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.
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.
Played over 100 games for the Blues in a succesfull era.
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From the Blueseum:
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
It’s nigh on 46 years since Maurie Fowler first donned the famous dark Navy Blue guernsey. It came in the opening round at Princes Park on Anzac Day 1966 – appropriately enough against Richmond, the team Carlton confronts at the MCG on Thursday week.
Recruited to the club from Kyabram in the Goulburn Valley, Maurie was one of three senior debutants for Carlton that day. Also named were Traralgon’s Max Thomas and Dalyston’s Ian Robertson, who would soon enough savour the Grand Final successes of 1968, ’70 and ’72 – as would Kevin Hall with whom Maurie shared the pine as 20th man for that match.
By the time he trudged from the field at Glenferrie Oval in the 9th round of ’66 against Hawthorn, Maurie had turned out for his eighth and final game, taking with him a lifetime of memories.
Those memories were recently rekindled for Maurie on his return to the Carlton Football Club, to the place that was home for an all-too-fleeting moment of his sporting career. In a quiet moment he found a corner of the players’ changeroom by the No.29 locker. The moment prompted him to reflect on his time at Princes Park and pen the following first-person account of what it was like to take to the field in the colours of Carlton.
This is Maurie’s story, My Time At Carlton, as told to Tony De Bolfo:
My Journey To Carlton
I was so lucky to get a game for Carlton. The club could quite easily have turned its back on me between 1963 and ’66, but for each of those years Carlton gave me another chance.
I first came under the club’s notice as a centre half-forward in Kyabram’s Under 17 premiership year of 1960. I felt comfortable playing at centre half forward, but because I was too short for this position at Carlton I had to try and make it as a rover, which I found extremely difficult.
Carlton first invited me to try out in 1962, after I’d played two games for the Kyabram senior side as a 17 year-old. From ’62 until ’65 included I’d take my holidays in February/March, come to Melbourne to train, play in the practice games and be lucky enough to make the final training list each year… only to return to Kyabram.
In ’63 I was actually offered 12 senior games at Carlton under coach Ken Hands, no matter how I played. I refused, basically because I was worried about relocating to Melbourne and had doubts about whether I could actually make it as a rover. In retrospect, by not accepting Carlton’s offer to play in those 12 games I probably ruined my chances of a long-term League career.
When Ron Barassi was appointed Carlton Captain-Coach in 1965 I was tempted to move to Melbourne, but again I returned home, hopeful of playing in a premiership side with Kyabram. Kyabram had been defeated by Shepparton, then coached by Tommy Hafey, in the 1963, 64 & 65 Goulburn Valley Grand Finals and I dearly wanted to be around to experience Grand Final success.
But in 1966, together with three other members of Kyabram’s 1965 Grand Final players Dick Clay (Richmond), Ross Dillon (Melbourne) & Frank Fanning (Footscray), I made the move to Melbourne to try my luck.
Although I only played eight senior games and about 14 games in the reserves and considering I did not capitalize on the opportunity I had been given, I regard my time at Carlton as an incredibly exciting time in my life.
Barassi was one of three coaches during my time at Carlton, together with Hands and Jack Carney. I have to say that playing under Barassi was probably the highlight of my entire football career. In those days the only access a country kid had to any League footballer was by way of the back page of The Sun and there was this intrigue with Barassi. I always believed, even back in ’66 that ‘Barass’ would coach Carlton to a premiership(s).
The Memories
I remember how apprehensive I was on that first night I went to training in 1962. As I was only 17, I used public transport to get to training from North Balwyn where I was staying with my cousin.
The late Allen Cowie, the Carlton secretary at the time, took me into the rooms and introduced me to some of the players. It was strange, because I knew all the players’ names, but no-one knew mine.
After these quick introductions I was invited to get changed and go out and train. I remember that I was so nervous that I struggled to run a couple of laps. I also remember wearing my Kyabram jumper (Essendon colours) with number 27 on the back and whenever I got the ball during training other players would call for me to kick to them by referring to me as “Essendon” or “27”. It was terrific when the practice games started and players began to remember my name. I was fortunate enough to show a bit of form in my first practise game and after that it was like I’d been at the club for a year or more.
