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By Tony De Bolfo

For every 100-game Carlton player there’s probably a hundred more who disappear into the ether just as quickly as they appear.

William Harry, a one-game back pocket who donned the boots for the Blues almost 106 years ago, could be considered amongst the club’s great forgotten.

Until now.

That Harry’s tale can finally be told is due to the dedication of his grandson Lynn Harry. A long-time member and supporter, Lynn was inspired by a recent article featuring another Carlton one-gamer, Bill Carmody, who later laid his life on the line at Pozieres during The Great War.

“I read that story and realized that the club was still interested in documenting the lives of those players who managed only one game,” Lynn said, “and with my father being the last living link with our one-game player I thought it important to pursue William’s story.”

Turn back the hands to July 21, 1906, to the day Harry turned out for his team in what would prove a landmark season for the Carlton Football Club.

This was the season in which the legendary coach Jack Worrall led his players to Grand Final glory for the first of three premierships in succession and the first since Carlton’s admission to the Victorian football League some nine years previous.

Harry’s maiden appearance came in the 11th round, against Collingwood at Princes Park no less. Named in a back pocket, he worked in tandem with Norman “Hackenschmidt” Clark and Doug Gillespie to safeguard the goals on the last line.

Though the home team comfortably accounted for its much-despised inner-city neighbor to the tune of 37 points, Harry never took to the paddock in a Carlton lace-up again.

But who was he? And what became of him?

William Richard Harry was born in the old gold mining town of Eldorado, 254 kilometres north-east of Melbourne, in 1878 – the first of 12 children reared by Elizabeth Ann (nee Wellington) and John Hammer Harry – a Cornish tin miner named who’d set sail from his native St Austell in search of gold in the mid-1860s.

When gold and tin mining operations ceased in Eldorado around the turn of last century, the Harry family relocated to Chiltern-Rutherglen, to where mines had been active since the 1890s. There, young Harry toiled for Great Southern Mines, during which time (1903) he also married a 23 year-old local Chiltern girl named Margaret Henderson.

By then, Harry had chased the leather for the local Great Southern, Miners and Rutherglen teams. An early Rutherglen team photo depicts William standing with his arms by his side in a sleeveless guernsey and cap and sporting a dark moustache. A younger brother George can also be seen lying on his side in the bottom left hand corner of the image.

The circumstances which led to Harry’s recruitment to Carlton may never be known, although his grandson, Lynn Harry can appreciate the trepidation his forefather surely experienced.

As he said: “I can now understand how he felt about coming down to Carlton at the age of 27 to play footy, with a wife and two young children under three years-old living back home in Rutherglen”.

“But Jack Worrall must have seen something in my grandfather,” Lynn said. “I’ve only read in the history books these past couple of days that Jack had a real eye for talent, so much so that he could spot it on the other side of the spectators’ fence . . . it would have been really nice to know what he actually thought about William.”

Following his all-too-brief Carlton foray, Harry returned to Rutherglen and kept playing. On hanging up the boots, Harry armed himself with a whistle and umpired for a number of seasons, earning the curious nickname “Tidylum” from the locals. Origins of the nickname are sketchy, but Tidylum is thought to be Cornish.

Harry continued to work the Rutherglen mines until the gold ran out in about 1920. Three years later he relocated with his family to Footscray in search of labor.

He ultimately found work with Port Melbourne Woollen Mills and carried through his duties with the company for a number of years until his untimely passing in 1943.

Though he lived in Melbourne’s western suburbs, Harry regularly returned to his beloved Rutherglen to indulge his favourite pastimes of fishing and duck shooting.

As Lynn said, “Harry really had this like for the bush and to be out on the river and Dad told me he was crack shot.”

Tragically, those very indulgences contributed to Harry’s untimely demise.

Harry was a man of 64 years when he drowned in the Murray River, apparently as he attempted to retrieve a duck he had just shot down.

The following obituary appeared in the local Rutherglen newspaper.

On Sunday afternoon, February 21, 1943, a drowning fatality occurred in a lagoon of the Murray River opposite Gooramadda.
The victim was Mr. William Harry of Footscray.
Deceased was well-known throughout the district, having lived at Great southern for many years prior to coming to Rutherglen to live. He went to reside in Melbourne about 20 years ago, paying many visits to Rutherglen in the meantime.
In his young days he was a prominent footballer for the district, playing with Great Southern, Miners and Rutherglen. Known familiarly as “Tidylum”, Harry played many sterling games for the above team. When he completed his football career he took up umpiring.
The late Mr Harry came to Rutherglen for a holiday on Monday of last week and, desiring to spend some time on the river, went out to board with Mr and Mrs H. Connell on Tuesday.
He was in good health on Sunday and after lunch said he was going for a shot, taking a gun and cartridges with him. Mr McConnell rowed him across the river and waited for him on the river bank while deceased searched for game.
Mr McConnell heard a shot and when Mr Harry did not return in reasonable time he got anxious and went looking for him.
On the bank of the lagoon Mr McConnell found his cloths and looking into the lagoon saw Mr Harry’s head under the water about five feet in from the edge.
He immediately went into the water but it was too deep; Mr McConnell then got a long stick and drew the body to the bank.
Efforts to revive him failed and Mr McConnell motored into town and notified the police.
It is thought that he went into the lagoon after the game he had shot and became entangled in the weeds.
The body was brought to the river bank where it was examined by Doctor Davis, and evidence of identification taken, after which an order for burial was granted.
Deceased was a native of Eldorado, and was 64 years of age. The remains were taken to Melbourne for interment.

William Harry and his wife raised nine children during their lifetimes, the first eight of them born in Rutherglen. Of the nine, only the youngest child – Lynn’s father Keith – is still living.

A grandson, Ian Harry, was later recruited to Carlton on the sayso of Ron Barassi and whilst not managing to break through with the Blues did complete a long and successful tenure as captain of VFA outfit Mordialloc.

Another grandson through marriage, Golden Square’s Ross Ousley, also represented Carlton in 23 senior matches from 1956-58.

As for Lynn, two cherished Carlton sites serve to perpetuate the memory of his grandfather . . . the very ground upon which William Harry once played and the trophy cabinet flanking the reception area at Visy Park.

“I never knew until now that my grandfather’s one and only game came in a premiership year,” Lynn said, “so I can now view the 1906 cup with a real interest and passion and can feel, in the slightest, tiniest way, that Harry has helped contribute to that Grand Final victory.”

Sit back, relax and enjoy the latest Spirit of Carlton video from our Youtube channel. Watch as David ‘Swan’ McKay remembers the old times with the boys from the Fox Footy show, Grumpy Old Men. This particular episode aired in 2003.

Dear Spirit of Carlton Member,

The executive wishes to place on record its sincere thanks to you, as a valued participant in the Spirit of Carlton Past & Present  (SoC) for supporting the cause over these past five years, as together we’ve contributed to the resurgence and reinvigoration of the Carlton Football Club (CFC).

As you may be aware, the SoC has undergone significant structural changes in the lead-up to the 2012 season – primarily to ensure that the SoC works more closely with the CFC to utilise the Club’s substantial resources as it strives for its 17^th premiership and nears the 150^th anniversary of its existence.

Accordingly, the SOC will now conduct its activities more along the lines of a past players’ association to help realise its and the CFC’s short and long-term objectives.

The 2012 Executive Team is as follows;

David Rhys-Jones (President); Geoff Southby (Secretary); Jason Reddick (Treasurer/Public Officer (CFC)); Matthew Hogg, Alex Marcou, David McKay and Dennis Munari (Exec Members/General Committee); Mandy Hunter (Marketing Support (CFC)); and Jamie Sanderson (Website Manager).

2012 Membership is available at a reduced annual cost of $50 ($30 for pensioner members), with a subscription form attached for your convenience.

As the SoC is reverting back to a past & present players and officials group, membership will no longer be available to supporters.  As such, the SoC encourages you, as a passionate supporter, to acquire a CFC membership package.

However, please note the SoC has set aside the match day event on May 6 for you to join past players and officials in a special SoC tribute to CFC supporters for contributing to the cause over the past five years. Ticketing and seating will be available to you at a cost on the day, with more details to follow.

