Blog

By Tony De Bolfo

Carlton’s long-serving senior timekeeper Ralph Madge, fondly remembered as the man with his finger on the button, has died after a short illness at the age of 88.

Awarded life membership of the club in 1984, Madge served as senior timekeeper for almost a quarter of a century . . . and his timing, not surprisingly, was impeccable.

A Fitzroy supporter in his early years, Ralph Theodore Madge’s connection with Carlton was first forged through the club’s reserve grade team manager Bert Thomas, a next door neighbor.

The story goes that Thomas invited Madge to Princes Park to officiate as property steward after the sudden death of Norm Cattanach in 1966. In that first year, Madge leant his support to reserves coach Jack Carney.

According to son Greg, “Dad gave it a bash for a year”, then assumed duties from George Smith as Senior Timekeeper in 1967. It was a position Madge held until 1990 when Max Harvey took over, and it took in seven Carlton Grand Final victories – 1968, ’70 (when the final siren sounds incessantly in a mad Madge moment), ’72, ’79, ’81-’82 and ’87.

“Dad kept a collection of time cards from each of those Grand Finals, which he had each of the officiating field umpires sign. He had them framed in the end because he always thought of them as important,” Greg said.

“I must admit that I rode on Dad’s coat tails in those early days at Carlton. I got to sit in the old wooden press box by the Gardiner Stand where the timekeeper was, and I got to see the new faces like Alex Jesaulenko and Brian Kekovich.”

Greg described his father as “a fairly forthright character who spoke his mind and told you what he thought of you . . . and he had an incredible wit”.

“For him, Carlton was all about devotion. In time he forgot his history of being a Fitzroy supporter as a kid,” Greg said.

“I must admit I felt a bit bad when he said ‘Son, I’m going to retire soon, you don’t want to be Carlton’s new timekeeper do you?’ . . . I said to him ‘I’d rather be runner to be perfectly honest’.”

Max Harvey, Madge’s eventual successor as timekeeper, remained at the helm as Carlton timekeeper until the AFL took control on the night of the famed Millennium match at the MCG.

“I found Ralph very kind and very helpful . . . he certainly was to me anyway,” Harvey said.

“He could be pedantic about things in terms of getting them right, particularly in respect of timekeeping, but it’s all changed.

“It’s all run by the AFL now, but back then the timekeepers were employed by the clubs, so you could pull a bit of wool over the other bloke’s eyes in a tight game. A bit of that went on, and that was the way it was – you were a club timekeeper so you were extremely loyal to the club.”

Ralph Madge died the day before Carlton’s resounding elimination Final victory over Essendon. He is survived by his wife Jean, sons Greg and Bruce, daughter Robyn and their spouses, and seven grandchildren.

Paul Meldrum

Career : 1982 – 1992
Debut : Round 15, 1982 vs Melbourne, aged 21 years, 292 days
Carlton Player No. 904
Games : 158
Goals : 140
Last Game : Round 5, 1992 vs Sydney, aged 31 years, 217 days
Guernsey No. 23
Height : 183 cm (6 ft. 0 in.)
Weight : 82.5 kg (13 stone, 0 lbs.)
DOB : 13 September, 1960
Premiership Player 1987
Victorian Representative 1986, 1987

With his short, bleached blonde hair, his distinctive running style and his cheeky grin, ‘Molly’ Meldrum was a real crowd favourite throughout his 11 seasons at Princes Park. At 183 cm and 82 kg, he had wonderful endurance, was skilled, brave and versatile. Carlton was blessed with a number of similar types like Adrian Gleeson, Wayne Blackwell, David Glascott, Ken Sheldon and Peter McConville during Molly’s time at Carlton. All of them were happy forward or back, on the ball or tagging; and they caused constant headaches for our opponents.

Meldrum, who was born in London, is also remembered as the subject of one of the enduring football myths of that time. The story goes that he walked in off the street and asked for a game; that he was given a tryout, impressed; and went on to play in a Premiership for the Blues. It’s a romantic notion that has a basis of fact, but the story has been simplified over time. It goes like this.

Although he had played representative football in his early teens, Molly (whose nickname came from the TV music-show host of the same name) hadn’t been as committed to the game as many of his peers. However, by 1981 – when he was 20 years old and once again thoroughly enjoying playing for Princes Hill (in the E Grade Amateurs!) – he found himself at Princes Park one day in the company of his club’s President. By chance they met with Carlton’s Recruiting Manager Shane O’Sullivan, and on a whim, Meldrum asked how he could get a chance to trial with the Blues in the ‘82 pre-season. O’Sullivan assured Meldrum that he would arrange it, and that an invitation would be in the mail soon. Meldrum took O’Sullivan at his word, and waited. And waited. And waited.

Meanwhile, Molly’s work as a builder’s labourer proved ideal for strengthening his wiry frame, and, in anticipation of getting a chance to show his wares with the Blues, he had begun a punishing program of running the perimeter of Princes Park – against the clock – at least once a day, every day. By January, 1982 the promised invitation still had not arrived, so the super-fit Meldrum cheekily dropped in again to O’Sullivan’s office.

Of course, Sullivan had totally forgotten about their previous conversation. Somewhat embarrassed, Shane told Molly that okay, he could join in pre-season training later that week – but warned him that if he couldn’t keep up, he would be moved on very smartly. Well, as it turned out, Meldrum more than kept up. He impressed everyone, including the Blues’ match committee, and was rostered to play in an intra-club practice game, where he racked up 30 quality possessions.

After that performance, he was approached again by O’Sullivan. “I was given the number 23 jumper, a pair of boots, and told we would talk about money later,” said Molly. He made his senior debut only a couple of weeks afterward in the pre-season night competition at Waverley, starting a memorable eleven-year career for the Navy Blues that included the Grand Finals of 1986 and 1987. He was also a Victorian state representative in those two seasons, and in the latter, finished third in the Brownlow Medal count behind the joint winners; Tony Lockett (St Kilda) and John Platten (Hawthorn).

 

Thanks to the Blueseum for player bio and pic.

A huge day today in front of a massive crowd at the MCG. Carlton playing the old enemy Essendon in a final. We have played Essendon once before on this day, way back in 1909. It was a win, lets hope that is a good omen.