It’s hard to convey the feeling I had when I heard I was selected to play in my first game in 1966 against Richmond. I still remember walking into the changeroom and opening locker 29 (my number) to prepare for that game. I looked to my left and beside me at locker 28 was the 6’6” Peter (Percy) Jones. To my right at locker 30 was strongman ‘Vinnie’ Waite and one up from him at locker 31 was Ron Barassi. I felt totally overawed and that “what the hell am I doing here?!!!” feeling was only accentuated every time I felt like a “nervous pee” and on the way to the toilet passed Serge Silvagni and John Nicholls who both had thighs bigger than my waist.
It’s nice to say that I was part of winning Carlton teams; that I kicked the winning goal against South Melbourne at Princes Park in 1966 and that I can still rattle off the numbers worn by the players in that year.
It’s also nice to experience a contentment and pride in later life, knowing my family and my grandchildren can say “my Dad/Pop played for Carlton”.
After Carlton
My time at Carlton provided me with an opportunity to experience a lifestyle largely supported and financed by football. I became a much-travelled player and for the next 15 years moved throughout south-eastern Australia thanks initially to my time there.
On leaving Prices Park, I, along with other ex-Carlton players Ian Nankervis & Bobby Lane, played with Williamstown in the VFA. After one season at “Willy”, which was also a great place, I was transferred in my employment to Shepparton where I played a season with Mooroopna in the Goulburn Valley League before going home to Kyabram.
I then embarked on a coaching career which took me to Palm Beach-Currumbin on the Gold Coast, Robinvale in the Sunraysia League, Hay (Mid Murray League) and Cobram (Murray League).
During my 13-year coaching experience the net return was 10 finals appearances for three Grand Finals, two Premierships and one runner-up.
The Return
I doubt that I could adequately explain how I felt the day I returned to Carlton. The honest truth is that it was quite incredible to think that the club would be at all interested in me, and how I viewed my time at Carlton.
I guess I’ve always thought that because I only played eight games I was never really part of the club after 1966. For that reason, the Carlton experience has remained more a personal feeling of satisfaction for me.
But having returned, it became a bit more than that. Now I think of the “not so famous” guys who played for Carlton, who would get a huge kick out of going back to the club and being treated like I was.
I actually left feeling “important” and thinking (for the first time in my life) that no matter how many games I had played, I was a part of the history of the Carlton Football Club forever.
I was most impressed with all the facilities including the Membership Shop & Bistro and the player facilities are sensational.
My reaction to seeing my old No.29 locker was to immediately include Heath Scotland in my Supercoach & Dreamteam sides! That’s true, but seriously it was a terrific feeling.
Maurie Fowler in front of the No. 29 locker
With regards to me giving any advice to young guys trying to make it in League football today, to do so would probably make me a bit of a hypocrite because the advice I would give today would be the advice I should have given myself 50 years ago.
But if asked, I would have to say that; “Your football career will be great for as long as you are playing but be aware that it won’t end there”.
“It will be with you for life”.
“Your football career provides so many positive personal, social and emotional benefits/feelings for you all the way through life”.
Harrison Hyundai in Melton are offering a great deal for Spirit of Carlton members.
This exclusive opportunity, only offered by Harrison Hyundai to past players and their immediate family members, is the equivalent of Government pricing on Harrison Hyundai’s great range of Hyundai Vehicles.
For further details and who to contact at Harrison Hyundai please download the letter using THIS LINK.
Don’t forget, if you haven’t got your Spirit of Carlton Membership yet it is not too late, you can download our membership brochure using THIS LINK.
Looking for the perfect excuse to enjoy the wonders of Tasmania in Autumn and still follow the Blues? The Spirit of Carlton Past and Present and the Carlton Football Club will be jointly hosting a function at the Welcome Stranger Hotel in Hobart on the 27th of April to coincide with the Blues big clash with Fremantle.
Attending the function will be Carlton past player superstars, Jim Buckley, Ken Hunter and David Rhys-Jones. There will be memorabilia auctions, speeches and lots of fun to be had when the Spirit of Carlton takes Tasmania by storm.