Key events for 2012 are a Theme Lunch celebrating the 40^th & 30^th Anniversaries of the 1972 & 1982 premierships scheduled for Friday, August 3 at Etihad Stadium; and a Past Players’ Annual dinner scheduled for Wednesday, September 12 at Visy Park.

Two matchday events have also been confirmed for Etihad Stadium – a Past Player Father/Son & Daughter Day (Round 6, Sunday, May 6); and 1987 Premiership 25^th Anniversary Day (Round 8, Sunday, May 20).

The Golf Day and Dinner will not be staged in 2012.

The SoC can also confirm the distribution of funds to the following key categories in 2012 – CFC Players (new tech equipment and facilities for team and individual performance improvement); needy past player welfare & support; SoC/CFC history management; and administration & running costs

In closing, all at the SoC look forward to your on-going valued support in 2012 in what will unquestionably be an exciting season for the Mighty Blues.

Yours sincerely,

The Executive, SoC

Clear your calandars because we now have a date for the big Spirit of Carlton annual luncheon.

This year the function will be held on Friday the 3rd of August.

Join the 1972 and 1982 premiership teams as well as the entire current playing group to celebrate the 30th and 40th anniversaries of these momentous occassions when the Blues “Tamed the Tigers”.

Plannning is now underway for this event and we will keep you updated with information as it comes to hand.

So go to your calendar now and put a big circle around the 3rd of August  and we will see you there!

Kevan Hamilton

Career : 1956
Debut : Round 3, 1956 vs St Kilda, aged 22 years, 86 days
Carlton Player No. 703
Games : 11
Goals : 22
Last Game : Round 17, 1956 vs Richmond, aged 22 years, 191 days
Guernsey No. 5
Height : 180 cm (5 ft. 11 in.)
Weight : 81 kg (12 stone, 10 lbs.)
DOB : February 1, 1934
Club Leading Goalkicker 1956

Nicknamed ‘Icy’, Kevan Hamilton found his way to Princes Park in 1956 from McKinnon via Melbourne seconds. A tall rover-forward, he started his career impressively with eight goals in his first two matches, and by midway through the year was regularly selected as first rover.

But thereafter his form tailed off, and his goal-scoring opportunities dried up as opposition teams starved him of opportunity. While Carlton wound up fifth on the ladder and missed out on a finals berth by just two points, the lack of a consistently reliable goal-scorer proved the team’s main drawback – as shown by Hamilton’s total of 22 goals from only 11 matches. That was good enough to win him our club goal-kicking award, but it was one of the lowest tallies for the Blues in 50 years.

‘Icy’ finished up at Carlton after just that one season, and returned to McKinnon as captain-coach in the Federal League.

Stephen Edgar

Career : 1990 – 1991
Debut : Round 1, 1990 vs Sydney, aged 23 years, 58 days
Carlton Player No. 965
Games : 14
Goals : 1
Last Game : Round 9, 1991 vs Richmond, aged 24 years, 106 days
Guernsey No. 9
Height : 175 cm (5 ft. 9 in.)
Weight : 76 kg (12 stone, 0 lbs.)
DOB : 1 February, 1967

Edgar was drafted from East Fremantle, WA with Carlton’s selection 7 in the 1989 National Draft. A lightly-framed defender with good all-round skills, he had represented his home state against a VFA representative team in 1988, and impressed enough at WAFL level with the Sharks to convince Carlton to pick him up.

Edgar played his debut game for the Blues against Sydney at Princes Park in round 1, 1990. Stationed in a back pocket alongside Adrian Bassett and David Kernahan, he was travelling alright at half-time, when his team led by 45 points – but after that, Sydney came roaring back to squeeze out the Blues by 5 points in a tight finish.

Edgar was one of those to lose his place after that debacle. He wasn’t able to force his way back into the seniors until round 18, but then played out the season on the last line of defence as Carlton wound up an inconsistent year ranked eighth on the ladder. When the finals got underway, the Blues’ seconds – with Edgar solid in a back pocket – brought some optimism back with a good win over Melbourne in the Reserves Grand Final.

 
By Tony De Bolfo

Betty Austin has seen fit to right the wrongs about her late father. In doing so she’s made available some terrific images and documents to perpetuate the memory of Alex Doyle, Carlton’s 53-game player through the Depression years.

For some time it’s been incorrectly reported that Alex embarked on a career as playing coach of Tasmanian football club Cananore on the completion of his playing career at Princes Park.

Not so says Betty. To Cananore’s chagrin, the deal fell through when Carlton refused Alex a clearance.

Instead, she says her father maintained a long-term involvement with the game in and around the Melbourne metropolitan area, as he committed his energies to his employer, the Fire Brigade.

The son of John and Elizabeth Doyle, Alex was one of three siblings born in the Victorian wheat district town of Murtoa on July 29, 1904. He was but an infant when his father was transferred to Yackandandah with the railways and later Horsham, where Alex plied his craft as a junior footballer.

Alex represented the Wimmera with great distinction on a number of occasions during football’s equivalent of cricket’s country week. In 1926, he took part in a kicking competition then sponsored by The Sporting Globe and convened by its football writer “Jumbo” Sharland. Alex thought he’d taken the chocolates with a drop kick measuring 72 yards five inches, only to be trumped by Echuca’s fabled Chinese footballer Les Kew-Ming with a 75-yarder.

By now, Alex’s feats were prompting intense interest amongst the inner city clubs Collingwood, Essendon, Hawthorn and of course, the good guys. The following handwritten letter, penned by the then Carlton Secretary and all-time great Carlton footballer Horrie Clover in December 1926, attests to this fact.

“Mr. Doyle,

Dear Sir,

Having heard many favorable reports of your outstanding ability on the football field I have much pleasure on behalf of the Carlton Club in extending to you a cordial invitation to join our Club for next football season.

Trusting that you will give this matter your earnest and favorable consideration and hoping that you will favor me with a reply at your earliest convenience.

I am, yours faithfully,

Horrie Clover

Secretary.”

For whatever reason, Alex opted to delay his introduction to VFL football and it wasn’t until late 1928 that he resolved to commit to Carlton, together with Horsham’s Frank Gill and Warracknabeal’s Charlie “Snowy” Parsons.

“Of course it was around about this time that everybody was looking for work and all these people had written to Dad not only to place him as a footballer but to offer him a job as well. This played a big part in Depression times,” Betty says.

The following letter to Alex, penned on a Carlton letterhead dated September 6, 1928, sets the scene at time when coin was still being cast about despite the dire economic circumstances.

“Dear Sir,

I am instructed by my committee to advise you that Messrs Crone and Clover reported that they interviewed you in Horsham during the week and were successful in inducing you to throw in your lot with us next season.

I can assure you that we are congratulating ourselves in securing your services and I am sure that you will not regret the step you have taken and we think a few men of your stamp will help us to be the premier league side for season 1929.

We have not broadcasted the fact that you have signed up with us, not even to our Committee, until the commencement of next season.

If you should be approached by other League clubs for your services next season be careful not to sign up with them because if you do you will disqualify yourself not only for playing with Carlton but also Melbourne football owing to the fact that you have signed up with more than one club. I would suggest if you are approached (and I am certain you will be especially if you play in Melbourne in Show Week) to tell those who approached you that you are going to Carlton next season.

I am looking forward with pleasure to meeting you in Melbourne at that time.

On behalf of my Committee I desire to thank you for signing up with us and I hope that your association with the Carlton Football Club will be a successful one as well as a profitable one.

Hoping that I shall have the pleasure of meeting you in the near future.

Yours faithfully,

PJ Cain

Secretary

PS. To keep yourself free from complications you will have to refuse any offers of money that might be made to you by other League Clubs.”

Alex took up lodgings as a boarder at No.52 Garton Street in the shadows of the Legends Stand. In time he would meet his future wife “Nellie” Lannge who lived with her family in the house next door.

He fronted for the first night of training under the watch of resident Senior coach and lifelong friend Dan Minogue at the Carlton ground at 4.45pm on the afternoon of Tuesday, March 12, 1929. So began what was to prove a brief but beautiful friendship for player and club which would take in 53 senior matches over three seasons through The Great Depression.