Semi Final, 1909

Carlton 4.1 25 7.4 46 12.7 79 14.8 92 Essendon 3.1 19 5.1 31 6.2 38 9.2 56	Venue: MCG	Date: 11 September 1909
Result: Win by 36 points	Umpire: J Elder	Crowd: 39,584
Goalkickers: F.Caine 3, F.Elliott 2, H.Kelly 2, G.Topping 2, G.Bruce 1, M.Gotz 1, F.Jinks 1, J.Marchbank 1, G.Johnson 1.
Best: A.Lang, G.Johnson, M.Gotz, C.Hammond, J.Baquie, A.Ford, G.Bruce.
Reports:	Injuries: Jinks

 

---

Game Review

Carlton was by far the stronger side in this contest, winning all over the ground. Fred Jinks sustained an early injury which immobilised him, but despite this the Blues were never challenged. Billy Payne took the field for Carlton with great bravery, he had received medical advice warning him that a knock to his infected eyes could result in the loss of his sight. He went on to be one of the Blues best.

 

Bruce Doull

Career : 1969 – 1986
Debut : Round 5, 1969 vs South Melbourne, aged 18 years, 234 days
Carlton Player No. 811
Games : 356
Goals : 22
Last Game : Grand Final, 1986 vs Hawthorn, aged 36 years, 16 days
Guernsey Nos. 4 (1969-71) and 11 (1972-86)
Height : 185 cm (6 ft. 1 in.)
Weight : 89 kg (14 stone)
DOB : 11 September, 1950
Premiership Player: 1972, 1979, 1981, 1982
Best and Fairest: 1974, 1977, 1980, 1984
Norm Smith Medal: 1981
Carlton Hall of Fame (1987)
Team of the Century: Half Back Flank
AFL Team of the Century: Half Back Flank

Bruce Doull was a champion. One the greatest defenders of all time, he was an outstanding competitor, a four-time Premiership player and Carlton Games Record holder until Craig Bradley came along – however we know less about him than dozens of others who managed just a handful of appearances. He was a fixture in Carlton teams for 15 years, and played in six Grand Finals, yet Bruce shunned publicity and rarely gave interviews. Instead, he let his football do the talking – and what a joy it was to watch him play!

He first came to Princes Park to play with the Under 19’s in 1966; a raw 15 year-old from Jacana with a conservative haircut, sideburns and a burning ambition to be a league footballer. But it took him until 1972 to claim a regular place in the senior side. Although no giant at 185 cm and 87 kg, he quickly showed a remarkable ability to “play tall” in the key post at centre half-back. Deceptively quick, beautifully balanced and a strong, reliable mark, he was equally as sound at full-back, in a pocket or on a flank.

In the ’72 Grand Final he announced his arrival on the top shelf of league football with an inspiring game on the taller, heavier Richmond champion Royce Hart. It was the highest-scoring decider ever. Richmond kicked 22 goals – but Carlton booted 28 to claim our eleventh flag. Doull was superb in keeping Hart to a handful of possessions and two goals. His concentration, cat-like reflexes and ice-cool response under pressure marked him as something special. Not surprisingly, the media clamoured for information about him. But his uneasy relationship with them soured completely after he was apparently misquoted in one of his first interviews. From then until his retirement, Bruce was off limits. No quotes, no more comments – thanks.

Afterward, and throughout his long career, Doull was a folk hero at Princes Park. Supporters loved his no-nonsense, honest approach, his courage and his consistency. In keeping with his shy nature is the story of his playing numbers. In his first three seasons, he wore number 4, but was never comfortable in the locker room with the attention lavished upon some of the club’s biggest stars, like Sergio Silvagni (number 1), John Nicholls (2), Kevin Hall (3), Syd Jackson (5) and Garry Crane (6). Before the ’72 season, he asked for and was given guernsey number 11, which had become available with the retirement of another great Carlton defender in John “Ragsy” Goold.

With his new number, sporting even longer sideburns and hair to his shoulders, he took on and beat the best in the business, week after week. He won Carlton’s Best and Fairest award in 1974, then followed up in ’77, ’80 and ’84. In 1979 he picked up his second Premiership medal when the Blues knocked over Collingwood, and two years later he was on the dias again on Grand Final day, 1981. Carlton came from 21 points down in the third quarter to vanquish the Magpies yet again – by 20 points – in Doull’s finest hour. Impassable at half-back all day, he beat four opponents and was a worthy winner of the Norm Smith medal.

 

Simon Wiggins

Career : 2001 – 2010
Debut : Round 5, 2001 vs St Kilda, aged 18 years, 229 days
Carlton Player No. 1045
Games : 116
Goals : 36
Last Game : Elimination Final, 2009 vs Brisbane, aged 26 years, 359 days
Guernsey No. 34
Height : 186 cm (6 ft. 1 in.)
Weight : 81 kg (12 stone, 11 lbs.)
DOB : 11 September, 1982

The glue that holds any football club together is loyalty, and no quality is more highly respected than that which sees an individual stick to their chosen colours through good times and bad, for better or for worse. Simon Wiggins fitted precisely into that category throughout his decade-long, 116-game career with the Navy Blues from 2001 to 2010, bringing dedication and big-hearted commitment to a Carlton side at its lowest ebb in our club’s long and proud history.

Nicknamed ‘Wiggo,’ ‘The Wiggler’ or ‘The Chief’ (after Chief Clancy Wiggum; a character from the hit television show The Simpsons) Simon was drafted by the Blues from the Tassie Mariners Under 18 side, after rising to prominence as an outstanding junior with the Glenorchy Magpies. Carlton’s third selection in the 2000 National Draft (number 15 overall), he is the younger brother of Patrick Wiggins, who was himself recruited by the Western Bulldogs in 1999. A tall, mobile ruckman, Patrick managed only 12 senior games in an injury-ravaged, three-season stay at the Western Oval.

Like Patrick, Simon battled hamstring problems throughout his career, as well as knee and shoulder injuries. Versatile, if somewhat prone to inconsistency, he never managed to play out a full season with Carlton’s senior team, but his professional attitude and cheerful demeanour helped keep spirits up at Princes Park, even as the Navy Blues languished on the lower rungs of the ladder in seven of Wiggo’s ten seasons. In fact, the only finals match of Simon’s career was his last; Carlton’s 2009 Elimination Final loss to Brisbane at the Gabba. He was retained on the Blues’ list in 2010, but couldn’t force his way back into a steadily-improving young team, and so retired at year’s end.

