Coach: Keith McKenzie
Captain: Barry Gill
Vice-Captain: Brian Walsh
Best & Fairest: Peter Fyffe
Gardiner Medal: John Warden 4th place
Leading Goalkicker: Brian Walsh 36 goals (6th in the competition), Peter Warburton 28 goals (17th in the competition), Gary Schiele 27 goals (19th in the competition), John Warden 25 goals (23rd in the competition)
Position: 3rd
Premier: Hawthorn
Round 1: 1st April 1972.
Carlton: 10.16.76
Fitzroy: 7.9.51
Played at Princes Park.
Result: Won by 25 points
Goalkickers: Graeme Clark 3, Brian Walsh 3, David Dickson, Andy Lukas, Paul O'Brien, Peter Warburton 1.
Best: Garry Crane, Brian Walsh, Mark Amos, John Warden, David Dickson.
Carlton team;
Backs; Austin, Davey, Mulcair
Half backs; Fyffe, Warden, Bowtell
Centres; Smith, Crane, Gutterson
Half forwards; Cartright, O'Brien, Dickson
Forwards; Hanton, Clark, Warburton
Followers; Amos, Lukas
Rover; Walsh
Reserves from; Zoanetti, O'Malley, Laker
Note: During the coming week Garry Crane aged 27 announced his retirement from football for business reasons. This decision shocked Carlton officials as he had good prospects of being selected in the seniors after a best on the ground performance in the Reserves against Fitzroy. Garry is the licensee of the Robert Burns Hotel in Collingwood. (Ref. Age April 07 p23)
However, the club arranged volunteers to help run the pub which allowed Garry the time to train and return to the playing field. After four reserve games his form was good enough for senior selection in Round 10, 1972. Crane would continue his Carlton career and retire in 1976.
Round 2: 8th April, 1972.
Carlton 8.6.54
Collingwood 10.14.74
Played at Victoria Park.
Result: Lost by 20 points
Goalkickers: Mark Amos 2, Paul O'Brien 2, Tim O'Malley 2, David Dickson, Peter Hall
Best: Daryl Gutterson, Mark Amos, John Warden, Tim O'Malley, Tony Smith.
Reports: R. Stevens (Collingwood) reported by field umpire R Tanner and boundary umpire R. M. Taggert on the charge of striking Graeme Clark (Carlton) in the last quarter.
Round 3: 15th April, 1972.
Carlton 13.14.92
South Melbourne 12.18.90
Played at the Lakeside Oval.
Result: Won by 2 points
Goalkickers: Graeme Clark 5, Peter Warburton 4, Rodney Hanton 2, Paul O'Brien 1, Tony Smith 1.
Best: Graeme Clark, Peter Warburton, Rod Austin, Peter Hall, Tony Smith, Peter Davey.
Round 4: 22nd April, 1972.
Carlton 10.18.78
Richmond 14.16.100
Played at Princes Park.
Result: Lost by 22 points.
Goals; Paul O'Brien 4, John Warden 2, Peter Hall 2, Rodney Hanton, Peter Warburton 1.
Best; Paul O'Brien, Eric Pascoe, Peter Bacon, Barry Mulcair, Mark Amos.
Carlton played Richmond at Princes Park
Carlton team
Backs; Austin, Warden, Edmond
Half backs; Fyffe, Mulcair, Davey
Centre; Zoenetti, Lethborg, Smith
Half forwards; Bacon, O'Brien, Hanton
Forwards; Pascoe, Clark, Boyd
Followers; Amos, P. Hall
Rover; Warburton
Reserves from; Gutterson, Bowtell, O'Malley, Purtell.
Round 5: 25th April, 1972.
Carlton 8.17.65
Essendon 11.12.78
Played at VFL Park.
Result: Lost by 13 points
Goalkickers: Robert Kirkman 3, Rodney Hanton 2, Mark Amos 1, Graeme Clark 1, Paul O'Brien 1.
Best: Rod Austin, Tony Zoanetti, Tony Smith, Mark Amos, John Warden, Bob Edmond.
Round 6: 6th May 1972.
Carlton 14.9.93
Geelong 14.25.109
Played at Princes Park.
Result: Lost by 16 points.
Goals; Brian Walsh 8, Lynch 3, Peter Hall, Graeme Robertson, Robert Kirkman
Best; Brian Walsh, Peter Bacon, Peter Davey, Barry Gill, Robert Kirkman
Carlton seventh
Played 6, Won 2, Lost 4, Drawn 0, 91.2%, Points 8
Round 7: 13th May, 1972.
