Career : 1897
Debut and Only Game : Inception Blue - Round 1, 1897 vs Fitzroy, aged 32 years, 67 days.
Carlton Player No. 3
Goals : Nil
Height : 5' 7½" (171cm)
Weight : 9.9 (61kg)
DOB : March 2, 1865
DOD : May 26, 1938
Although he played just one game of VFL football, William Joseph Ahern has earned a permanent place in Carlton Football Club history. On Saturday, May 8, 1897, he ran out onto Brunswick Street Oval to do battle against Fitzroy, as a member of the first team to represent the Blues in the new competition.
Ahern had been recruited from Preston, and on that auspicious day he roved to a ruck division that was brave, but eventually out-gunned by the Maroon’s big men. Fitzroy comfortably accounted for Carlton by 33 points, showing the Blueboys that the road ahead would be a tough one.
Ahern was joined by three other 'Inception Blues' in Billy Arnott, Harry Gyles, and Herbie Lowenthal in making their only appearance for Carlton, as the harsh but necessary cycle of trying and discarding players began from day one.
He was born on March 2, 1865 at Cork, Ireland and died at Prahran on May 26, 1938 aged 73.
Debut and Only Game : Inception Blue - Round 1, 1897 vs Fitzroy, aged 32 years, 67 days.
Carlton Player No. 3
Goals : Nil
Height : 5' 7½" (171cm)
Weight : 9.9 (61kg)
DOB : March 2, 1865
DOD : May 26, 1938
Although he played just one game of VFL football, William Joseph Ahern has earned a permanent place in Carlton Football Club history. On Saturday, May 8, 1897, he ran out onto Brunswick Street Oval to do battle against Fitzroy, as a member of the first team to represent the Blues in the new competition.
Ahern had been recruited from Preston, and on that auspicious day he roved to a ruck division that was brave, but eventually out-gunned by the Maroon’s big men. Fitzroy comfortably accounted for Carlton by 33 points, showing the Blueboys that the road ahead would be a tough one.
Ahern was joined by three other 'Inception Blues' in Billy Arnott, Harry Gyles, and Herbie Lowenthal in making their only appearance for Carlton, as the harsh but necessary cycle of trying and discarding players began from day one.
He was born on March 2, 1865 at Cork, Ireland and died at Prahran on May 26, 1938 aged 73.