Over the next couple of weeks we will be presenting video from our recent 1981 Premiership Reunion luncheon. The first video was one of the highlights of the day, the famous Alex Marcou story about the 1981 premiership celebrations at the lodge and ‘Fabulous’. What made this even more special on the day was the presence of Malcolm and Tammy Fraser who enjoyed this story as much as the rest of the audience. It was truly an honour for the Spirit of Carlton Past and Present to have The Right Honourable  Mr and Mrs Malcolm Fraser attend this event.

LANGUAGE WARNING: Please be aware that there is frequent use of coarse language in this video, therefore use caution with where you play this video.

Proving what a goldmine of information the internet is one truly observant Blues fan has pointed out that you can see Fabulous and Alex at the end of the following clip walking into the Lodge. I have ta ken a still shot as well for those not inclined to watch the whole video.

 

On Wednesday night about 40 past players and officials gathered at Visy Park in what was a wonderful social occasion. In the past, regular social gatherings by past players were commonplace. Unfortunately due to various factors these regular past player only events began to disappear from the social calendar.

This year we are attempting to revive the tradition and started off with the first Past Players dinner.

It was a real pleasure to see so many happy faces and the camaraderie amongst old friends. The schedule for the night was delayed somewhat because everyone was enjoying the chance to catch up and chat.

Several generations of players were represented on the night; past players from the 1940s all the way through to the 1990s were present.  Players such as Doug Beasy, Allan Greenshields, Paul Hurst, Ron Barassi, Vin Cattoggio, Ron De Iulio, Serge Silvagni, Ian Aitken, Ron Barassi, and Adrian Gallagher just to name a few. It was wonderful to see past officials of the club such as Kenny Kleiman and Frank Brosnan also in attendance.

MC for the night Dennis Munari gave the audience some information about the history of the past players association at Carlton and how the Spirit of Carlton Past and Present was trying to re-awaken the spirit around the club by providing social occasions to get the past players together again on a regular basis.

Rod Austin gave an informative talk about the current issues in the AFL related to the collective bargaining agreement, free-agency, and the draft and trading period.

Robert Walls gave the keynote speech of the night which was a passionate retelling of the story of his entire involvement with the club from a 15 year old to a premiership coach.

All in all we hope this was the start of something special that will grow from here. The approximately 40 players in attendance represent about 10% of the current population of past players. Next year we are hoping for many more to attend. So if there are any past players or officials out there that are reading this and are interested in future events please contact us at admin@spiritofcarlton.com to confirm if we have your contact details.

 

Happy 40th Birthday to Brett Sholl: September 7th

Career: 1992-1994
Debut: Round 1, 1992 vs Brisbane
979th Carlton Player
Games: 35
Goals: 9
Guernsey No. 9
Last game : Semi Final, 1994 v Geelong
Height: 188cm
Weight: 82kg
DOB: 7 September, 1971

Brett Sholl was a right footed wingman / half forward flanker who would play 35 games for Carlton in between 1992 to 1994. Sholl came to the Blues via Pick 44 in the 1991 National Draft via North Melbourne (0 games), and ultimately from Irymple.

Sholl was 188cm in height and kicked 9 goals in his brief stint. Sholl had two cousins who played senior footy at other clubs, premiership star Craig at North Melbourne, and Brad who played at both North Melbourne and Geelong.

Sholl had a strong 1993, with 19 games, and played on the wing in our unsuccessful 1993 Grand Final team, but his last game for the Blues would be in another unsuccessful finals attempt in 1994, the Semi Final.

He wore the #9 jumper.

 Leon Berner: September 8th

Career: 1955-57
Debut: Round 11, 1955 vs Richmond
Carlton Player No. 694
Games: 18
Goals: 4
Guernsey No. 20
Last Game: Round 4, 1957 vs Geelong
Height: 179cm
Weight: 74kg
DOB: 8 September, 1935

Berner played 18 games for Carlton after debuting in Season 1955, kicking 4 goals in the #20 guernsey.

He was recruited from University High School.

 

Doug Ringholt: September 8th

Career : 1963 – 1964
Debut : Round 6, 1963 vs Geelong, aged 20 years, 259 days
Carlton Player No. 753
Games : 4
Goals : Nil
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

Originally from West Coburg, Doug Ringholt worked his way up through the Under 19 and Reserve grades at Carlton to make his senior debut against Geelong in round 6, 1963 at Princes Park. A slim wingman with a bit of dash, Doug sat on the bench as 20th man for most of the afternoon, while his team suffered their first loss of what would eventually be a deeply-disappointing season.

As often happens to newcomers, Ringholt was omitted in his second week, only to be recalled to the bench 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 tight, 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, when he 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 beside 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.

 

Thanks to the Blueseum for the player bios and pics.

Career : 1951 – 1954
Debut : Round 8, 1951 vs Collingwood, aged 19 years, 283 days
Carlton Player No. 650
Games : 9
Goals : 4
Last Game: Round 13, 1954 vs Melbourne, aged 22 years, 314 days
Guernsey Nos. 22 (1951 – ’53) and 27 (1954)
Height : 170 cm
Weight : 71 kg
DOB : 6 September, 1931

Harvey Dunn Junior was the first VFL player recruited under the father-son rule, and therefore, the first to play a senior game. When this regulation was introduced in the early 1950’s, it came well before any form of draft, and gave League teams first option to recruit the sons of fathers who had played twenty or more senior games.

Harvey Dunn Senior had appeared in 71 matches for Carlton between 1924 and 1929. An elusive and dangerous small forward, he kicked 139 career goals. Dunn Junior was a similar type, only more of a specialist rover. While he had been born in Carlton, Harvey Jnr was living in Flemington in 1949 when North Melbourne claimed him as a resident of their zone, and insisted that he join their Under 19 squad. But Harvey was determined that he would only play at VFL level with the Blues, and so joined his father who was coaching at Box Hill, while the League thrashed out the details of a proposed father-son rule.