So if you live in Tassie or want to make the short hop across the straight please download the order form by CLICKING HERE and we will see you in April!
Precious film footage of the final quarter of the 1969 round two match between Carlton and Hawthorn – when the Blues banged on 12.6 to record the historic scoreline of 30.30 (210) – has been delivered from oblivion and conveyed to the football club’s archive.
The matchday film, thought lost, was shot by the cameramen of HSV7 and featuring the commentary of Frank Adams and the late Jack Edwards. The film was discovered on one of two 16mm reels retrieved from a dumpmaster years ago after the network apparently saw fit to discard much of its home and away matchday footage.
This week, the reels were generously handed over by Carlton enthusiast John Dickens, who had kept them in his possession since 2004.
“I know this seems hard to believe, but it’s the truth. About eight years ago I was given the reels by a friend who told me he found them in a skip. He knew I had access to 16mm projectors and was a Carlton fan,” said Dickens.
“I was amazed when I saw the footage and arranged through a friend, who had contacts at a post-production house, to have them converted to video and then to disk. During the conversion I realized they were probably archival footage of old videotapes and I’ve had them kicking around for a long time.”
When asked why he had come forward with the film now, Dickens replied with a question of his own. “Who owns the footage?”.
“I think the people own it – the clubs, the players, the fans and no one individual – and any way that other people can get to see it has got to be a good thing,” he said.
The extraordinary film, in which the since-demolished Garton Street scoreboard and Robert Heatley Stand can be seen, features moments of sheer brilliance from the likes of Brent Crosswell, Adrian Gallagher, Alex Jesaulenko and John Nicholls.
Carlton’s three-time premiership coach David Parkin, at that time Hawthorn ’s besieged back pocket, also features in the film – as does full-forward Peter Hudson and the late Peter Crimmins.
John Dickens and the precious matchday film
The film ends with Ian Robertson’s towering mark over “Parko” and dramatic post-siren conversion – Carlton’s 12th goal for the quarter and 30th for the match – on an afternoon in which his team registered a 128-point win and became the first in League history to post a 200-point score.
Little wonder Jack Edwards is heard to say “I’ve never seen a side treat another side with such contempt”.
Robertson, whose 125-game career at Carlton encompassed three premierships, was delighted to learn that film footage of this momentous occasion in Carlton history had surfaced after all these years – not that time had dimmed his memory.
“I can remember that early on ‘Barass’ (Ron Barassi) told Brent Crosswell to man up on Des Meagher, because he was quickly booting the ball forward to (Peter) Hudson,” said Robertson, who himself called matches for the Seven Network.
“Brent did a great job and by three-quarter time we were a mile in front, so Barass gave Crosswell his head . . . and if you check the replay I reckon Brent’s kicked four goals in the last quarter.
“I do remember kicking goal number 30. I didn’t play on it, but I used to tell people ‘We kicked a record score and I kicked the 30th’.”
Carlton’s 30.30 (210) – a League record which stood for 20 years – bettered its previous highest score of 28.10 (178) amassed against Collingwood at Victoria Park in Round 12, 1943.
Today, almost 43 years after the event, it remains the highest score accumulated by a Carlton team.
Ian Robertson lines up to kick Carlton's 30th goal.
The other reel generously donated to the club by Dickens is no less interesting. It contains footage of the first quarter of the Round 4 fixture between Carlton and Melbourne at the MCG, when the then captain-coach Ron Barassi, up against his former club, boots the first goal after just 90 seconds and John Nicholls poleaxes the Redlegs half-back Tony Anderson.
Bairnsdale’s Bob Edmond and the St Kevin’s schoolboy Peter Kerr, both on debut, can be seen on the bench in their dressing gowns waiting for Barassi’s nod, while Maffra’s John Leatham turns out for what would be his second and final appearance in a dark Navy Blue guernsey.
The Carlton team versus Hawthorn, Round 2, Saturday, April 12, 1969, Princes Park:
Backs: Ian Collins, Wes Lofts, Kevin Hall Half-Backs: John Goold, Robert Walls, Barry Gill Centres: Garry Crane, Syd Jackson, Ian Robertson Half-forwards: Alex Jesaulenko, Brent Crosswell, Bryan Quirk Forwards: Peter Jones, Ron Stone, Ian Nicoll Rucks: John Nicholls, Sergio Silvagni, Adrian Gallagher Reserves: Vin Waite, Peter Kerr Coach: Ron Barassi
Don is the 3rd oldest past senior player for the Blues. Don played 100 games from 1935-42 and is a 1938 premiership player.