Carlton 7.3.45
Melbourne 8.12.60
Played at VFL Park.
Result: Lost by 15 points.
Goalkickers: Graeme Clark 2, Peter Bacon 1, Peter Hall 1, Paul O'Brien 1, Michael O'Keefe 1, Peter Purtell 1.
Best: Garry Crane, Paul O'Brien, Rodney Hanton, Peter Hall, Peter Bacon, John Warden.
Round 8: 20th May, 1972.
St Kilda 10.14.74
Carlton 10.7.67
Played at Moorabbin Oval.
Result: Lost by 7 Points.
Goalkickers: Ian Robertson 3, John Warden 3, Alex Kotovski 2, Graeme Robertson 1, Peter Warburton 1.
Best: Ian Robertson, Peter Fyffe, Garry Crane, Rodney Hanton, John O'Connell, John Warden.
Round 9: 27th May, 1972.
Carlton 20.11.131
Nth Melbourne 9.3.57
Played at Princes Park.
Result: Won by 74 Points.
Goalkickers: Peter Warburton 4, Ian Cartright 3, Garry Crane 3, Ian Robertson 3, John Goold 2, Gary Schiele 2, Peter Hall 1, Paul O'Brien 1, Daryl Gutterson 1.
Best: Garry Crane, Ian Robertson, Phil Pinnell, Tony Zoanetti, Daryl Gutterson, Rod Austin.
Round 10: 3rd June, 1972.
Carlton 6.9.45
Hawthorn 20.21.141
Played at Glenferrie Oval.
Result: Lost by 96 points.
Goalkickers: David Dickson 1, Graeme Clark 1, John Goold, Ken Laker 1, Peter Warburton 1, John Warden 1.
Best: John Goold, Ian Cartright, Phil Pinnell, John Warden, Tony Zoanetti, Rod Austin.
Round 11: 10th June, 1972.
Carlton 11.16.82
Footscray 8.11.59
Played at the Western Oval.
Result: Won by 23 points.
Goalkickers: Peter Warburton 3, Gary Schiele 2, Michael Dixon 2, Ian Cartright 1, Daryl Gutterson 1, Ken Laker 1, Brian Walsh 1.
Best: Peter Warburton, Tony Smith, Peter Fyffe, Daryl Gutterson, John Goold.
Round 12: 24th June, 1972.
Carlton 15.15.105
Fitzroy 9.8.62
Played at VFL Park.
Result: Won by 43 points
Goalkickers: Gary Schiele 6, Peter Warburton 3, Michael Dixon 2, Peter Hall 2, Peter Bacon 1, Graeme Clark 1.
Best: Peter Hall, Gary Schiele, Tony Smith, John Warden, Eric Pascoe, Daryl Gutterson.
Round 13: 1st July, 1972.
Carlton 13.16.94
Collingwood 10.15.75
Played at Princes Park.
Result: Won by 19 points.
Goalkickers: John Warden 3, Graeme Robertson 2, Tony Smith 2, Brian Walsh 2, Peter Warburton 2, Ian Cartright 1, Peter Hall 1.
Best: Peter Fyffe, John Warden, Rod Austin, Daryl Gutterson, Tony Zoanetti 1.
Round 14: 8th July, 1972.
Carlton 19.9.123
Richmond 8.24.72
Played at the MCG.
Result: Won by 51 points.
Goalkickers: Gary Schiele 6, Syd Jackson 4, John Warden 3, Michael Dixon 2, Barry Armstrong 1, Dennis Munari 1, Barry Riordan 1, Peter Warburton 1.
Best: John O'Connell, Barry Armstrong, Syd Jackson, Daryl Gutterson, John Warden, Gary Schiele.
Round 15: 15th July, 1972.
Carlton 12.11.83
South Melbourne 7.23.65
Played at Princes Park.
Result: Won by 18 points.
Goalkickers: Brian Walsh 5, Peter Bacon 1, Ian Cartright 1, Peter Hall 1, Barry Riordan 1, Gary Schiele 1, Graeme Robertson 1, Peter Warburton 1.
Best: Peter Hall, Peter Fyffe, Rod Austin, Brian Walsh, Michael Dixon, Neil Chandler.
Round 16: 22nd July, 1972.
Carlton 10.13.73
Essendon 10.12.72
Played at Princes Park.
