if you’re a supporter with film footage of Carlton-Collingwood matches (or any Carlton matches for that matter) from the 1980s or earlier in your keep, please contact Tony De Bolfo on 9389 6241.

You might just help keep the great rivalry alive.

SOC members have the opportunity to get premium seats and access to the Past Players room for the big Round 4 clash with Essendon at the MCG on 21st April.

Access to these premium seats is free for SOC members. These tickets are only for access to the seats, not for entry into the ground. In order to get into the ground you will need to use your Carlton/Life membership or purchase a general admission ticket.

Please call Mandy Hunter on 03 9389 6256 before close of business wednesday before the game to secure your tickets. Numbers are limited so they are available on  a first in best dressed basis.

Happy 70th birthday to Cliff Stewart today!

From the Blueseum:

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Career : 1962 – 1968
Debut : Round 10, 1962 vs Fitzroy, aged 20 years, 87 days
Carlton Player No. 750
Games : 78
Goals : 6
Last Game : Round 18, 1968 vs Collingwood, aged 26 years, 135 days
Guernsey No. 39
Height : 175 cm (5 ft. 9 in.)
Weight : 67 kg (10 stone, 7 lbs.)
DOB : April 4, 1942

A blonde-haired, lightly-framed wingman recruited from Gippsland club Thorpdale, Howard Clifford Stewart played seven seasons of senior football with Carlton during the mid-sixties. Although he was nimble and had good foot skills, Cliff came in for plenty of punishment in the hurley-burley of sixties football. In particular, Des Tuddenham of Collingwood seemed to make a point of seeking out Cliff when the old foes met, but what endeared Stewart to Carlton fans was that no matter how many times he was bowled over, he always bounced straight back up.

Wearing guernsey number 39, 20 year-old Stewart made his debut as 20th man against Fitzroy in round 10, 1962, in a cracker of a match at the Brunswick St. Oval. Carlton charged home from 12 points down at three-quarter time to win by a point that afternoon, but it was a rare bright moment in a gloomy era of little success for the Blues.

It took another two seasons for Cliff to establish himself as a regular senior player, and in 1964 he didn’t miss a game. Under new captain-coach Ron Barassi in 1965 he played all but two games, although the emergence of two of Carlton’s great wingers in Garry Crane and Bryan Quirk made Stewart’s regular place in the team less secure. Still, he carried on playing good football, and in 1967 was selected in a Victorian B team for a match against Tasmania. The Blues made the finals at last that same year, and Cliff experienced the thrill of finals football, as well as the bitter taste of defeat in successive losses to Richmond and Geelong.

The trend toward taller, physically-stronger wingers, and a bout of glandular fever combined to restrict Cliff to only nine senior games in 1968. In what turned out to be his last appearance, he was as keen and courageous as ever when Carlton thumped Collingwood by 37 points at Victoria Park in round 18. But after that he was overlooked for a place in Carlton’s historic finals campaign, and amidst the wild celebrations of Carlton’s first flag for 21 years, Cliff realised that the time had come to move on.

The main beneficiary of that decision was Diamond Valley Football League heavyweights, Eltham. Stewart joined the Panthers in 1969, and, playing dominant football as a free-ranging centreman, helped drive them to consecutive Premiership victories over Diamond Creek in 1969 and ’70. He was also a popular winner of Eltham’s Best and Fairest award in 1970-71.

Happy 50th birthday to former Blue, David Honeybun today.

From the Blueseum:

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Honybun was a mobile ruckman who joined the Blues around the time that Wow Jones and Justin Madden were the first choice talls. Originally zoned to Geelong as a youngster, Honybun was recruited from NSW country town and Murray League club Coleambally, which is located between Jerilderie and Griffith. He was cleared from the Cats to the Blues as part of a deal that saw rover Denis Lenaghan move to Geelong.

His debut game against North Melbourne was an eventful one. After making a very good debut and being one of the best players on the ground, Honybun was knocked out nine minutes into the third quarter and stretchered off the ground. Unfortunately for Honybun what he described as an”elbow to the jaw” left his memory of his debut game dimmed, when asked about his memories he said “I wish I could, but I can’t remember much of the game at all”.