Wearing the No.19 now proudly sported by Eddie Betts, Alex pitted his skills against the likes of Melbourne’s Ivor Warne-Smith and St Kilda’s Colin Watson, the two greatest adversaries he ever confronted.

He won the hearts and minds of all Carltonians from bottom to top and a glorious certificate of appreciation, signed by President David Crone and Secretary Newton Chandler acknowledges the high regard in which Alex was held.

But luck would not run with the Carlton teams in which he featured, with both the 1929 and ’31 outfits falling six points agonizingly short of Richmond and Geelong in the respective preliminary finals of those years.

Remarkably, Alex also fronted up for Wednesday League games during the late 1920s early 30s. in those days, games comprised teams from the Air Force, Victoria Police, Yellow Cabs, Red and Checker Cabs, Post and Telegraph, Railways, the Victoria Market, Waterside Workers and of course, the fire brigade.

“The football was good and attracted quite a following as well as a lot of newspaper interest,” a brigade scribe later reported.

“To say the games were rugged and the boys were fractious is an understatement, so much so that with all the fights it was inevitable the competition had to fold up and fold up it did.

“The brigade were in the Wednesday League for years and withdrew for a number of reasons, mainly because the brawls and bad language had brought the competition into bad odour.”

By then, Alex’s future as a fireman was already assured. In January 1932, after accepting an invitation to contest a vacant employment position within the brigade, Alex won the role.

Thirty-five years later, he would receive a letter from the brigade carrying a seal of recognition for 35 years service.

Alex’s commitment to the MFB didn’t curtail his football involvement though. Rather, it enhanced it. In seasons 1933 and ’34, for example, he represented the then VFA club Preston whilst headquartered at the North Melbourne brigade and in 1935 he took up a position as Essendon’s reserve grade coach. A stint with the Oakleigh brigade came later, during which time Alex hooked up with the local football club as a selector.

Of course, Alex’s wife “Nellie”, son John and daughter Betty dutifully followed husband and father from station to station and as Betty said: “Wherever we moved with the fire brigade he got involved with footy”.

For years until his retirement, Alex maintained his passion for the great Australian game and for the old dark Navy Blues. Failing eyesight eventually put paid to his attendance at Carlton games and his final years were spent quietly at a home in East Doncaster.

After suffering a heart attack, Alex died in nearby Box Hill Hospital on January 21, 1973. He is buried in Springvale Cemetery with his beloved wife who survived him by some six years.

Today, Alex’s legacy lives on through Betty – a greater Carlton supporter there never was – together with his many grandchildren and great grandchildren, many of whom will be there come March 29 to cheer Chris Judd and the boys on.

In the latest in our videos added to our youtube channel we get to see the other side of the famous Carlton Draught AFL centenary ads from 1996. As usual the Blues feature prominantly with past players such as McKay, Jesaulenko, Harmes and Sheldon taking part. Check out the blooper reel at the end of the clip!

Brendan Fevola

Career : 1999 – 2009
Debut : Round 17, 1999 vs Collingwood, aged 18 years, 185 days
Carlton Player No. 1034
Games : 187
Goals : 575
Guernsey No. 25
Last Game : Elimination Final, 2009 vs Brisbane, aged 28 years, 229 days
Height : 188 cm (6 ft. 2 in.)
Weight : 101 kg (15 stone, 12 lbs.)
DOB : 20 January, 1981
Coleman Medal 2006, 2009
All Australian 2006, 2008, 2009
Club Leading Goalkicker: 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009
Victorian State Player: 2008
Allen Aylett Medal: 2008

Anthony Koutoufides

Career: 1992 – 2007
Debut: Round 13, 1992 vs Adelaide
985th Carlton Player
Games: 278
Goals: 226
Last game: Round 17, 2007 v St Kilda
Guernsey No. 43
Height: 190cm
Weight: 99kg
DOB: 18 January, 1973
Premiership Player: 1995
Leigh Matthews Trophy AFLPA MVP: 2000
Best and Fairest: 2001, 2005
All Australian: 1995, 2000
Leading Goalkicker: 1997
Captain: 2004-06

Anthony Koutoufides will no doubt be remembered for many things; Carlton Captain, his famous super-build, his ability to play in a number of positions and thrive, his outstanding fairness out on the field, his pay-packet, his ability to pick up and hold the ball with one hand, and for being a mildly spoken nice guy. But above all, “Kouta” will go down in history as a Club legend.

The 191cm right-foot star in the #43 guernsey came to the Blues via a zone selection, a form of recruiting replaced by the draft (he was recruited from Lalor, he also played at East Thomastown). Although it took a few seasons for Kouta the utility to take his place, Kouta began to dominate on the wing over 1994 and 1995 and he was unlucky not to win the Norm Smith Medal in our GF win of 1995. He came 2nd in the Club Best & Fairest in 1999, third in 2000 while he won All-Australian selection plus the Players Association MVP award, and then won the Club Best & Fairest in 2001 and 2005.

Kouta was unstoppable in 2000, including a run of games mid season in which we would dominate.

In later years he would play occasional key position roles, including 6 from Full Forward one day, plus rucking in his early days when we needed some mobility. Perhaps of most interest to the historians is Kouta’s change in game from strong marking midfielder to insider clearer, as Ratten’s demise and Kouta’s knees required a change in position.

Kouta’s influence was so important to the Blues that the Blueseum has utilised a ‘story by games’ of Kouta’s career, which highlights wonderful games of Kouta’s career from 1992 to 2007, and can be accessed here.

For a true understanding of Kouta’s potential in many roles across the ground, look no further than his ‘Stat Shot’ in side the Blueseum. From key position player, to midfielder, to extractor, to bit-part player as his age increased, you can see Kouta the player excelling in different areas of the game – from goals, to marks, to clearances, to tackles. His importance to the team in various roles would simply not decline as the years did – Kouta was / is a champ in many different areas of the game.

There was also Kouta’s fair share of injuries, with two major knee injuries in 2000 and 2001 plus a hamstring tendon injury that delayed his debut as captain in 2004. The 2000 knee injury was incurred in a mid-air collision with Bomber Johnson in Round 20 injuring his Posterior Ligament, not to mention our finals chances. The 2001 injury was even more longer term, and caused after Tiger Matthew Knights fell across his knee in the dour 2001 Semi-Final loss. Of course, Kouta tried to return early, playing 3 games with a mattress tied to his leg in Rounds 15-17 of 2002, before re-hurting the knee against the Swans and finishing his season early.

There are so many memories to Kouta’s play that it is hard to pick out the best. The 1999 Preliminary Final where Kouta was dominating at all parts of the ground simultaneously – think about that for a second – was as awesome a game of footy you will see from any one player.

Chris Pavlou, who blissfully committed more than 50 years of his life to Carlton as a senior footballer, runner, recruiter, coach, past players President and board member, died yesterday after a brave battle with cancer.

He was 72.

Chris died peacefully in the company of his family at his home in Frankston, the place from which he was recruited to the club way back in 1958.

He is survived by his wife of 47 years Mary, son Anthony, daughters Trish and Louise, and three grandchildren. Funeral arrangements are to be detailed in Tuesday’s Herald Sun.

The Chris Pavlou story had its origins in Foster, not far from where the rolling hills meet the Gippsland coastline, where he was born on August 18, 1939. Chris’s father hailed from Cyprus and his mother from Ithaka, his parents having migrated to Australia in 1922 and ’34 respectively.

In 1947, after the Pavlous relocated to Frankston to run a fish and chip shop, Chris was enrolled in the local Frankston state school and together with his older brother Con and younger brother George leant assistance to their parents on the premises. Later, Chris followed Con to the Frankston Football Club, turning out with the Under 17s at the tender age of 15.

“As a 15 year-old I didn’t really know much about football to be honest with you, because being of ethnic background I was with my parents working in the shop,” Chris said in a final interview with this reporter recently. “Football wasn’t really a priority because I had to work a bit.”

It was around this time that Chris pledged his passionate support to Carlton, which would linger until his last breath.

Why Carlton?

“Well I had a fight with my brother when Carlton was playing Essendon for the ’47 premiership,” he said. “Of course, Carlton won, but my brother wouldn’t let me listen to the radio, he was pushing me aside.

