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ROUND 9
From the Carlton Football Club’s earliest days as a foundation member of the VFL, the ninth game of the season has seen drama, tragedy, spectacular individual performances, and records of all kinds. So in selecting the most memorable moments from more than a century of matches, the biggest problem we found was deciding what to leave out. Eventually, we came up with the following episodes; beginning with one of the greatest individual performances in the long history of our game, and ending with the funeral of Melbourne suburban football.
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1927 – DUNCAN’S MATCH
He was born George Robert Alexander Duncan at Romsey, Victoria in 1900, but Carlton fans knew him simply as Alex Duncan - a powerful key position player who played 141 games for the Blues between 1921 and 1930. Alex’s best season was 1927, when he went within one vote of winning Carlton’s first-ever Brownlow Medal, and wrote his name into VFL folklore with a brilliant, match-winning effort against Collingwood at Victoria Park in round 9.
Carlton simply had to win that game to stay in finals contention, and Duncan’s glorious display from the first bounce had the press of the day stretching for superlatives. It was generally agreed afterward that he took at least 33 marks for the match, and was singularly responsible for Carlton’s upset victory by 12 points. One scribe wrote; ‘Never was there such a brilliant individual performance. Nothing could stop Duncan. He did not make one mistake for four quarters.’
Indeed, many Collingwood supporters were among the 30,000 spectators who gave Alex a standing ovation as he left the field afterwards on the shoulders of his Carlton team-mates, and the Magpies even had the match ball suitably mounted and inscribed in his honour. Because it featured one of the all-time great displays of individual skill and determination, the game has gone down in history as Duncan’s Match.
1898 – OUR ONE AND ONLY DRAW
Had Carlton lost to the second-placed Melbourne Fuchsias in round 9, 1898, we almost certainly would have ended up with the dreaded wooden spoon. But urged on by a vocal home crowd at Princes Park, the Blues clung to a five-point lead at half-time in that vital game, and kept their advantage through until the dying minutes. It was then that Melbourne launched a brilliant attack from half-back, culminating in a mark dead in front of goal, only metres out. The resulting six-pointer tied up the scores, and when the final bell sounded shortly afterwards, the game ended up all square. More than 100 seasons later, that match still remains the only drawn result for Carlton in round nine.
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1899 – STOP THAT TRAIN!
On the morning of Saturday, July 8, 1899, two of Carlton’s key players; follower Len Morrison, and rover Pat Considine, were waiting on the platform at North Melbourne for a train to Spencer St (now Southern Cross station) looking forward to the journey to Corio Oval for the round 9 game against Geelong. But the locomotive didn’t stop – it steamed straight past the platform on its way to the city, and two dumbfounded Blues could only watch it disappear down the tracks. In those far-off days the next train was hours away, so Carlton was forced to make two late changes to the team, and lost to Geelong by 30 points.
ARRIVALS AND DEPARTURES
The first significant recruit to begin his playing career at Carlton in round 9 was former South Melbourne star Harvey Kelly, in 1907. A strong, long-kicking key forward, Kelly played in three successive Grand Finals for Carlton in 1907, 1908 and 1909 – winning the first two, and missing out by two points in the third.
Eventual club captain, coach, 1938 Premiership player and Hall of Fame inductee Jim Francis made his debut for the Blues in round 9, 1934. Full-back Peter Barry – who is remembered for a sensational incident in the last minute of the 1962 Preliminary Final replay, when he was paid a controversial free kick that saved the game for Carlton – played the first of his 77 senior matches in 1958. Popular defender Graeme Anderson (1961) and rugged forward Ricky McLean (1966) are others to have worn the Old Dark Navy Blue for the first time in this round.
Conversely, former club captain Maurie Beasy played his last match for Carlton in a desperately close 1-point defeat by Footscray in round 9, 1958. Tough little midfielder Darren Hulme had his career ended by a groin injury during Carlton’s 25-point loss to the Western Bulldogs in the corresponding round in 2004.
1921-VALE LYLE DOWNS
Carlton’s feisty rover Lyle Downs knew he was tempting fate by continuing to play VFL football after his doctors warned him that his heart was not as strong as it should be. But like his cousin Tommy (who also played senior football at Carlton) Lyle loved the game and the rewards it brought him, and he couldn’t give it up.