Don McIntyre
Career : 1935 – 1942
Debut : Round 7, 1935 vs Footscray, aged 20 years, 95 days
Carlton Player No. 521
Games : 100
Goals : 2
Last Game : Round 15, 1942 vs Fitzroy, aged 27 years, 163 days
Guernsey No. 2
Height : 179 cm (5 ft. 10 in.)
Weight : 77 kg (12 stone, 2 lbs.)
DOB : 5 March, 1915
Premiership Player: 1938
Club Best & Fairest: 1937
He played exactly 100 games for the Navy Blues, and kicked all his career goals in one match. His first senior game ended in a draw, and he waited almost a year to play his second. He won his club’s Best and Fairest award before he had completed thirty matches, and he was an integral member of a Carlton team that waited 23 years for a Premiership. He is Daniel Gordon ‘Don’ McIntyre – the Blues’ back pocket dynamo for eight seasons in the era of World War II.
Born in Geelong, and a star full-back for the Pakenham Football Club by his late teens, McIntyre was not only residentially tied to Geelong under the VFL rules of the day, he was also a staunch Cats’ supporter. That was until Carlton slipped under Geelong’s guard, and convinced him that his opportunities were greater at Princes Park. Don began his senior career in round 7 of 1935 against Footscray at the Western Oval, when he lined up in a back pocket alongside Carlton’s resolute full-back Frank Gill. The Blues played all over the Doggies that afternoon, but wayward kicking for goal proved costly, and Footscray escaped with a draw.
McIntyre’s game on that windy afternoon showcased his potential, so Carlton approached Geelong seeking a clearance for him. By the time an agreement was reached however, a new season was well underway. Eventually, Don was named as 19th man against Collingwood in round 6 of 1936, at Princes Park, and marked his return by pushing forward and kicking his only two career goals, as the Blues lost a typically torrid encounter by one straight kick.
From then on, McIntyre made the back pocket in Carlton’s senior team his domain. A natural defender with good pace and superb judgement, he was courageous, and rarely lost his man. All of those qualities were on display when he appeared in his first VFL final in September, and Carlton lost a tight Semi Final to Melbourne by 9 points.
In 1937, one of the great last defensive lines of any era in Carlton’s history was formed when Don McIntyre, Frank Gill and Jim Park combined in the teeth of Carlton’s goal. Although the Blues missed out on the finals by two points, McIntyre’s consistent good form – boosted by his confidence in Park and Gill – won him Carlton’s Best and Fairest award and placed him among the elite players in the game.
By 1938, Carlton had endured a Premiership drought of 23 years, and it took the vision of a great administrator; Sir Kenneth Luke, to finally break it by convincing the club to appoint former South Melbourne champion Brighton Diggins as captain-coach. Diggins promptly galvanised a talented, but previously uninspired team, and when the Blues accounted for Collingwood in a classic Grand Final, Don McIntyre celebrated his 50th match in the best possible way. A massive, record crowd of more than 98,000 spilled onto the playing field that day, when a jubilant Carlton claimed VFL flag number six.
Danny Halloran, who through his brief playing career at Princes Park took great pride in wearing the No.31 guernsey made famous by Ron Barassi, has died suddenly at the age of 57.
Danny joined Carlton from Kyneton where in 1938 his father, the former Melbourne and Footscray footballer Frank Halloran, was adjudged the Bendigo Football League’s best and fairest player. In those days he was a zoned player who made a go of it with the likes of Dunolly’s Wayne Deledio and Maryborough’s Russell Ohlsen.
It was 1975 and when Jim Buckley was recruited from Kyneton the following year, Danny acted as his chauffeur.
“Danny picked me up a few times and took me down to Melbourne. He was a real gentleman, well-respected – a good bloke from a lovely family,” Buckley said.