Eventually, the rule was adopted by the VFL, and Dunn Junior was welcomed to Princes Park in 1951. He went on to play nine senior matches for the Blues – seven of them as a reserve. He didn’t actually start on the ground in a senior match until round 14, 1953, but he made it a memorable occasion by kicking three goals in Carlton’s victory over Richmond at Princes Park.

Although his senior appearances were few, Harvey’s career at Carlton wasn’t without success. He was a very good contributor at seconds level, and was first rover in both the 1951 and 1953 Reserves Premiership teams. In ‘53 he kicked four goals in the Reserves Grand Final against Essendon, and vied with his team-mate Peter Webster for Best on Ground.

However, after sitting on the pine for most of Carlton’s round 13 game against Melbourne at the MCG in 1954 (lost by 35 points to the Demons) Harvey realised that perhaps there were greener and more rewarding pastures waiting back at Box Hill. He crossed back there later that same year, and gave the Mustangs some real bite around the packs. He won the club’s Best and Fairest in 1955, and played on until 1959.

Thanks to the Blueseum for player bio and pic.

By Tony De Bolfo

Denis Collins, the 30-game wingman with Carlton in two seasons through 1978 and ’79, has died suddenly of a heart attack in the Western Australian town of Hyden.

He was 58.   

The son of former Fitzroy and Essendon premiership player Jack Collins, and brother to Footscray’s one-game player Daryl, Denis was a born and bred Braybrook boy and a contemporary of Doug Hawkins.

Collins represented Footscray in 100 senior matches over six seasons before crossing town to Princes Park. He was 24 years and 333 days old when he first turned out for the Blues in the No.1 guernsey, against Melbourne in the third round of ’78 at Princes Park.

Carlton won.

Collins, who inherited the nickname “Scruffy” due to the full beard he sported when he played, is best remembered as a strong, aggressive footballer blessed with exceptional pace and evasive skills.

That his old team should meet St Kilda in the final round of the home and away season this Saturday night is somewhat ironic, for its was in the final round match of 1978 between the two teams that Collins found himself face-up on the Moorabbin following a confrontation with the Saints’ volatile footballer Robert “Mad Dog”Muir.

That clip found its way to the Seven Network’s well-worn “Sensational Seventies” package and still gets a run from time to time.

Following the tete a tete with Muir, Collins took to the field for what was only his second career final when Carlton met Geelong in an eliminator at the MCG, and he contributed significantly to the team’s 33-point triumph.

At the conclusion of his time at Carlton, in what was a premiership season under Alex Jesaulenko in 1979, Collins pursued  his career with Richmond. There he turned out for a further 17 matches, and was named as an emergency for the 1980 Grand Final.

In the early 1980s, after a brief run with WAFL club East Perth, Collins made his way to Hyden, about 330 kilometres east of Perth in the Western Australian wheatbelt. He chased the leather for the local football club and together with his future wife Sheenagh managed the local Wave Rock Hotel Motel near the famous geological formation.

It was at Hyden that Carlton Assistant Coach Mark Riley forged a friendship with the Collins’ who became godparents to his daughter.

“I’d never been outside the city and they sent me out there with teaching, and they really looked after me. He and I became great mates,” Riley said.

“He was a very giving person, very community-driven and incredibly generous . . . any profits that he and Sheenagh made were pumped back into the town, and If you can imagine where he lived – this tiny little town in the middle of an arid wheatbelt where it rains once every ten years and suffers drought the other nine.

“I remember seeing him at a recent Spirit of Carlton day. I left him at the bar with ‘Sellers’ (Mark Maclure), Jimmy Buckley and those sort of blokes, and it would have been the first time in 20 or 30 years that he’d had the chance to catch up with them because he’d put so much time and energy into his work.”

Maclure, Carlton’s 243-game triple premiership player who last saw Collins in Port Douglas, remembered his old teammate as tearaway footballer who’d fared well against the Blues in earlier contests.

“They got him from Footscray because he was speedy and quick, and he always gave us a lot of trouble when we played them,” Maclure said.

“I’m not quite sure why he missed out in ’79, but he fitted into the club quite well. He was a very affable sort of bloke and quite a nice guy.”

A family friend  Bernie Mouritz, said from Perth yesterday that the entire Hyden community was shocked and deeply saddened with the loss of one of its own.

“Denis was here only ten days ago having a kick of the footy with my young bloke,” Mouritz said. “I spoke to him again the other day, he’d been to the  doctor about his high blood pressure, but he’d had tests and was on medication and everybody thought ‘Okay, he’s got it under control’”. He was feeling good about life and was looking forward to the coming season .It was all coming together, then this. We are all Gutted

Mouritz said that Collins complained to his wife early yesterday that he was feeling unwell and promptly checked himself in to the local Silver Chain Medical Centre. The flying doctor was called, arrived and every care was available and taken. But Collins suffered a massive heart attack while being stabilized  and could not be revived.

“Denis was a good man ,  he was  community-spirited and didn’t ever ask you to do anything he wasn’t able  to do himself on or off the footy or cricket field. Anybody who has a hard word to say about him is probably jealous because he could actually do it,” Mouritz said.

“He leaves a massive void, a huge hole in the community. Ironically he’d just helped raise the funds, he built the infrastructure and had automated the lighting  system at The Hyden airstrip he had also  helped build. So that the flying doctor could arrive at any time at all.

Collins is survived by his loving wife Sheenagh and his many friends he had made over his time in Hyden . Funeral arrangements are yet to be determined.

Stephen Kernahan

Career : 1986 – 1997
Debut : Round 1, 1986 vs Hawthorn, aged 22 years, 211 days
Carlton Player No. 936
Games : 251
Goals : 738
Last Game : Round 22, 1997 vs Richmond, aged 33 years, 364 days
Guernsey No. 4
Height : 196 cm (6 ft. 5 in.)
Weight : 97 kg (15 stone, 4 lbs.)
DOB : 1 September, 1963
Premiership Captain: 1987, 1995
Captain: 1987-1997
Best and Fairest: 1987, 1989, 1992
Leading Goalkicker: 1986-1996
All Australian: 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1992, 1994
Carlton Hall of Fame Legend Status: Inducted in 1993
Team of the Century Captain: Centre Half Forward
AFL Hall of Fame: Inducted in 2001
AFLPA Best Captain: 1987, 1994

The numbers are impressive enough; 251 games, 738 goals, All-Australian, twice captain of Carlton Premiership teams, three times club Best & Fairest, captain (and leading goal-kicker) for eleven seasons in a row – yet this fabulous record only goes part of the way toward explaining why Stephen ‘Sticks’ Kernahan is revered as one of this proud club’s greatest players and most inspirational leaders.