“Now Frankston wore the same colours as Essendon and we loved Frankston, but he wouldn’t let me listen to the footy . . . and it was a close game with Stafford kicking the goal for Carlton to win by a point, so I had a go at him and said ‘I’m going to barrack for Carlton from now on’.”

“The next day Mum went and bought me a Carlton jumper so I put that on and supported them ever since . . . and they’ve been my life really. For 51 years Carlton has been my life.”

It was at Frankston that Chris’s footballing talents were first identified by the late Carlton premiership player and coach Jim Francis.

“Jim Francis happened to live at Long Island in a holiday home at Frankston,” Chris recalled, “and he came along to watch us at training.

“I don’t know what prompted him to do that . . . whether he was going for a walk along the beach . . . but he headed up to the Frankston footy ground, saw us playing and having a kick, and the next thing I knew he asked me if I’d like to have a run at Carlton.

“At that time Carlton were looking for small, quick players. There was Bruce Williams from Morwell, Marty Cross, Johnny Heathcote, Barry Smith and myself – and ‘Handsy’ (Ken Hands) had this idea of getting some pace into the team. There was quite a handful of young quick players who helped get the ball rolling with pace . . . ”

Chris couldn’t believe his luck. “I just got such a buzz to be invited to Carlton – to go to the Carlton Football Club to play – because I barracked for Carlton,” he said.

“I couldn’t believe I had the opportunity to have a run around. I remember walking into the clubrooms and seeing Ken Hands, John Nicholls and Bill Milroy and I’m saying to myself ‘What am I doing here?’.

Chris also remembered Carlton as an accommodating club regardless of creed or religion.

“We just accepted eachother as footballers and friends,” he said. “There was no animosity between us in being Italian or Greek and there were a lot of the Aussie boys there.

“Vasil Varlamos didn’t get there until 1960, but my cousin, John Defteros was there in the under 19s at Carlton. He was about the only Greek connection I had, but in saying that, there were a lot of Greek supporters. A whole group of them used to gather around the wing at Princes Park to cheer the Greeks along.”

Vasil, the 44-game Carlton half-back flanker and perhaps Chris’s dearest friend from his playing days, said “Chris was a first generation Australian of Greek origin just like me, so that was a connection and we became very close”.

“As a player he was fast and he started out as a rover, but he wasn’t strong enough around the packs so they put him on a wing. In ’61 he was probably one of the best wingmen in the League because he beat all the top wingers he played on, Brian Dixon included,” Vasil said.

“He used to line up on a wing on Johnny James’ side of the ground and he played with such enthusiasm. He’d tell you if you did something right and I always remember his encouragement.”

In many respects, Chris’s playing career ended before it began. Completing his senior debut in the second round match of 1958 (he earned Allen Aylett as his maiden opponent against North Melbourne at Princes Park) Chris’s 31-game tenure as a rover and wingman ended in the 14th round of 1961, when in a match against Footscray at the Western Oval, he cannoned into the fence, sustaining a serious knee injury which he further aggravated after hobbling to the forward pocket.

Chris was 22 at the time, but would never again don the No.35 dark Navy Blue guernsey . . . and it hit him hard.

“It upset me that much because I was on the verge of something. I wish I could have played a couple more years, just to see where it had have ended up,” he said.

“We made the Grand Final in 1962, then Barassi came, then the great years of 1968 and 1970 . . . I didn’t get the opportunity to do those things and I often ask myself ‘How would I have gone?.”

In the aftermath of this personal setback, Chris embarked on what would be a five-year coaching career with East Launceston through the early 1960s, during which time he completed a playing comeback – only to suffer another serious knock to the knee.

But Chris was Carlton to the core and such was the depth of his admiration for the place and the lifelong friendships forged with men like George Armstrong, Jack Wrout, Ken Hands, Jack Carney and Bert Deacon that Chris inevitably returned to the mainland to renew club ties.

Appointed Under 19s coach in 1973, Chris was afforded the rare opportunity to develop burgeoning Blues of the calibre of Peter Francis and the inaugural Norm Smith Medallist Wayne Harmes (whom Chris actually recruited) and “Harmesy” was one of a number of former players to visit Chris in recent weeks.

Twenty years later, Chris was rewarded with Life Membership of the Carlton Football Club – only to further his commitment to the cause by championing the past players for 12 years and contributing at board level for almost two years through those dim dark days of the early 21st century.

Which came as no real surprise to those like Vasil Varlamos, who said of his former teammate: “I have never known anybody to love a football club like Chris”.

Anthony Pavlou said today that “Dad’s wish was to spend one more Christmas with his family”.

“He fought the hard battle to make Christmas and he achieved that,” Anthony said.

“Of course he loved Carlton too, but the Pavlou family days at the football, cheering on the mighty Blues, will never be quite the same without him, for that was part of our ritual every week.

Merry Christmas from the Spirit of Carlton Past & Present!

Blueseum contributor Peter McLean has reproduced an article from The Age in 1934 on the Blueseum. We reproduce it here for two reasons, to show how long Carlton players and officials past and present have been getting together and also to highlight the reference to the ‘spirit of carlton’ all the way back in 1934!

——————–

Reproduced with kind permission from the Round 24, 2011 AFL Record.

By Howard Kotton

There was a fabulous feeling when Carlton’s 1981 premiership team gathered at Etihad Stadium last week. Many stories large and small were recalled, much to the delight of the 650 guests at the annual Spirit of Carlton luncheon.

But the story that had the crowd in fits of laughter was Alex Marcou’s recollection of the Blues’ visit to The Lodge in Canberra.

Adding to the theatre was the presence of former Prime Minister and No. 1 supporter Malcolm Fraser and his wife Tamie, who invited the team to The Lodge after its premiership victory. Marcou has dined out on the story for 30 years and it gets better every time he tells it.

The story involves Marcou and his partner at the time, known only as ‘Fabulous’, who accompanied Marcou and his teammates to Canberra. According to Marcou, everything was going well until ‘Fabulous’ had an unfortunate accident and slipped on a staircase, breaking her ankle. She was taken to hospital, accompanied by Marcou and Tamie Fraser.

Concerned about the young woman’s welfare, Tamie stayed with her in hospital while Marcou returned to the party in the Prime Minister’s car, enjoying some refreshments along the way. After Marcou and ‘Fabulous’ returned to Melbourne, Tamie was so worried about the woman’s welfare she obtained the Blue’s phone number and rang him at home, just as he was about to continue the celebrations.

Needless to say, Tamie’s timing was less than perfect and Marcou initially did not believe the Prime Minister’s wife was the other end of the phone and his reaction, laced with profanity, was priceless.

Marcou was one of 17 players from the 1981 team to attend the luncheon—Norm Smith medallist Bruce Doull, centreman Greg Wells and wingman Phil Maylin were the only absentees.

Coach David Parkin and captain Mike Fitzpatrick spoke, but there were three people in attendance who found it hard to recall the game with any fondness—former Magpies Tony Shaw, Peter McCormack and Rene Kink.

The Collingwood trio shared the stage with three of their Carlton opponents, Marcou, David McKay and Ken Sheldon, before the formal festivities ended and the conviviality and good humour continued well into the night.

Please see below video of the story referred to in this article.

A total of 1136 men have represented the Carlton Football Club at senior level since the inaugural season of League competition in 1897. At the time of writing, 478 of them are still living and 658 deceased, with 417 consigned to history as “lost” players . . . at least, photographically speaking.

As such, the club, in conjunction with the Spirit of Carlton and The Blueseum, is seeking the assistance of the public to fill the void, confirmed in a recent audit of player images.

The Carlton Football Club would like to hear from those who may have a photograph/photographs of the 418 former players in their keep, preferably at the time that they played and, even better, sporting their much-prized Carlton guernseys – anyone and everyone from Otto Buck and Garney Goodrick through to Bobadil Hooper and Dick Wittman.

Jimmy Aitken, Carlton’s first captain in 1897, is included amongst the lost.

Got the picture?

If you do, then please contact the author on 93896241 Tuesdays and Thursdays, or via email, tony.debolfo@carltonfc.com.au.