Result: Won by 1 point.
Goalkickers: Greg Kennedy 2, Neil Chandler 1, Michael Dixon 1, Dennis Munari 1, Eric Pascoe 1, Gary Schiele 1, Brian Walsh 1, Peter Warburton 1, John Warden 1.
Best: Kevin Hall, Neil Chandler, Greg Kennedy, Rod Austin, John Warden, Dennis Munari.
Round 17: 29th July, 1972.
Carlton 15.12.102
Geelong 13.17.95
Played at Kardinia Park.
Result: Won by 7 points.
Goalkickers: Gary Schiele 4, Brian Walsh 4, Peter Warburton 3, Michael Dixon 2, John Warden 2.
Best: Bryan Quirk, John Warden, Michael Dixon, Peter Hall, Brian Walsh, Gary Schiele.
Round 18: 5th August, 1972.
Carlton 3.17.35
Melbourne 16.13.115
Played at the MCG.
Result: Lost by 80 points.
Goalkickers: Peter Hall 1, Eric Pascoe 1, Brian Walsh 1.
Best: Brian Walsh, Peter Hall, Garry Crane, John Warden, Peter Warburton, Greg Lethborg.
Round 19: 12th August, 1972.
Carlton 10.23.83
St Kilda 6.7.43
Played at Princes Park.
Result: Lost by 40 points.
Goalkickers: Graeme Robertson 2, Gary Schiele 2, Peter Warburton 2, Neil Chandler 1, Garry Crane 1, Michael Dixon 1, Eric Pascoe 1.
Best: Garry Crane, Paul Hurst, Greg Lethborg, Peter Hall, Peter Fyffe, Vin Catoggio.
Round 20: 19th August, 1972.
Carlton 12.13.85
North Melbourne 7.8.50
Played at Arden Street.
Result: Won by 35 points.
Goalkickers: Graeme Robertson 4, Michael Dixon 3, Brian Walsh 2, Vin Catoggio 1, Eric Pascoe 1, John Warden 1.
Best: John Warden, Greg Lethborg, Eric Pascoe, Brian Walsh, Rod Austin, Peter Fyffe.
Round 21: 26th August, 1972.
Carlton 13.11.89
Hawthorn 11.18.84
Played at Princes Park.
Result: Won by 5 points.
Goalkickers: Brian Walsh 4, Graeme Robertson 3, Eric Pascoe 2, Vin Catoggio 1, Michael Dixon 1, Gary Schiele 1, Tony Smith 1.
Best: Peter Fyffe, Tony Smith, Brent Crosswell< Brian Walsh, Rod Austin, Robert Kirkman.
Round 22: 2nd September, 1972.
Carlton 19.14.128
Footscray 14.10.94
Played at Princes Park.
Result: Won by 34 Points.
Goalkickers: John Warden 9, Brian Walsh 4, Gary Schiele 3, Neil Chandler 2, Bryan Quirk 1.
Best: John Warden, Rod Austin, Tony Smith, Peter Fyffe, Brian Walsh, Tony Zoanetti.
1972 Reserves End of Home & Away Season Ladder
| Pos | Team | Wins | Losses | Draws | Points | For | Against | % |
| 1 | Hawthorn | 19 | 2 | 1 | 78 | 2638 | 1712 | 154.1 |
| 2 | Richmond | 17 | 5 | 0 | 68 | 2497 | 1809 | 138.3 |
| 3 | Melbourne | 17 | 5 | 0 | 68 | 2152 | 1600 | 134.5 |
| 4 | Essendon | 15 | 6 | 1 | 62 | 2112 | 1685 | 125.3 |
| 5 | Carlton | 14 | 8 | 0 | 56 | 1828 | 1714 | 106.7 |
| 6 | Geelong | 13 | 9 | 0 | 52 | 2439 | 1978 | 123.3 |
| 7 | Footscray | 13 | 9 | 0 | 52 | 2001 | 1942 | 103.0 |
| 8 | Sth Melbourne | 8 | 14 | 0 | 32 | 1980 | 2145 | 92.3 |
| 9 | Collingwood | 7 | 15 | 0 | 28 | 1801 | 2103 | 85.6 |
| 10 | St Kilda | 5 | 17 | 0 | 20 | 1451 | 2058 | 70.5 |
| 11 | Nth Melbourne | 2 | 20 | 0 | 8 | 1541 | 2760 | 55.8 |
| 12 | Fitzroy | 1 | 21 | 0 | 4 | 1577 | 2511 | 62.8 |
1972 Reserves Finals Series
Elimination Final - 9th September, 1972.