Sensationally appointed captain of Carlton in only his second season of VFL football, Sticks led by example throughout his career. He was wonderfully skilled, courageous, surprisingly good at ground level, and a glorious high mark. While his kicking style sometimes seemed a touch awkward, time after time he slotted crucial goals when it mattered most. He was at his very best on big occasions and scrupulously fair on the field, winning the respect of team-mates and opponents alike.

The Stephen Kernahan at Carlton story began in 1979. The club’s Promotions Manager at that time, Shane O’Sullivan, was about to head to Perth for that year’s ANFC Schoolboy Championships when Chairman of Selectors Wes Lofts jokingly said to him; ‘Shane, find me another Royce Hart.’ O’Sullivan came back a few days later and said, ‘I think I’ve found him.’ A sixteen year-old, tall, skinny forward from South Australia – son of Glenelg Football Club legend Harry Kernahan – was one of stars of the carnival, and the chase for his signature had begun. Essendon, Melbourne and Carlton led the pack.

O’Sullivan was hell-bent on getting Sticks into navy blue, and for the next three years he stayed in regular contact with Stephen and his dad. The youngster continued to impress as he rose through the ranks at Glenelg, where he made his senior debut in 1981. In ’82, after thorough discussions with three VFL clubs, Stephen finally agreed to sign with Carlton – but he honoured his father’s wishes with the proviso that he would only transfer across when Glenelg had won another SANFL Premiership.

In 1983 Sticks was sensational. He polled 43 votes in the Magarey Medal – 8 more than runner-up Tony Antrobus – but Antrobus took home SA’s most prestigious individual honour because Kernahan had been suspended during the season. Sticks still won Glenelg’s Best & Fairest – the first of three in a row. Then in 1985, the moment that both Carlton and Glenelg were yearning for arrived. At last, the Bays beat North Adelaide in the SANFL Grand Final to win only their third flag after a 12-year drought. Alternating between the key forward posts, Kernahan was unstoppable all day to be unanimously voted best-on-ground. He was the club’s leading goal-kicker for the second time, on the way to being named All-Australian centre half-forward. No wonder the phone ran hot between Adelaide and Princes Park in the days after that Grand Final!

After 136 games and 290 goals in Glenelg’s black & gold, Sticks arrived at Carlton in 1986 to join a Blues’ outfit shaping as a flag threat under new coach Robert Walls. By then a seasoned 22 year-old, scaling 196cm and 97kg, Kernahan slotted straight into the team and made an immediate impact as a key forward, in tandem with Blues’ captain Mark Maclure. Carlton wound up Sticks’ first home & away season in third place, and accounted for Sydney in a torrid Qualifying Final. They then caused a huge upset by knocking over hot favourites Hawthorn in the second Semi Final, only to be out-gunned in a Grand Final rematch. The Hawk forwards were unstoppable that day, blitzing Carlton by 42 points in Blues’ legends Bruce Doull and Mark Maclure’s last match. As compensation, Carlton fans knew afterward that the club had unearthed three future champions; Craig Bradley, Peter Motley and Stephen Kernahan.

Sticks was the Blues’ top scorer of the year with 62 goals, and was named All-Australian for the second time. Then, early in the following year, Carlton shocked the football world by announcing that Stephen Kernahan, after less than 30 games for the club, would captain the Blues in season 1987. In hindsight it was a master stroke, but at the time the decision was widely questioned.

 

Thanks to the Blueseum for player bio and pic.

Perhaps inspired by attending the Spirit of Carlton 1981 Premiership Luncheon last week the current playing group took to the weights session today with an 80s inspired theme.

Click here to see original: http://lockerz.com/s/134438332

 

Compare and contrast

 

We are building up a gallery of photos from the recent Spirit of Carlton 1981 Premiership Luncheon (which you can see below). If you have any photos or videos you would like to share with us from the day please contact us either via email at admin@spiritofcarlton.com or through our facebook fan page at www.facebook.com/SOCPP and we will add them to our gallery.

Thanks to Rushdi for most of the photos in the following gallery. As you can see Rushdi had a great time at our Luncheon, meeting media personalities, Carlton greats both past and present and a former Prime Minister!

Edit: Thanks to Bec for adding some more photos to the gallery. We would love more, if anyone out there has some please send them our way!

https://www.facebook.com/SOCPP#!/media/set/?set=a.205003222895972.54734.149079251821703&type=1

Tonight the Carlton Football Club held the ‘Carlton Social 2011’ which was an invite only event organised through the club’s social media where 200 lucky people got a tour of the magnificent facilities accompanied by print man par excellence Tony De Bolfo and premiership players Geoff Southby and Syd Jackson. We were also treated to a special video featuring Marc Murphy, Bryce Gibbs and ‘Marc Catoggio’.

The Spirit of Carlton Past and Present featured prominently on the night with the display case and the G-Trainer both parts of the tour, these items were donated to the club using money raised by the SOC.

We would like to congratulate the club on this initiative and hope it is the beginning of many more. Tonight was about the club opening up and embracing supporters. Many of the people who attended tonight will not forget the night and will tell their friends about it by word of mouth, on twitter and on facebook. Every supporter of this great club is an ambassador, always support and always promote the club and we all grow stronger.

For those on twitter many more photos and comments from the night can be found by searching for the #CarltonSocial2011 hashtag.