Les Abbott
Bill Ahern
Jimmy Aitken
Henry Allender
Charlie Anderson
Joe Andrew
Barry Archbold
Joe Archer
Bob Armstrong
Bill Armstrong
Billy Arnott
Dave Arrell
Ernie Ashton
Bob Atkinson
Wilf Atkinson
Fred Ayers
Ted Baker
Jim Balharry
Alex Barlow
Herman Bartlett
Les Batty
Jack Bavin
Barry Beitzel
Ned Bennett
Leon Berner
Trevor Best
Edric Bickford
Bernie Bignell
Bob Bird
Noel Bishop
George Blake
Johnny Blake
Johnny Blake
Steve Bloomer
Ned Bowen
Chic Breese
Jack Bristow
Fred Brooks
Charlie Brown
Ivor Brown
Monty Brown
Barry Bryant
Otto Buck
Herb Burleigh
Bert Butler
Ronnie Byrne
Jim Caffery
Jack Cahill
Clarrie Calwell
George Calwell
Gordon Cameron
Bob Cameron
Chris Cameron
Bruce Campbell
Peter Campbell
Bill Carmody
Les Carr
Ern Carter
Bill Casey
Norm Cashin
Clinton Chandler
Sam Chapman
Aub Charleston
Bill Churchyard
Kevin Clarke
Len Clarke
Eric Cochran
Herbert Cock
Bill Collins
Pat Considine
Paul Constance
Bill Cook
Jack Cooper
Jack S Cooper
George Cornelius
Claude Cornish
Len Cottrell
Jim Coucher
George Cowell
Bert Cowley
Henry Crane
Harold Credlin
Henry Crisfield
Gordon Crisp
Dave Crone
Len Crone
Matt Crowe
Jim Cullen
Arthur Cummins
Harold Daniel
Rob Dashwood
Johnny Davies
Jim Davies
Victor Davis
Roy Dick
Bill Dodds
Herman Dohrmann
Wally Don
Bill Donald
Jack Douglas
Bill Downie
Lyle Downs
Johnny Downs
Harvey Dunn jnr
Henry Dunne
Dave Earsman
Tom Eldridge
Max Ellis
Harry Evans
Hope Evans
Harold Evans
Noel Evans
Bert Everett
Morrie Ewans
Alec Farrow
Rowley Faust
Frank Field
Frank Finn
Bill Flynn
Maurie Fowler
Tom Fox
Jack Frost
Jimmy Gaynor
Harvey Gibson
Jack Gilbert
Peter Gilbert
Dick Gill
George Gniel
Frank Gomez
Garney Goodrick
Jim Goonan
Vic Gordon
Dick Gorsuch
George Gough
Albert Gourlay
Bert Graf
Bill Grant
Jack Grant
Harry Greaves
Charlie Greenhill
Les Gregory
John Gunter
Daryl Gutterson
Harry Gyles
Herb Hainsworth
Arthur Hall
Kevan Hamilton
Frank Hanna
Brook Hannah
Tom Hansen
Greg Hardie
Jack Hardy
Willis Hardy
Len Harris
Arthur Harrison
Stan Harrison
Ray Harry
William Harry
Dick Hart
Kevin Hart
Tom Hart
George Hawking
Charlie Hay
Adrian Hearn
Alf Hearnden
Ted Heffernan
Brian Henderson
Clyde Hill
Norm Hogg
Brian Holcombe
Reuben Holland
Colin Holt
Bobadil Hooper
Jack Hosking
Harry Howard
Max Howell
Alf Huggett
Tommy Hughes
Eric Humphrey
Kevin Hunt
Basil Hunter
Bill Huntington
Les Husband
George Ilsley
Adam Inglis
Frank Irwin
Percy Jackson
Henry Jane
Rex Job
Bill Johnson
Roy Johnson
George Johnston
Bill Jones
Tom Jones
Carl Keller
Ernie Kelly
Bob Kelsey
Graham Kemp
Jim Kennedy
Pat Kennedy
Andy Kennedy
Tom Kennedy
Graham Kerr
Alf Key
Ned Kick
Mort Keily
Jack Keily
Jack King
Tommy Kinman
Les Kittle
Jim Knight
Dan Lanigan
Bill Laver
Gary Lawson-Smith
Barney Lazarus
Paddy Leahy
Darcy Lear
Tom Leehane
Rod Leffanue
Bill Lever
Bill Lewis
Harry Lewis
Bert Lithgow
Jim Loriot
Jack Loughnan
Jack Lowe
Herbie Lowenthal
Jim Lyons
Des Lyons
Oscar Manchester
Bill Manger
Cyril Mann
Charlie Maplestone
Bill Marchbank
Les Marden
Joe Marr
Fred Marriott
Sam Marron
Ernie Martin
Ray Martini
Harry Matheson
Jim Matthews
Les McCann
George McCart
Justin McCarthy
Tom McCluskey
Dave McCulloch
Fen McDonald
Rhoda McDonald
Harold McDonald
Jack McElroy
John McFarlane
George McGann
Ken McKaige
Wal McKenzie
Stan McKenzie
Ken McLean
Archie McNeil
Pat McNulty
Henry McPetrie
Harry McPherson
Artie McSpeerin
Bert McTaggart
Bill McVeigh
Des Meadowcroft
Charlie Meadway
Frank Mercovich
Noel Mewett
Max Miers
Bobby Mills
Billy Monagle
Alf Moore
Harry H Morgan
Reg Morgan
Jimmy Morris
Len Morrison
George Morrisey
Frank Mount
George Muir
Frank Murphy
Fred Mutch
Wally Mutimer
Clem Neeson
Henry Newbound
Jim Neyland
Kevin O’Brien
Tommy O’Dea
Andy O’Donnell
Gerald O’Dwyer
Ron O’Dwyer
Terry Ogden
Henry Ogilvie
Gerald O’Halloran
John O’Keefe
Charlie Oliver
Ern O’Regan
Billy Orr
John Paice
Bert Parke
Joe Paton
Bill Patterson
Alby Patterson
Andy Pattison
Horrie Pearce
Pat Pelly
Jim Pender
Dan Pender
Mick Pender
Bill Pettit
Noel Peverill
Percy Pitt
Ted Pollock
Maurie Pope
Wally Powell
Harry Powell
Alex Prentice
Eddie Prescott
Frank Pritchard
Harry Pye
Keith Rae
Charles Raff
Don Rainsford
Wally Raleigh
Victor Rapp
Charles Rauber
Alan Rayson
Jack Reekie
Lance Regnier
Sam Reid
Ron Rhodes
Frank Rigaldi
Harry Rigby
Ray Ritchie
George Robbins
Simon Roberts
Jimmy Robertson
Billy Robinson
Jimmy Robinson
Fred Rose
Gordon Ross
Les Rowe
Arthur Ryan
Chris Ryan
Kevin Ryan
Pat Ryan
Albert Scadden
Bruce Scharp
Paul Schmidt
Charlie Schunke
Norm Sexton
Bill Sharkey
Athol Sharp
Alf Sharp
Allan Skehan
Jack Skinner
Jim Slater
Arthur Sleith
Billy Spears
Ernie Spence
Bob Standfield
Les Starr
John T Stephenson
John Stephenson
Dick Stewart
Charlie Stewart
George Stewart
Jim Stewart
Sam Stivey
Billy Stone
Bill Strickland
Will Stuckey
George Styles
Tom Sweetman
Charlie Taylor
Max Thomas
Arthur Thompson
Harry Thompson
Henry Thomson
Jack Todd
Stan Trebilco
Jeff Trotman
Vic Truman
Neil Tucker
Graham Tudor
Jim Tumilty
Ted Tuohill
Clete Turner
Clarrie Uren
Dick Vandenberg
Les Vernon
Dick Walker
Bobby Walsh
Frank Walshe
George Warde
Les Watkins
Tom Watson
Jack Way
Fred Webber
Bill Weir
Bert Wheeler
Henry Whight
Alan White
Horrie White
Robert White
George Wickens
Peter Williams
Frank H Williams
Frank P Williams
Jim Williamson
Archie Wilson
Bob Wilson
Max Wilson
Dick Wittmann
Billy Wood
Bill Woodhouse
Edgar Yeomans
George Young
Jack Young

The Spirit of Carlton Executive would like to inform our members that Bob Lowrie is no longer a member of the Spirit of Carlton Executive.  It should also be noted that Justine Wratten will no longer be acting for the SOC in an administrative support capacity.