Carlton 15.10.100
Essendon 14.9.93
Played at VFL Park.
Result: Won by 7 Points.
Goalkickers: John Warden 4, Brian Walsh 3, Gary Schiele 3, Eric Pascoe 2, Paul O'Brien 1, Peter Hall 1, Vin Catoggio 1.
Best: John Warden, Brian Walsh, Neil Chandler, Peter Hall, Rod Austin, Vin Catoggio, Eric Pascoe.
Blues' great finish
Carlton Reserves staged a whirlwind finish to win their elimination final by seven points against Essendon. Carlton hit the front at the 27-minute mark of the last quarter and then added another goal right on the siren to clinch the win. They won 15.10.(100) to 14.9.(93). Essendon was unable to match this finishing onslaught although they had led throughout the game. Burly Essendon ruckman Gary Grainger dominated the ruck duels and used handball very constructively to continually put his side into attack. He combined well with rover Don Goss, whose deadly accurate kicking for goal enabled him to notch five for the match. Red-headed John Warden was brilliant at centre half-forward for Carlton and his strong marking was a key factor in Carlton's victory. - The Australian.
Carlton team
Backs; Gill, Fyffe, Hanton
Half backs; Zoanetti, Austin, Lethborg
Centres; Crane, Chandler, Smith
Half forwards; Dixon, Warden, Bacon
Forwards; O'Brien, Scheile, Cattogio
Followers; Pascoe, P. Hall
Rover; Walsh
19th & 20th from; Bowtell, Kirkman, Warburton, Riordan
Courtesy; SLV Football Record (p25)
Qualifying Final - Melbourne 11.15.81 d Richmond 10.8.68
Carlton 12.8.80
Richmond 9.15.69
Played at VFL Park.
Result: Won by 11 points.
Goalkickers: John Warden 3, Paul O'Brien 2, Gary Schiele 2, Peter Bacon 2, Vin Catoggio 2, Neil Chandler 1.
Best: Brian Walsh, John Warden, Garry Crane, Vin Catoggio, Peter Bacon, Eric Pascoe, Barry Gill.
Carlton team;
Player's numbers in brackets.
Backs; Barry Gill (21), Peter Fyffe (24), Rodney Hanton (41)
Half backs; Tony Zoanetti (46), Rod Austin (45), Greg Lethborg (14)
Centre; Peter Warburton (23) , Garry Crane (6), Tony Smith (51)
Half forwards; Neil Chandler (22), John Warden (9), Peter Bacon (54)
Forwards; Paul O'Brien (29), Garry Schiele (39), Vin Catoggio (49)
Followers; Eric Pascoe (13), Peter Hall (31)
Rover; Brian Walsh (18)
19th; Michael Dixon (55), 20th; Robert Kirkman (35)
Emergencies; Barry Riordan (36) Graeme Bowtell (45)
Courtesy SLV Football Record ages/height/weight/games, available.
There is a few minutes of colour film of this game on Rhett Bartlett's excellent video page on youtube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lqjjfeZNDQc
2nd Semi Final - Melbourne 14.10.94 d Hawthorn 8.14.62
Carlton 9.14.68
Hawthorn 15.11.101
Played at VFL Park.
Result: Lost by 33 Points.
Goalkickers: John Warden 4, Eric Pascoe 1, Brian Walsh 1, Neil Chandler 1, Peter Hall 1, Vin Catoggio 1.
Best: Garry Crane, John Warden, Barry Gill, Rod Austin, Greg Lethborg, Peter Warburton, Eric Pascoe, Brian Walsh, Peter Bacon.
Carlton team
Backs; Barry Gill, Peter Fyffe, Rodney Hanton
Half backs; Anthony Zoanetti, Rod Austin, Gregory Lethborg
Centres; Peter Warburton, Garry Crane, Anthony Smith
Half forwards; Neil Chandler, John Warden, Peter Bacon
Forwards; Paul O'Brien, Garry Schiele, Vin Catoggio
Followers; Eric Pascoe, Peter Hall
Rover; Brian Walsh
19th; Michael Dixon, 20th; Robert Kirkman
Emergencies; Riordan, Bowtell
Courtesy; SLV Football Record (p11)
Grand Final - Hawthorn 13.10.88 d Melbourne 12.12.84.