Our ‘Gallery’ from the nights’ events can be seen below.

https://www.facebook.com/SOCPP#!/media/set/?set=a.204717719591189.54687.149079251821703&type=1

Wayne Blackwell

Career : 1984 – 1990
Debut : Round 1, 1984 vs North Melbourne, aged 23 years, 213 days
Carlton Player No. 915
Games : 110
Goals : 80
Last Game : Round 15, 1990 vs Collingwood, aged 29 years, 317 days
Guernsey No. 8
Height : 179 cm (5 ft. 10 in.)
Weight : 76 kg. (12 stone, 0 lbs.)
DOB : 30 August, 1960

Widely regarded as one of the most worthy of Blues never to have played in a Carlton Premiership team, Wayne Blackwell spent seven seasons at Princes Park after being recruited from Claremont, WA (via Karrinyup Saints) in 1984. Although relatively lightly-framed at 179 cm and 76 kg, he was versatile, consistent and certainly unlucky throughout his 110-game career in guernsey number 8.

Born in England, Blackwell embraced Australian football as a youngster, playing his first senior match for Claremont in 1978 before his eighteenth birthday. Within three years he was appointed vice-captain of the Tigers, and his dominance of the centre in Claremont’s 1981 WAFL Grand Final victory over South Fremantle convinced Carlton that he was something special.

By 1984 he was at Princes Park, making his senior debut in a spectacular win by Carlton over North Melbourne at Waverley Park in the opening round of the season. The Kangas were smashed by a record 137 points on that sunny afternoon, when Carlton captain Wayne Johnston and beanpole ruckman Justin Madden kicked five goals each. However, it was Blackwell’s fellow West Australian in Warren Ralph – also making his debut for the Blues – who stole the headlines with 9 goals at full-forward in a stunning first-up performance.

Blackwell proved handy in a number of roles in his first year; in the centre, at half-forward or ruck-roving, and was awarded Carlton’s Best First Year Player award. He experienced the heady atmosphere of VFL finals football for the first time, and ended the season with a solid game on a wing in Carlton’s 25-point Semi Final loss to Collingwood.

Blackwell also made his mark in interstate games. Eventually, he represented WA on eight occasions, with the undoubted highlight being his contribution in the closing stages of WA’s 3-point win over Victoria at Subiaco in 1986. A Gary Buckenara goal had put WA in front late in the final quarter, before Blackwell’s desperate smother in the dying moments denied Brian Royal what could have been the winning goal for the Vics.

By 1986 Blackwell was an integral member of a strong Carlton side that wound up third on the ladder after the home and away rounds, and battled its way through to a Grand Final clash with Hawthorn. He was named in the Grand Final side as ruck-rover, but played his customary role on a wing, as the Hawks proved too good by 42 points. There was at least some consolation for that loss when Blackwell finished a close third in the voting for Carlton’s Best and Fairest player award – six points behind the dual winners, Wayne Johnston and Craig Bradley.

Fresh from that good year, Blackwell must have had high hopes for a big 1987, but it was not to be. He strained a knee ligament during pre-season training, and tried to play round 1 in the reserves, only to break down again. After that he missed another ten matches straight before resuming, and the setback hampered him all year.

Thanks to the Blueseum for providing player photo and bio.

Tickets for Round 24, 3/9 Carlton V St Kilda match at the MCG are now available. The cost is $50.00 per ticket due to an allocation of premium seating that we have been lucky enough to get, this includes entry to the ground and reserved seat, and finger food in the Spirit of Carlton room.

Due to an overwhelming response to tickets recently we will be putting a limit of 4 tickets per member to start with, if there are any left at the end of the day you are more that welcome to them. Tickets will be sold on a first in best dressed basis. To book tickets please call Justine on her new contact number 0420-318266.

Please note : These tickets are only available to paid up Spirit of Carlton members.

Happy 60th Birthday to John Warden!

Career: 1971 – 1973
Debut: Round 8, 1971 vs Richmond
Carlton Player No. 826
Games: 11
Goals: 0
Guernsey No. 9 (1972), and No. 46 (1971)
Last Game: Round 15, 1972 vs South Melbourne
Height: 185cm
Weight: 74kg
DOB: 25 August, 1951

Warden played 11 games in 2 separate guernseys for Carlton after debuting in 1971. He would wear Guernsey No. 46 in 9 games in 1971 before moving to Guernsey No. 9 for 2 games in 1972. He was recruited from St Mark’s, after previously playing for Fawkner and Fawkner High School.

Warden was cleared early in the 1974 season to Cooee in Tasmania with fellow Blue Peter Fyffe for Greg Towns. Both of these players flew over to Cooee in the morning of the matches during 1974.

Happy 79th Birthday to John Chick!

Career: 1952 – 60
Debut: Round 1, 1952 vs North Melbourne
Carlton Player No. 655
Games: 119
Goals: 29
Last Game: Round 18, 1960 vs South Melbourne
Guernsey No. 23
Height: 175cm
Weight: 72kg
DOB: 25 August, 1932

Perhaps one of the most under-rated Carlton players of the 1950’s, Johnny Chick was a pacey, talented wingman who forged a fine playing career at Princes Park in a bleak decade for the Navy Blues.

Chick was recruited from Tasmanian club New Town, after starring in their 1951 TANFL Grand Final demolition of North Hobart. At the beginning of the following VFL season, Johnny was at Princes Park, impressing everyone with his ability. He went on to play nine seasons with the Blues and became a crowd favourite. Determined and durable, he was a remarkably consistent performer week in and week out, in a time when wins were few.

In his 119 game career, Chick played just four finals matches for Carlton; in 1952, ’57, and ’59. Unfortunately, all were losses. He was a fine Vice-captain of the Blues in his final two seasons, before returning to Tasmania to Captain-coach New Town – by then renamed Glenorchy.

Garry Crane

Career : 1964 – 1976
Debut : Round 17, 1964 vs St Kilda, aged 19 years, 355 days
Carlton Player No. 767
Games : 148
Goals : 16
Last Game : Round 1, 1976 vs Collingwood, aged 31 years, 221 days
Guernsey Nos. 31 (1964) & 6 (1965 – 76)
Height : 178 cm (5 ft. 10 in.)
Weight : 72.5 kg (11 stone, 6 lbs.)
DOB : 25 August, 1944
Premiership Player : 1968, 1970, 1972
Best and Fairest: 1969
Carlton Team of the Century (2000)
Carlton Hall of Fame (2000)

Renowned for his boundless courage, perseverance and sheer ball-getting ability, Garry Crane was an outstanding big-occasion player for the Navy Blues in a celebrated 13-year career between 1964 and 1976. Regarded by his coach Ron Barassi as “the most courageous player in the game,” he was a lightly-framed wingman who bored in hard for the ball with scant regard for the consequences – and therefore, paid a hefty price with injuries. Even so, he won three Premierships with Carlton – the last after he was coaxed out of a premature retirement.

