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1973 Summary
Carlton would contest an amazing fifth Grand Final in six years (the exception being 1971 when the club would narrowly miss the finals). On the back of its premiership in 1972, Carlton got off to a flying start during the year. The Blues won 9 of their first 10 games to sit top of the ladder. The club lost some of its momentum in the second half of the year, however, only managing to win 6 games from its final 12 home and away fixtures. A 15-7 record for the year saw the Blues sitting in 3rd place on the ladder, behind only Collingwood and Richmond.The Blues played well in the finals series, meeting Richmond in the Qualifying Final. Carlton was ahead all day, and registered a 20 point win after leading by 24 points at three quarter time. Meeting Collingwood in the Semi Final, the team got off to a poor start, trailing by 20 points at quarter time. A good second quarter gave the Blues a slim lead at halftime, and after a close third quarter we trailed by only 2 points going into the last quarter. A 6 goal to 3 final quarter led to a 20 point Carlton win and a week off while Collingwood and Richmond vied for the right to challenge the Blues in the Grand Final. The Tigers would win the game, a 5 goal to 2 final quarter giving them a narrow 7 point win. Collingwood, after losing only 3 home and away games for the season, lost both finals against the Blues and the Tigers to finish their season, having lost once each to these two clubs during the year.
This would be our 5th Grand Final in 6 years (1968, 1969, 1970, 1972 and now 1973). After an eight goal second quarter, the Tigers would set up a comfortable lead from which the Blues would never recover, coming Runner Up for the year after losing by 30 points. The Tigers would exact revenge for our win in 1972, scoring 16.20.116 to our 12.14.86.
Ladder
| Pos | Team | Wins | Draws | Losses | Points | For | Against | % |
| 1 | Collingwood | 19 | 0 | 3 | 76 | 339.322.2356 | 267.276.1878 | 125.5 |
| 2 | Richmond | 17 | 0 | 5 | 68 | 330.321.2301 | 276.301.1957 | 117.6 |
| 3 | Carlton | 15 | 0 | 7 | 60 | 337.320.2342 | 261.284.1850 | 126.6 |
| 4 | Essendon | 13 | 0 | 9 | 52 | 354.319.2443 | 338.313.2341 | 104.4 |
| 5 | St Kilda | 12 | 0 | 10 | 48 | 290.284.2024 | 274.278.1922 | 105.3 |
| 6 | Nth Melbourne | 11 | 1 | 10 | 46 | 276.282.1938 | 282.294.1986 | 97.6 |
| 7 | Hawthorn | 11 | 0 | 11 | 44 | 314.310.2194 | 286.286.2002 | 109.6 |
| 8 | Fitzroy | 9 | 0 | 13 | 36 | 282.298.1990 | 312.322.2194 | 90.7 |
| 9 | Footscray | 7 | 1 | 14 | 30 | 264.276.1860 | 301.303.2109 | 88.2 |
| 10 | Melbourne | 7 | 0 | 15 | 28 | 271.312.1938 | 304.287.2111 | 91.8 |
| 11 | Geelong | 6 | 0 | 16 | 24 | 275.253.1903 | 349.332.2426 | 78.4 |
| 12 | Sth Melbourne | 4 | 0 | 18 | 16 | 273.294.1932 | 355.315.2445 | 79 |
People of 1973
Coach: John NichollsCaptain: John Nicholls
Vice Captain: Robert Walls
Leading goal scorer: Brian Walsh - 60 goals
Best & Fairest: Peter Jones
Milestones
Debuts: Craig Davis, Lance Styles, Vin Catoggio, Rod Ashman, Ray Byrne
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