We would like to thank Bob for his years of service to our organisation. Bob is a passionate Carlton man and was one of the main drivers behind the initial foundation of the Spirit of Carlton back in 2006 and the subsequent success that we have had since that time in supporting past and present players, official passionate supporters of the Carlton Football Club.  We also thank Justine for her great work for the SOC

All direct correspondence to Spirit of Carlton should now be directed to Mandy Hunter at the Carlton Football Club.

The Spirit of Carlton contact details are now as follows:

Email

admin@spiritofcarlton.com

or

mandy.hunter@carltonfc.com.au

Phone

Mandy Hunter 03 9389 6256

Address

Spirit Of Carlton – Past & Present

PO Box 83,

North Carlton,

VIC, 3054

The Spirit of Carlton Past and Present held our Annual General Meeting on the 7th of November 2011 at Visy Park.

At that meeting our 2011 Annual Report was presented.

Please follow this link to download the 2011 Annual Report.

November 1st: Leo Brereton Happy 75th Birthday!

Career : 1957 –62
Debut : Round 1, 1957 vs Hawthorn
Carlton Player No. 707
Games : 72
Goals : 129
Guernsey No. 6
Last Game: Preliminary Final, 1962 vs Geelong
Height : 174cm
Weight : 70kg
DOB : 1 November, 1936
Leading Goalkicker: 1960

Recruited from the Murray River town of Cohuna, Brereton was a small, nippy rover with excellent goal sense. He wore guernsey number 6 in his 72 games for the Blues in seasons 1957 to ’62, including finals appearances in 1957, 1959 and 1962.

Brereton would share his debut game in 1957 with Club Great John Nicholls.

A skilled crumber, he kicked 130 career goals, including 44 in 1960 to win Carlton’s goal kicking award.

November 2nd

Henry Ogilvie: Happy 70th Birthday!

Career : 1962 – 1963
Debut : Round 6, 1962 vs Collingwood, aged 20 years, 205 days
Carlton Player No. 749
Games : 2
Goals : 0
Last Game : Round 18, 1963 vs Footscray, aged 21 years, 308 days
Guernsey Nos. 24 (1962), 37 (1963)
Height : 184 cm (6 ft. 1 in.)
Weight : 79.5 kg (12 stone, 7 lbs.)
DOB : November 2, 1941

A lightly-framed, athletic defender from Ararat, Henry Ogilvie played two matches for Carlton in seasons 1962-63, wearing a different guernsey number in each of them. Remarkably, there was one year, three months and thirteen days between his debut game in 1962, and his second and last appearance in 1963.

Warren Jones

Career : 1978 – 1985
Debut : Round 1, 1978 vs Richmond, aged 24 years, 150 days
Carlton Player No. 871
Games : 92
Goals : 31
Last Game: Round 3, 1985 vs North Melbourne, aged 31 years, 162 days
Guernsey No. 2
Height: 200 cm (6 ft. 7 in.)
Weight : 103 kg (16 stone, 3 lbs.)
DOB : 2 November, 1953
Premiership Player : 1982

Warren “Wow” Jones added more than his share to the rich tapestry of the Carlton Football Club in his 92 games for the Blues between 1978 and 1985. Perhaps best remembered for the myth that grew from his nickname, Wow was a heavily-tattooed giant at 200 cm and 102 kg – but one whose forbidding appearance hid a surprisingly gentle nature off the field.

November 4th: Luke Livingston

Career : 2002 – 2006
Debut : Round 4, 2002 vs Port Adelaide, aged 19 years, 168 days
Carlton Player No. 1052
Games : 46
Goals : 2
Guernsey No. 4
Last Game : Round 11, 2006 vs West Coast, aged 23 years, 219 days
Height : 190 cm (6 ft. 2 in.)
Weight : 92 kg (14 stone, 7 lbs.)
DOB: 4 November, 1982

Luke Livingston was taken at Pick No. 4 in the 2000 National Draft, the draft selection Carlton received from St Kilda as part of the trade for then club favourite Aaron Hamill. There were high expectations that Livingston, at 190cm, would become a star key position player for the Blues. Livingston was drafted from the Bendigo Pioneers U/18’s, with Kerang being his junior club.

‘Livo’ was given the prized number 4 guernsey worn by Hamill, but made famous by our long-serving, dual Premiership captain, Stephen Kernahan. He played the first half of 2001 in the VFL, but then suffered a knee injury, followed by a life-threatening bowel disorder. He therefore had to wait until 2002 to make his debut, in round 4. This was also the year after Full Back of the Century Stephen Silvagni retired, leaving a void in defence that would be impossible to fill. Luke played 17 games in his first year – mainly at full-back, against some the best full forwards in the competition. He was young and inexperienced, and on a steep learning curve.

November 5th

David McKay

Career : 1969-1981
Debut: Round 3, 1969 v Footscray
Carlton Player No. 809
Games: 263
Goals: 277
Last Game: Grand Final, 1981 v Collingwood
Guernsey No. 43
Height: 191cm
Weight: 92kg
DOB: November 5, 1949
Premiership Player: 1970, 1972, 1979, 1981
Judged Best on Ground: 1970 Grand Final

Fondly remembered as one of the most consistent and spectacular high marks of his era, David “Swan” McKay was a Carlton star for twelve years, and a key member of four Premiership teams.

Recruited from Newlyn, near Ballarat in central Victoria, McKay arrived at Princes Park in 1968 as a raw-boned 19 year-old. Coach Ron Barassi liked what he saw, and quickly realised that the laconic, easy-going country kid had the makings of something special when he played his first senior game for the Blues in 1969 in a back pocket, wearing the number 43 guernsey that he would retain throughout his career. At 191cm and 92 kg he had the ideal build for a key position, but was forced to wait for a regular place in a strong Carlton team, until the Blues were beaten by Richmond in the ’69 Grand Final. Early in the next season, McKay was given a chance at centre half-back, and took to it “like a swan to water.”

Terry Board

Career : 1965 – 1968
Debut : Round 1, 1965 vs Hawthorn, aged 19 years, 163 days
Carlton Player No. 769
Games : 41
Goals : 42
Last Game : Round 18, 1968 vs Collingwood, aged 22 years, 285 days
Guernsey No. 24
Height : 173 cm (5 ft. 8 in.)
Weight : 73 kg ( 11 stone, 7 lbs.)
DOB : 5 November, 1945

An honest, hard-working rover from the famous Western District club South Warrnambool, Terry Board played his first game for the Navy Blues round 1, 1965, against Hawthorn at Glenferrie Oval. That achievement however, was completely overshadowed by the parallel debut that day of ex-Melbourne champion Ron Barassi, who had sensationally been appointed captain-coach of Carlton during the off-season.

On that pivotal Saturday afternoon, a record crowd of 36,000 packed into the Hawks’ headquarters, and saw a disciplined Carlton side come out on top by six goals, with Board more than handy in the role of second rover. Working in tandem with Adrian Gallagher, Terry kicked two majors, and gave every indication that he would be a handy acquisition. From then on, he went on to tally up 16 games and 20 goals for the year, and his future looked bright.

November 6th: Gordon Collis

Career : 1961 – 1967
Debut : Round 2, 1961 vs Fitzroy, aged 20 years, 167 days
Carlton Player No. 739
Games : 95
Goals : 40
Last Game : Preliminary Final, 1967 vs Geelong, aged 26 years, 313 days
Guernsey No. 17
Height : 187 cm (6 ft. 1 in.)
Weight: 84.5 kg (13 stone, 4 lbs.)
DOB : 6 November, 1940
Brownlow Medal 1964
Club Best and Fairest 1964
Carlton Hall of Fame 1987

Gordon Collis was a gifted key position player whose injury-hit career at Carlton was highlighted by one magnificent season in 1964. Overall, the Blues achieved very little that year, but Collis was hailed as the game’s outstanding key defender when he was an emphatic winner of the most prestigious individual award in the game; the Brownlow Medal.