Crane was recruited from Yallourn North in Victoria’s Gippsland region. He was brought to Carlton’s attention by our former captain Graham Donaldson, who was coaching Morwell at the time. Throughout his years in the Latrobe Valley League, Donaldson was responsible for getting a number of excellent players to Princes Park – including Crane, Bill Bennett, Ted Hopkins, Vin Waite, Bryan Quirk and Bob Edmond.

By the time Carlton approached him, Crane was a rising star in the Mid Gippsland League. Still a teenager, he had twice won his club’s Best and Fairest trophy, and had finished runner-up for the League’s award. The Blues knew that Crane was a ready-made VFL player, so by early 1964 Garry was at Princes Park. After only a handful of Reserves games, he was selected in the Carlton line-up for his first senior match against St Kilda at Princes Park in round 17, 1964.

Wearing guernsey number 31, Crane lined up alongside Ian Collins in the centre, with Cliff Stewart on the opposite wing. Although the Blues suffered a 16-point defeat, Garry’s tenacity impressed, and he retained his place in the side for the last game of the season – which resulted in a crushing 80-point win over Fitzroy. That was a good win and an encouraging way to finish off a season, but the Blues were still left languishing in tenth ladder position – and after years of mediocrity, the winds of change were about to blow through Princes Park.

In 1967, Crane had his first real encounter with injury when he was heavily concussed in a pre-season trial game, and he didn’t play at senior level until round five. A fortnight after that, he was hit heavily again – and this time, suffered a broken jaw. That blow put Garry out of action for ten weeks, and he finished up registering only four senior matches for the year. Fortunately, he was back to full fitness for round 1, 1968, when the celebrated centre-line combination of Garry Crane, Brent Crosswell and Bryan Quirk was unveiled for the very first time, and the Blues thrashed Geelong by 46 points at Princes Park.

When Essendon and Carlton met again in the 1968 Grand Final, a strong cross-breeze made scoring difficult from the opening bounce at the MCG. Crane got the scoreboard working for the Blues midway through the first term when he snatched the ball out of a contest in the right forward pocket, and kicked a quick mongrel punt to the goal-square. The ball cleared the pack, bounced through for full points, and Carlton was away. Thereafter, Garry was tireless in the clinches, constantly sending the ball into attack for his team. Carlton held on to beat the fast-finishing Bombers by three points, and Crane was a near-unanimous choice as Best on Ground. After only three seasons, the controversial gamble on Barassi’s appointment had been justified by the Navy Blues’ ninth flag, after 21 long years of sweat and tears at Princes Park.

Mark Buckley

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.

Adrian Whitehead

Career: 1994-1999
Debut: Round 3, 1994 vs Geelong
996th Carlton Player
Games: 63
Goals: 22
Last Game: Round 13, 1999 vs North Melbourne
Guernsey No. 32
Height: 178cm
Weight: 81kg
DOB: 25 August, 1975
AFL Rising Star Nominee: Round 15, 1995
Premiership Player: 1995

Adrian Whitehead was the youngest member of Carlton’s all-conquering 1995 Premiership team. He was an exciting, talented player who was bound for stardom, before his career was cut short by a serious foot injury only two years later.

After Carlton was soundly beaten by Essendon in the ‘93 Grand Final, many commentators predicted that the Blues’ ageing player list was past its best. Lean times lay ahead for the Blues, they said; but thankfully, no-one at Princes Park was listening – even when Carlton lost the first two matches of 1994. For the vital round three clash against Geelong at Princes Park, the match committee called up 19 year-old Adrian Whitehead from Wodonga to make his senior debut on a wing – alongside Greg Williams in the centre, and Mil Hanna on the other wing.

To the joy of the Carlton fans, Whitehead could hardly have been more impressive. Displaying pace, sure hands and kicking skills with both feet, he racked up 26 possessions to control his side of the ground all match. ‘Diesel’ Williams (33 touches) dominated the centre, and Carlton beat the Cats by five goals. Whitehead went on to play eight matches in his first year. He was overlooked at finals time, but had done enough to show that his place at Carlton was secure.

During 2011 the Spirit of Carlton Past and Present has entered the world of social media with great success. We now have a facebook fan page that is now attracting over 50,000 article views each month and steadily growing.

We also have a twitter account which has nearly 2,800 followers and is gaining new followers at the rate of about 400 every month.

So if you have a smartphone or tablet computer you can easily keep up with all the latest Spirit of Carlton news anywhere by either ‘liking’ our  facebook fan page or following our  twitter account.

We also like to keep Carlton supporters updated in real time during our events.

Tomorrow is our biggest event of the year where 800 people including former and current players, former and current officials and even a former prime minister will be celebrating the 1981 Premiership at our flagship event, our annual luncheon.

If you cannot make it on the day we will be providing live updates.

All you have to do is either follow us on twitter where we will be using the #socluncheon hashtag for all tweets about the event or check in on our facebook fan page which will also feature live accounts from the luncheon.

If you are going to be there on the day we would love it if you could tweet your pictures and thoughts on the day as it is happening. Don’t forget, put the #socluncheon hashtag at the end of your tweets!

Lance Whitnall

Career : 1997 – 2007
Debut : Round 1, 1997 vs Essendon, aged 17 years, 220 days
Carlton Player No. 1013
Games : 216
Goals : 348
Guernsey No. 8
Last Game : Round 22, 2007 vs Melbourne, aged 28 years, 10 days
Height : 192 cm (6 ft. 2 in.)
Weight : 100 kg (15 stone, 10 lbs.)
DOB : 23 August, 1979
Captain: 2007
All Australian: 2000
John Nicholls Medal: 2006
Leading goalkicker: 1998, 1999, 2000
Rising Star Nominee: Round 1, 1997

An often brilliant, yet much-maligned key forward who captained the Blues in the last of his eleven seasons at Princes Park, Lance Whitnall was born with rare skills, an astute football brain, and a bulky frame that was prone to stack on extra kilos during the briefest of layoffs. His battles with his weight were well-publicised throughout his time at Princes Park, often drawing scathing and ill-informed criticism. The facts are that Whitnall was more than a worthy captain of the Carlton Football Club, and his career record stands comparison with all but the very best of the Blues’ on-field leaders.