On the evening of Thursday, July 7, 1921 - the week after Carlton’s good round nine victory over Collingwood - Lyle completed training, then collapsed and died of a massive heart attack in the change rooms at Princes Park. Thousands attended his funeral, and it was widely believed that his absence was a major factor in Carlton's defeat by Richmond in that year's Grand Final.
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1926-CONSTERNATION IN LYGON ST.
In round 9, 1926 even the cold weather and incessant rain couldn’t keep the crowds from flocking to Princes Park for the match of the day between ladder-leaders Collingwood, and fourth-placed Carlton. Despite the conditions, it was a hard-fought and skilful game that eventually went to the more accurate Blues by 21 points. Afterwards, as the thousands streamed out of the ground, a stationary tram boarding passengers in Lygon St was hit by another that came up from behind on the same tracks and couldn’t stop. Both vehicles were packed, and the collision caused mayhem and dozens of injuries.
1930-OUR YOUNGEST BLUE
Carlton’s two youngest-ever senior players were both 16 years and 200 days old on debut, and both wore guernsey number 16. Ted Pollock set the benchmark when he played the first of his 43 games for Carlton in round 9, 1930. Forty-six seasons later, Ted was joined on his niche in club history by a cocky kid from Kyneton named Jim Buckley, beginning a great career that would eventually bring him three Premiership medallions, a club Best and Fairest, and a place in the Carlton Hall of Fame.
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SOAPY, SOS, THE BUZZ & CO.
Champion spearhead Harry ‘Soapy’ Vallence regularly traumatised opposition full-backs in round 9, with his nine goals in Carlton’s 80-point demolition of North Melbourne at Arden Street in 1931 still standing as a club record. He backed that up with another bag of seven majors against the Shinboners in the corresponding game in 1938, when the final margin was 50 points.
Few players in the history of the game have been more spectacular or dangerous on their day than Carlton’s 1981 West Australian import Peter Bosustow - as he demonstrated by running riot against South Melbourne at Princes Park in consecutive round 9 matches in 1981 and ’82. In the first of those, ’The Buzz’ tore holes at will in the Swans’ defence, taking mark after spectacular mark and kicking eight big goals as Carlton won by 99 points. He was at it again the following season too, only this time he was joined by Wayne Johnston in a goal-kicking romp that had Princes Park jumping with joy. Bosustow kicked six, and Johnston five, as the Blues smashed the Swans and set another club record with a 102-point victory.
Full-back of the Century Stephen ‘SOS’ Silvagni could also kick goals. ‘Son of Sergio’ was superb in booting eight against West Coast in round 9, 1992 at Princes Park, although the Blues faded badly in the last quarter of that match and were beaten by 24 points. Three other Blues have each kicked six goals in big round 9 wins over North Melbourne - clever rover Leo Brereton in 1960, club legend Alex Jesaulenko in 1968, and fair-haired, former St Kilda forward Rod ‘The Ghost’ Galt in 1978.
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FAREWELL TO PRINCES PARK
When Carlton played host to Melbourne at Princes Park on Saturday, May 21, 2005, the Demons survived a last-quarter surge by the Blues to win by 18 points. However, that game - and the result - were totally engulfed by the ground swell of emotion surrounding the last game of AFL football at the home of the Blues. After 109 consecutive seasons and a lifetime of fond memories for generations of Bluebaggers, the Carlton Football Club had agreed to play all future home games at either the MCG or Docklands Stadium from that point on. It was a decision supported by a majority of members and the wider football community, but to a lot of people it was still akin to a death in the family.
The club ensured that the occasion would be a memorable one, and a week of celebration and commemoration culminated on an unforgettable day. Our 16 Premiership Cups took centre stage, and a veritable who’s who of Blues champions were on hand to honour the proud history of our spiritual home. The ceremonies ended on a poignant note, with club legend John Nicholls walking from the field with the match ball raised high, and a united, emotional crowd roaring out our club song.
http://www.blueseum.org/tiki-read_article.php?articleId=130&page=4
From the Blueseum
ROUND 9
From the Carlton Football Club’s earliest days as a foundation member of the VFL, the ninth game of the season has seen drama, tragedy, spectacular individual performances, and records of all kinds. So in selecting the most memorable moments from more than a century of matches, the biggest problem we found was deciding what to leave out. Eventually, we came up with the following episodes; beginning with one of the greatest individual performances in the long history of our game, and ending with the funeral of Melbourne suburban football.