November 7th: Mark Athorn

Career: 1992 – 1993
Debut: Round 1, 1992 vs Brisbane
Carlton Player No. 975
Games: 30
Goals: 6
Guernsey No. 25
Last Game: Grand Final, 1993 vs Essendon
Height: 178cm
Weight: 76kg
DOB: 7 November, 1967

Look up the word ‘journeyman’ in the AFL Dictionary is a picture of Mark Athorn, sitting next to other 4-clubbers such as Stuart Wigney, Adrian Fletcher and Phil Carman. Athorn, who wore the number 25 for the Blues, played 17 games for the Dogs, 21 for Fitzroy and 15 for the Swans before coming to Carlton at the end of 1991, he had originally started out with Essendon U/19’s.

Please find below information for a special event close the heart of our very own David Rhys-Jones. It is a very worthy cause and if you would like to be involved or help the organisation in some way, please contact Cheri Rhys-Jones, her details can be found below.

Funds raised will benefit Prader-Willi Syndrome Association of Victoria

Locate us at Registration table nearest 1000 Step Kokoda walk which is located at Dandenong Ranges National Park. There are 1000 stony and deep steps that lead to the One Tree Hill. A café , playground and toilet are close by. Public Transport is also available to the location. For more information go to www.dandenongrangesattractions.com.au/attractions/1000-steps.

How YOU can HELP

– JOIN US and register your participation on www.pws.asn.au

– SUPPORT US by sponsoring one of our participating families

– MAKE a donation

Contact Cheri or Tina on

info@pws.asn.au for queries.

What is Prader-Willi Syndrome?

Prader-Willi Syndrome (PWS) is a rare genetic condition affecting Chromosome 15. People with PWS have an obsession with food and eating, along with learning delays, poor muscle tone and behavioural issues.

There is NO CURE.

Families must put in place strict management strategies with diet and exercise to assist the PWS child otherwise the child will become morbidly obese and die from morbid obesity related issues.

Funds raised will contribute towards much needed Respite support for families.

Download the Flyer

This event sponsored by DASSI.

Geoff Southby

Career: 1971- 1984
Debut: Round 1, 1971 v North Melbourne
825th Carlton Player
Games: 268
Goals: 31
Last game: Round 20, 1984 v North Melbourne
Guernsey No. 20
Height: 188cm
Weight: 86kg
DOB: 27 October, 1950
Best and Fairest: 1971, 1972
Vice-Captain 1974, 1981-83
Victorian Representative Player
Team of the Century: Back Pocket
Premiership Player: 1972, 1979

Most of the current Carlton faithful agree that Stephen Silvagni was deservedly named as the AFL’s Fullback of the Century. However there are plenty of Blues’ supporters of a more mature vintage willing to argue that Geoff Southby could just as easily have been given the nod. That’s how good this rangy, mop-haired, consumate defender was.

From Bendigo League club Sandhurst, Southby arrived at Carlton in late 1970 as a 20 year-old, and was revelation from his first practice game. At 188cm and 87kg he was the perfect build for a key defender of that era. Wearing the number 20 guernsey, he forced his way into the reigning Premiership team for round one of 1971, and a star was born.

Southby had stopped playing footy in his mid teens (U/15’s) and concentrated on his first sporting love – baseball! He was coaxed back into playing footy by mates at the hostel he was staying at in Melbourne whilst studying. He didnt take long to make his mark by winning the best and fairest with amateur club Powerhouse FC in 1969, and then at Sandhurst in 1970. In 1972, after his first two years at VFL level, he had won best and fairests in his last four seasons of football, an extraordinary effort in anyone’s language.

Beautifully balanced and with wonderful reflexes, Southby was a strong mark and a gloriously long kick. But his defensive instinct and coolness under pressure were perhaps his greatest attributes. He invariably made the right decision to mark, or to punch the ball away, and he always seemed to have that split-second longer to dispose of the ball – as all champions do. Indicative of his impact at Princes Park, he won Carlton’s Best & Fairest in his first season as the Blues missed the finals, then won the same award again in 1972 as Carlton crushed Richmond in the Grand Final. It was Carlton’s eleventh VFL Premiership.

By 1973, Geoff was firmly established among the elite of the competition. He had refined his game to become more attacking whenever possible, and his soaring torpedo punts were a real offensive weapon. Such was his influence that at times some opposing teams actually placed a defender at full-forward in an attempt to nullify him!

Following their defeat in ’72, Richmond were burning for revenge when they met Carlton again in the 1973 Grand Final. Led by ruckman Neil Balme, the Tigers went head-hunting on a day when an act of sheer football bastardry occurred that has never been forgiven. Southby was crashed to the ground by an elbow to the head that he didn’t see coming, and the resulting concussion was so severe that he was a passenger for the rest of the day. In fact it was well into the next season before he fully recovered. Richmond won the flag, but lost all respect.

A teaching colleague of mine and an avid Geelong supporter, declares that Southby was the best fullback he ever saw. He remembers the first day he saw Southby at Kardinia Park when he stood the great Doug Wade and mastered him with a cool efficiency that was to become his trademark. My colleague is still appalled by Neil Balme’s unprovoked and cowardly attack upon one of football’s fairest and best players.
Thankfully, by 1975 Geoff was back to his brilliant best and was selected in the Victorian State team for the third time. Carlton made the finals in ’75, ’76 & ’78 without progressing past the semi-finals, before new captain-coach Alex Jesaulenko led a resurgent Blues outfit into the 1979 Grand Final against Collingwood. When Wayne Harmes‘ desperate slide and swipe at the ball in the dying minutes of that game led to a Ken Sheldon goal and a famous victory, Carlton had won its twelfth flag and Geoff Southby his second Premiership medal.

Peter Bosustow

Career : 1981 – 1983
Debut: Round 1, 1981 vs Richmond, aged 23 years, 152 days
Carlton Player No. 888
Games : 65
Goals : 146
Last Game: Round 21, 1983 vs North Melbourne, aged 25 years, 296 days
Guernsey No. 4
Height : 183 cm (6 ft. 0 in.)
Weight : 85 kg (13 stone, 5 lbs.)
DOB : 27 October, 1957
Premiership Player 1981, 1982
Club Leading Goalkicker 1981 (59 goals)

In the summer of 1980-81, Peter “The Buzz” Bosustow arrived at Princes Park for pre-season training – and a relatively short, yet unforgettable career was cleared for lift off. Peter was the son of Bob Bosustow, who came from WAFL club, Perth to play 20 games for Carlton in seasons 1955 and ’56. So it was that when Bob‘s 183 cm, 85 kg son began to dominate the WAFL competition in the late 1970’s, the Blues had the inside running for his signature. After flying him to their round 9 Sunday game against Essendon in Sydney, the Blues signed him under the Father-Son rule then in place.

Bosustow simply gatecrashed a strong Carlton squad that just two years previously had won the flag, and in 1980 should have made it two in a row. Under new coach David Parkin the Blues were hell-bent on claiming our 13th Premiership in 1981, and had assembled a team that was the envy of every other club in the competition. Parkin‘s coaching style demanded discipline in all aspects of the game, but to his credit he realised that in The Buzz he had a rare talent. One that flourished under less restraint; that responded to a personal challenge, and that more often than not could wrest the initiative from any rival with just a quarter or two of football magic.

Often unstoppable as a free-running half-forward, Bosustow was a freakish mark, a brilliant ground-level player and a deadly snapshot at goal. The highlight tapes of seasons 1981 to ’83 are filled with his exploits, including awards for Mark of the Year and Goal of the Year. Bosustow himself talks about his great mark here.

Legend has it that the Buzz promised Mark Maclure that he would give him a ride in his new car before he took his 1981 screamer. He was a crucial part of our glorious 1981 and ’82 Premiership double, and our Leading Goalkicker with 59 goals in 1981. People flocked to see him in action, and he was one of the brightest stars of his era.