Although on the list for a few years, he only played 5 games and Madden or Jones were dropped to the reserves. He was plagued with a few injuries and moved to North Melbourne for the start of the 1986 season after the Blues had loaded up their playing list with the likes of Kernahan, Dorotich, Bradley, Motley, Evans etc. In 1988, moved to Richmond where he played 55 serviceable games for the Tigers and will be remembered for taking a few screamers which occasionally pop up in the highlights reels.

Back injuries ended his career in 1992 and he total league career was 60 games and 41 goals.

Other than Coleambally, Honybun also played at few other clubs prior to his VFL debut, they included, University Blues, University Blacks thirds, Scotch College and Mackay, QLD.

A very happy 70th birthday to former Blue, Trevor Best today.

Career : 1963 –1964
Debut : Round 10, 1963 vs Melbourne, aged 21 years, 87 days
Carlton Player No. 755
Games : 21
Goals : 10
Guernsey No. 6
Last Game: Round 16, 1964 vs Collingwood, aged 22 years, 128 days
Height : 175 cm (5 ft. 9 in.)
Weight : 74.5 kg (11 stone, 10 lbs.)
DOB: 2 April, 1942

A sometimes flashy rover from North Hobart, Trevor Best showed promise in his first season at Princes Park in 1963, when he made his senior debut in round 10 and thereafter played every match of the season.

But his form – especially his goal-kicking – tailed off in ‘64, and his last 12 games produced only five goals. In fact, all of Carlton’s recognised rovers failed to fire that year, which helps to explain why the Blues eventually tumbled to tenth place on the ladder.

Best played his twenty-first and last match in navy blue in round 16, 1964 at Princes Park, against a finals-bound Collingwood team that was expected to have little trouble with the battling Blues. However, when Carlton captain Serge Silvagni won the toss, he had no hesitation in kicking with a howling gale to the Lygon Street end. The Blues piled on 6.5 (41) to 0.3 (3) and it was game on.

Collingwood wrestled back the lead by 3 points at half-time, as the wind showed no sign of abating, and at the last change the home side had again stretched out a 27-point advantage. In a titanic last quarter, Carlton coach Ken Hands stacked his backline and his team fought tooth and nail to hold the Magpies out – only for a rushed behind to Collingwood to level the scores right on the siren.

At the end of that season Best was released by the Blues and returned to North Hobart, where his playing career lasted until 1971. The number 6 guernsey he had been privileged to wear for two seasons was then passed on to a mop-haired youngster from Yallourn North named Garry Crane.

The Spirit of Carlton Past and Present is pleased to announce it will be holding four match day functions for members during the 2012 season. These functions will be available to SOC members, so if you have not purchased your SOC membership please do so now by downloading the 2012 Membership Application Form.

• R4 V Ess – MCG
• R 9 V Melb – MCG
• R 14 V Hawks – MCG
• R 18 V Rich – MCG

Limited premium seating will be available at these games as well as use of the nearby Past Players room in the Ponsford Stand. Seating will be allocated on a first in best dressed basis by ringing Mandy Hunter on 03 9389 6256 before close of business on the Wednesday before each game. These premium seats will be available at no cost to Spirit of Carlton members, your only requirement will be getting into the ground either by using your club/AFL/life memberships or purchasing general admission ticket/s.

To get your SOC membership CLICK HERE to download our application form.

Happy 40th Birthday to Carlton Past Player, Andrew Balkwill today!

Andrew Balkwill came to Carlton as part of the Brent Heaver trade at the inception of the Port Power Football Team. The Blues traded away Heaver and sought Ben Nelson– 1999 Grand Final player- together with Balkwill in return. Balkwill was originally from Central Districts

Balkwill, a 192cm blond haired mobile tall, played just a solitary game for the Blues in Round 3, 1997 against Adelaide but would have the unique distinction of being the only player in Carlton history to have played senior football without donning the famed Old Dark Navy Blue. For this game was the one where Carlton wore light blue as part of a Sponsorship Deal with M&M! He remained on Carlton’s list for 2 years: 1997-98 but other than the one senior game would spend all that time in the reserves. Balkwill headed back to SANFL club Central Districts for the 1999 and 2000 seasons. he retired at the end of 2000 due to injury problems.

Andrew is one of those horribly unlucky yet also amazingly lucky players to play a solitary game for Carlton.