http://www.blueseum.org/tiki-browse_gallery.php?galleryId=218
1927 – DUNCAN’S MATCH
He was born George Robert Alexander Duncan at Romsey, Victoria in 1900, but Carlton fans knew him simply as Alex Duncan - a powerful key position player who played 141 games for the Blues between 1921 and 1930. Alex’s best season was 1927, when he went within one vote of winning Carlton’s first-ever Brownlow Medal, and wrote his name into VFL folklore with a brilliant, match-winning effort against Collingwood at Victoria Park in round 9.
Carlton simply had to win that game to stay in finals contention, and Duncan’s glorious display from the first bounce had the press of the day stretching for superlatives. It was generally agreed afterward that he took at least 33 marks for the match, and was singularly responsible for Carlton’s upset victory by 12 points. One scribe wrote; ‘Never was there such a brilliant individual performance. Nothing could stop Duncan. He did not make one mistake for four quarters.’
Indeed, many Collingwood supporters were among the 30,000 spectators who gave Alex a standing ovation as he left the field afterwards on the shoulders of his Carlton team-mates, and the Magpies even had the match ball suitably mounted and inscribed in his honour. Because it featured one of the all-time great displays of individual skill and determination, the game has gone down in history as Duncan’s Match.
1898 – OUR ONE AND ONLY DRAW
Had Carlton lost to the second-placed Melbourne Fuchsias in round 9, 1898, we almost certainly would have ended up with the dreaded wooden spoon. But urged on by a vocal home crowd at Princes Park, the Blues clung to a five-point lead at half-time in that vital game, and kept their advantage through until the dying minutes. It was then that Melbourne launched a brilliant attack from half-back, culminating in a mark dead in front of goal, only metres out. The resulting six-pointer tied up the scores, and when the final bell sounded shortly afterwards, the game ended up all square. More than 100 seasons later, that match still remains the only drawn result for Carlton in round nine.
http://www.blueseum.org/tiki-browse_gallery.php?galleryId=485
1899 – STOP THAT TRAIN!
On the morning of Saturday, July 8, 1899, two of Carlton’s key players; follower Len Morrison, and rover Pat Considine, were waiting on the platform at North Melbourne for a train to Spencer St (now Southern Cross station) looking forward to the journey to Corio Oval for the round 9 game against Geelong. But the locomotive didn’t stop – it steamed straight past the platform on its way to the city, and two dumbfounded Blues could only watch it disappear down the tracks. In those far-off days the next train was hours away, so Carlton was forced to make two late changes to the team, and lost to Geelong by 30 points.
ARRIVALS AND DEPARTURES
The first significant recruit to begin his playing career at Carlton in round 9 was former South Melbourne star Harvey Kelly, in 1907. A strong, long-kicking key forward, Kelly played in three successive Grand Finals for Carlton in 1907, 1908 and 1909 – winning the first two, and missing out by two points in the third.
Eventual club captain, coach, 1938 Premiership player and Hall of Fame inductee Jim Francis made his debut for the Blues in round 9, 1934. Full-back Peter Barry – who is remembered for a sensational incident in the last minute of the 1962 Preliminary Final replay, when he was paid a controversial free kick that saved the game for Carlton – played the first of his 77 senior matches in 1958. Popular defender Graeme Anderson (1961) and rugged forward Ricky McLean (1966) are others to have worn the Old Dark Navy Blue for the first time in this round.
Conversely, former club captain Maurie Beasy played his last match for Carlton in a desperately close 1-point defeat by Footscray in round 9, 1958. Tough little midfielder Darren Hulme had his career ended by a groin injury during Carlton’s 25-point loss to the Western Bulldogs in the corresponding round in 2004.
1921-VALE LYLE DOWNS
Carlton’s feisty rover Lyle Downs knew he was tempting fate by continuing to play VFL football after his doctors warned him that his heart was not as strong as it should be. But like his cousin Tommy (who also played senior football at Carlton) Lyle loved the game and the rewards it brought him, and he couldn’t give it up.