In only his second game – during the second quarter of Carlton’s Round 2, 1981 match against Hawthorn at Princes Park, Carlton was kicking to the scoreboard end. ‘Buzz’ marked on the wing, chip-passed to Wayne Johnston and sprinted hard to create the loose man. His opponent – Hawthorn’s tough man Robert Dipierdomenico – ran in to block him, but Bosustow crashed through the beefy Hawk with a punishing, legitimate shirtfront, right in front of the old press box. A resounding crack was heard (to the roar of an adoring throng) and Dipper’s season was prematurely ended by a broken sternum.

The Round 21 game against North Melbourne would turn out to be a last hurrah for the Buzz. He was reported for striking North Melbourne defender John Law, and subsequently rubbed out for four weeks. This meant that he could only have played again that year if Carlton had made the Grand Final – but it was not to be. In what turned out to be a prophetic statement, a clearly upset Bosustow mentioned after his tribunal appearance that “I am absolutely shattered, when the sentence was delivered I thought my career in Melbourne was all over”. He was just 26 years old, and at the peak of his career.

Thanks to the Blueseum for player pics and bios.

Ken Hands: HAPPY 85th BIRTHDAY!

Career : 1945 – 1957
Debut : Round 5, 1945 v St Kilda, aged 18 years, 205 days
Carlton Player No. 606
Games : 211
Goals : 188
Last Game: Semi Final, 1957 v Hawthorn, aged 30 years, 309 days
Guernsey No. 1
Height : 185 cm (6 ft. 1 in.)
Weight : 85 kg (13 stone, 5 lbs)
DOB : 26 October, 1926
Premiership Player : 1945 & 1947
Best and Fairest : 1953
Captain : 1952-1957
Captain of Victoria : 1957
Carlton Coach : 1959 – 1964
Carlton Hall of Fame: 1988
Team of the Century

Another of the pivotal figures in the proud history of the Carlton Football Club, Ken Hands left an indelible mark on, and off the field at Princes Park. A two-time Premiership player, state representative, Best & Fairest winner and inspirational captain, Hands played 211 games and kicked 188 goals in twelve seasons beginning in the last months of World War II. Later, he became embroiled in a long and bitter wrangle with Jim Francis, while both were bidding to coach the Blues.

To the chagrin of Geelong Football Club, Carlton recruited Hands from right under their noses in 1944. As the conflict in Europe and the Pacific drew to a close, the 17 year-old key forward was playing impressive football for amateur side Geelong Scouts. The Cats had had Ken in their sights for months, but it was Carlton who pounced first with a firm offer – including the prestige of wearing guernsey number 1 for the Blues. In his senior debut in round 5 of the ‘45 season, against St Kilda – Carlton won a tough match by 11 points. Hands took some strong marks and kicked two goals at centre half-forward. When the siren sounded after that match, Carlton coach Percy Bentley knew that he had something special in the long-striding, 185 cm, 85 kg youngster.

Carlton lost the first three games of 1945, before a late-season revival brought ten wins in the last eleven matches. The Blues went into the finals in third place, but with some advantage, because the final series was to be played at Princes Park, while the MCG was being used as a transit camp for US forces bound for the war in the Pacific. Carlton struck top form at the right time, beating North Melbourne and Collingwood in successive weeks to earn a shot at South Melbourne in the Grand Final. Our Preliminary Final win over Collingwood was a hard, often spiteful clash, and a real portent of things to come. Bruised and battered, Carlton won on heart alone. For this reason, the fresher South Melbourne team went into the decider as warm favourites.

A ground record of almost 63,000 spectators packed into Princes Park on that Grand Final day. At just 18 years of age, and playing his eighteenth senior match, Hands faced the biggest challenge of his blossoming career at centre half-forward. As expected, the physical intimidation wasn’t long in coming. Carlton were in front by 11 points when the match erupted in the second quarter. “I had taken a mark about fifteen yards out and kicked a goal,” Hands explained later. “While the ball was being taken back to the centre, Jim Cleary knocked me out cold. He must have done a good job because I didn’t actually feel it. In those days you only had a nineteenth man and ours was already on, so I had to keep playing. But I don’t remember anything until about ten minutes before the end of the game, when Perce Bentley, who was in the coaches box just behind the goals, whistled me to drop back into the goal square and I suddenly realised it was raining. That game was quite an initiation, and I’m still paying the price for it – I lost a tooth.” In fact he lost two teeth – to go with his broken nose and split lip!

Seemingly oblivious to the battle raging around him, Ken ended the game with three goals in Carlton’s 28-point victory. Infamously remembered as the “Bloodbath” Grand Final, in all, ten players (including Hands) were reported after the match. Eight were found guilty, and suspended for a total of 68 weeks. Hands was one of the two acquitted.

That tempestuous debut season helped forge Hands into a tough, team-oriented performer. Always a well balanced ball-handler, he was a superb mark for his size and a long, accurate kick – particularly when drop-kicking on the run. He became a leader by example, and while no heavyweight, he was a willing protector of his smaller team-mates. In 1947 he won his second Premiership medal when Carlton beat Essendon after an epic Grand Final struggle. Essendon had nine more scoring shots than the Blues, but rover Fred Stafford snapped a glorious goal with just 44 seconds left on the clock to give Carlton victory by one point.

John Gill: HAPPY 70th BIRTHDAY!

Career : 1962 – 1967
Debut : Round 1, 1962 vs Geelong, aged 20 years, 177 days
Carlton Player No. 745
Games : 88
Goals : 38
Last Game : Round 13, 1967 vs Hawthorn, aged 25 years, 268 days
Guernsey No. 12
Height : 180 cm (5 ft. 11 in.)
Weight : 80 kg (12 stone, 7 lbs.)
DOB : 26 October, 1941
Best First Year Player 1962

John Gill was a player with an impressive football pedigree. The nephew of Frank Gill (Carlton’s champion full-back of the 1930’s), he was also the older brother of 1968 and 1970 Carlton Premiership player Barry Gill. After completing an impressive debut season in 1962, John should have gone on to play 100 games or more for the Navy Blues – had injury not brought a premature end to his VFL career at the age of only 25.

Gill was recruited from Casterton in Western Victoria, and wore guernsey number 12 for the Navy Blues for the first time at senior level in a landmark clash against Geelong at Princes Park in round one, 1962. The Cats’ boom WA recruit, Graham ‘Polly’ Farmer, also made his long-awaited debut that afternoon, only to wreck a knee in the first few minutes of the game. However, Farmer stayed on the field, and limped to a forward pocket, where he kicked four goals and led his team to a big win over Carlton by 39 points.

Gill played out that match on a half-forward flank, where his determination and straight-ahead style stood out. From then on, he held his place in the side right through the year, as the Navy Blues battled through to fourth place on the ladder. Three desperately hard-fought finals ensued; a two-point Semi Final win over Melbourne, a famous draw with Geelong in the Preliminary Final, and a dramatic five-point victory over the Cats in a highly-controversial replay. Not surprisingly, those three epics took their toll, and on Grand Final day the valiant Navy Blues were never really in contention against Essendon, losing by six goals. Gill finished his maiden season with 19 matches and twelve goals to his credit, and was a popular winner of Carlton’s Best First Year Player award.

From the highs of 1962, the Navy Blues fell into a slump over the following three seasons, before the coaching coup of the century brought former Melbourne champion Ron Barassi to Princes Park in the summer of 1964-’65. Earlier that same year, John and Barry Gill were reunited on the football field when they played together for the first time as Blues, against Hawthorn at Glenferrie Oval in round 2.

Under Barassi, John Gill developed into a tenacious, hard-working half-back. He was encouraged to seize the initiative, and became adept at wrong-footing opponents by often playing on as soon as he took one of his strong marks. By 1967, Carlton was once again looming as a finals contender, and Johnny had become an asset in defence or attack. Then disaster struck in the opening game of the season, when he tore a knee cartilage in Carlton’s huge win over Fitzroy at Princes Park.

Sidelined for a month, John eventually returned to the side for a handful of games with his knee heavily strapped. But his customary zip was missing, and another knock on the same leg in round 13 against Hawthorn did further damage. Over the next six months, while Barassi’s Blues climbed back toward the top of the VFL ladder, Gill was under constant medical treatment. Sadly, it was all in vain, and on doctor’s advice he retired at the end of that year.

Thanks to the Blueseum for player pics and bios.