“He did his best for the football club too. He had legs on him like a grand piano. Massive they were. He was very solid.”
Danny was handed the No.31 guernsey for good reason according to his younger sister Louise. “He was a similar size and shape to ‘Barass’ and that was the thinking with the jumper,” Louise said.
“In those days they used to give us the Carlton jumpers to wash and you’d have to watch the No.31 when you hung it out on the line, otherwise it’d be pinched.”
Six days shy of his 21st birthday, Halloran completed the first of just 15 senior appearances for Carlton, in the 13th round of 1975. Named 20th man, his was a baptism of fire – Collingwood at Victoria Park – but he helped get the visitors home by 16 points.
Though his senior appearances were restricted to just four in that maiden season, Danny turned out for ten in 1976. He was adjudged Carlton’s best player afield against Footscray in the 11th round of 1976 on the day his travelling companion Jim Buckley completed his senior debut.
The four-time Carlton premiership player David McKay, remembered that Danny inherited the No.31 Carlton guernsey from Peter Hall (now the Nationals’ leader in the Victorian Legislative Council), who donned the jumper after Barassi’s retirement.
“Danny was a bull of a player,” McKay recalled. “He was a really strong, tough-at-the-ball type. He wasn’t the greatest mark or, obviously, the greatest kick, but he had good height and weight. His strength was his asset and he used it well.
“He’ll probably be remembered for the game where he missed a goal from about two metres out. He slammed the footy onto his boot, overcooked the kick and the ball hit the goalpost. As far as I know he’s the only Carlton player to have done that other than ‘Percy’ Jones who actually kicked the post.”
Members of Danny’s family fondly remember his days at Princes Park. Younger sister Louise recalled that she and her mother Carmel would make the trek from Kyneton to Carlton in the wee hours of Saturday morning to watch him play.
“We’d pack the thermos, queue up at the gate at the Royal Parade end and walk straight in . . . we’d sit on the wing on the city side, in front of the shed before it was all revamped,” Louise said.
“These were very exciting times. We’d watch the reserves and the seniors and be rapt if Dan played in the seniors. He had some great games and got votes in the Brownlow, so he did some good things even if they weren’t often enough.”
Ultimately, the opening round of 1977 – involving Geelong at Kardinia Park on a day in which Kennington’s John Tresize and Golden Square’s bespectacled Tony Southcombe first played – would regrettably prove to be Danny’s last. Circumstances of Danny’s departure are somewhat clouded, but Louise remembered that her brother suffered a broken ankle in an ice skating mishap from which he never fully recovered.
“It was an injury that never really healed and to the end he walked with a limp,” Louise said.
Danny kept an involvement with the game, chasing the leather in the Goulburn Valley League and assisting the former Fitzroy footballer Chris Smith with coaching duties at Mooroopna. He maintained a friendship with the former Carlton midfielder Ray Byrne and, according to his sister, got on well with Bruce Doull “and the more introspective characters”.
A physical education teacher by profession and a keen cycling enthusiast, Danny, whose father died of an aneurism at the age of 54, passed away last Friday – not far from the flat in Abbotsford Street North Melbourne where he first roomed in his Carlton days.
Danny’s cause of death remains unknown, but as Louise said: “Dan just went to sleep and never woke up”.
“It was all very peaceful. He was at his home, in an apartment in Plane Tree Way, just a drop kick from the North footy ground”.
Danny is survived by his former wife of 30 years Di, daughters Jess (a sports journalist for Sydney’s Sunday Telegraph), Lizzie and Fiona, and son Tom.
He is also survived by his mother Carmel, sisters Annemaree and Louise and brother Tom.
To the end, Danny kept a place in his heart for Carlton and of course, the No.31 now worn by Marcus Davies.
As his daughter Jess said: “He loved the fact that he wore the No. 31 . . . he was really proud of that”.
Danny’s funeral is expected to be held in Kyneton next week.
This year marks the anniversary of two tremendous Carlton premierships, 1972 and 1982 when the Blues tamed the tigers. We will be having the biggest Spirit of Carlton Luncheon ever to celebrate in August and throughout the year we will be highlighting snippets from each year to whet the appetite. Today, some highlights from each game.
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.
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.
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