On the evening of Thursday, July 7, 1921 - the week after Carlton’s good round nine victory over Collingwood - Lyle completed training, then collapsed and died of a massive heart attack in the change rooms at Princes Park. Thousands attended his funeral, and it was widely believed that his absence was a major factor in Carlton's defeat by Richmond in that year's Grand Final.
http://www.blueseum.org/tiki-browse_gallery.php?galleryId=70
1926-CONSTERNATION IN LYGON ST.
In round 9, 1926 even the cold weather and incessant rain couldn’t keep the crowds from flocking to Princes Park for the match of the day between ladder-leaders Collingwood, and fourth-placed Carlton. Despite the conditions, it was a hard-fought and skilful game that eventually went to the more accurate Blues by 21 points. Afterwards, as the thousands streamed out of the ground, a stationary tram boarding passengers in Lygon St was hit by another that came up from behind on the same tracks and couldn’t stop. Both vehicles were packed, and the collision caused mayhem and dozens of injuries.
1930-OUR YOUNGEST BLUE
Carlton’s two youngest-ever senior players were both 16 years and 200 days old on debut, and both wore guernsey number 16. Ted Pollock set the benchmark when he played the first of his 43 games for Carlton in round 9, 1930. Forty-six seasons later, Ted was joined on his niche in club history by a cocky kid from Kyneton named Jim Buckley, beginning a great career that would eventually bring him three Premiership medallions, a club Best and Fairest, and a place in the Carlton Hall of Fame.
http://www.blueseum.org/tiki-browse_gallery.php?galleryId=131
SOAPY, SOS, THE BUZZ & CO.
Champion spearhead Harry ‘Soapy’ Vallence regularly traumatised opposition full-backs in round 9, with his nine goals in Carlton’s 80-point demolition of North Melbourne at Arden Street in 1931 still standing as a club record. He backed that up with another bag of seven majors against the Shinboners in the corresponding game in 1938, when the final margin was 50 points.
Few players in the history of the game have been more spectacular or dangerous on their day than Carlton’s 1981 West Australian import Peter Bosustow - as he demonstrated by running riot against South Melbourne at Princes Park in consecutive round 9 matches in 1981 and ’82. In the first of those, ’The Buzz’ tore holes at will in the Swans’ defence, taking mark after spectacular mark and kicking eight big goals as Carlton won by 99 points. He was at it again the following season too, only this time he was joined by Wayne Johnston in a goal-kicking romp that had Princes Park jumping with joy. Bosustow kicked six, and Johnston five, as the Blues smashed the Swans and set another club record with a 102-point victory.
Full-back of the Century Stephen ‘SOS’ Silvagni could also kick goals. ‘Son of Sergio’ was superb in booting eight against West Coast in round 9, 1992 at Princes Park, although the Blues faded badly in the last quarter of that match and were beaten by 24 points. Three other Blues have each kicked six goals in big round 9 wins over North Melbourne - clever rover Leo Brereton in 1960, club legend Alex Jesaulenko in 1968, and fair-haired, former St Kilda forward Rod ‘The Ghost’ Galt in 1978.
http://www.blueseum.org/tiki-browse_gallery.php?galleryId=82
FAREWELL TO PRINCES PARK
When Carlton played host to Melbourne at Princes Park on Saturday, May 21, 2005, the Demons survived a last-quarter surge by the Blues to win by 18 points. However, that game - and the result - were totally engulfed by the ground swell of emotion surrounding the last game of AFL football at the home of the Blues. After 109 consecutive seasons and a lifetime of fond memories for generations of Bluebaggers, the Carlton Football Club had agreed to play all future home games at either the MCG or Docklands Stadium from that point on. It was a decision supported by a majority of members and the wider football community, but to a lot of people it was still akin to a death in the family.
The club ensured that the occasion would be a memorable one, and a week of celebration and commemoration culminated on an unforgettable day. Our 16 Premiership Cups took centre stage, and a veritable who’s who of Blues champions were on hand to honour the proud history of our spiritual home. The ceremonies ended on a poignant note, with club legend John Nicholls walking from the field with the match ball raised high, and a united, emotional crowd roaring out our club song.
http://www.blueseum.org/tiki-read_article.php?articleId=130&page=4
From the Blueseum