Lance came to Carlton with an impressive football pedigree. His father, Graeme Whitnall, played 66 matches for the Blues between 1974 and 1981, while his grandfather Noel had a long and distinguished career in country football. As a youngster, Lance played as a junior with outer-suburban Lalor. From the age of 14 he was remarkably mature in both mind and body, and this translated to dominance on the field. By 1995 he was centre half-forward and captain of the Victorian Under 16 state team, and a year later was a star in the Northern Knights side that won the TAC Cup Under 18 Grand Final. Carlton then drafted him under the father/son rule, and by Christmas 1996, Whitnall was the new custodian of Carlton’s number 8 guernsey. Nicknamed “Banger” at first, then “Big Red” or simply “Red” because of his hair colour, he didn’t lack confidence or self-belief.

Meanwhile, fresh from the glory of the 1995 Premiership (and the utter despair of defeat by Hawthorn in ’96), Carlton was hunting for a new pair of key forwards to take over the mantle still being carried with distinction by Earl Spalding and Stephen Kernahan. On Friday night, March 21, 1997 it seemed that we just might have found them, when 17 year-old Whitnall, and 19 year-old Aaron Hamill both impressed in Carlton’s big win over Geelong in the Grand Final of the pre-season Ansett Cup. Hamill’s pack-busting team play, combined with Whitnall’s clever leads and solid aerial skills, helped the Blues to a huge victory by almost ten goals.

Barely ten days later, Whitnall’s AFL career began in earnest when he was named at full-forward for the round 1 blockbuster against Essendon at the MCG – where he could scarcely have been more impressive on debut. Showing poise and amazing maturity, Lance took nine strong marks, and kicked four goals as Carlton lost a thriller by 7 points. That eye-catching effort saw him nominated for the AFL Rising Star award, and alerted every other team to his potential. From then on, he rarely played forward without attracting a top defender.

John Leatham

Career : 1967
Debut : Round 3, 1967 vs North Melbourne, aged 20 years, 249 days
Carlton Player No. 796
Games : 2
Goals : 0
Last Game : Round 4, 1967 vs Melbourne, aged 20 years, 256 days
Guernsey No. 45
Height : 183 cm (6 ft. 0 in)
Weight : 76 kg (12 stone, 0 lbs.)
DOB : 23 August, 1946

Only the second Blue to wear guernsey number 45 in a senior game for Carlton (after Gil Lockhart in 1966) John Leatham was a speedy wingman recruited from Maffra Rovers in the North Gippsland Football League. He donned the navy blue strip for two consecutive games early in 1967, but couldn’t settle in at Princes Park, and his career was over by season’s end.

Leatham made his debut for Carlton against North Melbourne at Princes Park in round 3, 1967. His centreline partners on that cloudy afternoon were Ian Robertson and Cliff Stewart, and the Blues ran out comfortable winners by 16 points.

The following week in round 4, Carlton’s unbeaten run continued when a sharp Blues combination shook Melbourne off early in the contest, and then thrashed the Demons by ten goals. Although just about every Bagger got a swag of possessions, the match committee still made changes for round 5, and Leatham was one of those omitted.

No doubt deeply disappointed, he played only one or two further Reserves matches before deciding to forsake the dream of VFL football, and was back playing in the country only a few weeks later.

In recent months we have been working with the AFL Players’ Association to define a range of benefits which are being made available to their members.

A someone who has played at least 1 VFL/AFL game you are entitled to join the Alumni and receive the benefits from their association.

The benfits are both highly tangible and provide a lifetime of value. Benefits, which fall within the areas of Health and Wellbeing, Financial Prosperity, Continuing Education and Social Connections, include:

• bulk billing access to the AFL Medical Officers Network;
• reimbursement of private health insurance excess fees for medical procedures – up to $500 per year for all health insurers;
• access to financial services;
• edecational and Personal development offers; and
• ongoing social connections through both the Spirit of Carlton past player network as well as the Alumni network itself.
• The full range of benefits, as well as further information about the AFL Players’ Alumni, can be found in the linked brochure.

To join, simply complete the linked membership form and return it – including once off fee of $50 ($25 for pensioners) – to the AFL Players’ Association Level 2, 375 Albert Road, Albert Park VIC 3206 or scan and email the form to info@aflpa.com.au

Over 1700 former VFL/AFL players are currently enjoying the benefits of being an AFL Players’ Alumni member and we recommend this association to you.

 AFL Players’ Health and Wellbeing Past Player Survey

The AFL Players’ Association are requesting the participation of all past players in a survey that aims to measure the health and well-being of past Australian Football League (AFL) players and use findings to make comparisons with benchmarks from population health statistics..

The survey is being conducted by the School of Sports Science, Exercise and Health at the University of Western Australia with the support of the Australian Football League Players’ Association (AFLPA). Please click on this link to complete the survey and go into the chance to win some great prizes. www.sseh.uwa.edu.au/surveys/AFLPA

Happy 60th Birthday to Peter Fyffe!

Career : 1970 – 1973
Debut : Round 10, 1970 v Footscray
822nd Carlton Player
Games : 19
Goals : 1
Last game : Round 5, 1973 v Fitzroy
Guernsey No. 44 (1970-’71) & 24 (1972-’73)
Height : 183 cm
Weight : 76 kg
DOB : August 22, 1951

Wearing guernsey #24 after starting in #44, Fyffe played 19 games for Carlton commencing in Season 1970. He kicked a solitary goal for the Blues in Round 9, 1972. He was recruited from Newstead in Carlton’s country zone and won the Reserves Best First Year Player in 1970 and then won Carlton’s Reserve Best and Fairest Awards in 1971 and 1972.

He also was awarded with the Carlton Supporters Most Consistent awards for these two seasons. Peter was cleared early in the 1974 season to Cooee in Tasmania with fellow Blue John Warden for Greg Towns. Both of these players flew over to Cooee in the morning of the matches during 1974.