| Venue: VFL Park Waverley | Date: Saturday March 31, 1984 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Result: Win by 137 points | Umpires: James & Rich | Crowd: 36,504 Receipts: $121,255 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Goalkickers: W.Ralph 9, J.Madden 5, W.Johnston 5, P.Meldrum 3, K.Hunter 2, S.Kourkoumelis 2, F.Murphy 2, J.Buckley 1, T.Alvin 1, A.Montgomery 1. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Best: W.Johnston, W.Ralph, J.Buckley, S.Koukoumelis, W.Harmes, J.Madden, M.Maclure, P.Meldrum, K.Hunter, D.Honybun. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Reports: M.Maclure (Carlton) by field umpire G.James for allegedly striking I.Dunstan (Nth Melb) with a right hand to the throat in the second quarter - cleared. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Injuries: | ||||||||||||||||||||
Game Review
In a great day for the Navy Blues, Warren Ralph kicked a stellar 9 goals in his debut match, Bruce Doull surpassed John Nicholls' record of 328 senior games, and Carlton recorded our highest-ever score and greatest winning margin against North Melbourne.
''Ominous signs about Blues
There was something distinctly ominous about Carlton's massive victory over North Melbourne at VFL Park in Saturday's opening round. Carlton supporters were quick to point out after the match that an opening round victory at League headquarters was a premiership omen for the Blues. In 1979, Carlton kicked the season off with an impressive victory over Essendon at the Park and went on to win the flag six months later. Then, in 1981, the Blues blitzed the reigning premiers Richmond in the opening round at Waverley - the start of another premiership season. On Saturday they again looked premiership material and it was a dream opening to the 1984 season for their supporters who are already dreamimg of September glory. September is, of course a long way off yet, but those critics who felt that the Blues were set for a slide this year are already having second thoughts. - Tony Greenberg Inside Football. ''
At VFL Park, Carlton skipper, Wayne Johnston, had Blues fans screaming with delight as he turned on a scintillating display up forward. Johnston was at his elusive best and booted five goals as he led Carlton's massacre of North Melbourne. Three votes went Johnston's way, with first game spearhead Warren Ralph collecting two votes, and Jim Buckley the one vote. - Inside Football Player of the Year.
Carlton coach David Parkin was desperately anxious for the Blues to score a couple more goals against North on Saturday. No, he was not being greedy. And he was not being callous in asking for even more embarrassment for the Roos. He simply wants to erase an old memory, one that haunts each time he walks the corridors of Princes Park. Parkin, you see, played in the Hawthorn side that had 30.30.210 kicked against them by the rampaging Blues, back in Round 2 1969. - Jim Main Inside Football.
By now most critics have commented on the recruits who made their senior debut on Saturday. I watched the North-Carlton clash at VFL Park and the Blues newcomers impressed enormously. Fraser Murphy looks a good roving prospect and ruck-rover Tom Alvin will be invaluable once he settles his nerves. Former West Australian State full-forward Warren Ralph was most impressive in kicking nine goals, but he had little opposition and several of his goals were from "over the top". Fellow West Australian Wayne Blackwell played only 15 minutes of the last quarter, but showed enough to suggest he will be an asset. Ruckman David Honybun took the eye with his running straight at the ball at centre bounces, a great sign in a young ruckman and he was unlucky to have his lights dimmed in the third quarter. - Jim Main Inside Football.
Nearly 37,000 people - the biggest crowd of the round - saw a ruthless Carlton humiliate North. Fresh from bad losses in the finals the season before, it was a dispirited Roos side which left VFL Park after the first game of the new season. It rained goals for the Blues, and new forward Warren Ralph got more than his share - nine. Justin Madden and Wayne Johnston each kicked five. - Football Record.
North Melbourne had humiliated Carlton by 111 points at Arden Street to record it's largest winning margin against the Blues in round 10 of 1983.
This was last match the Blues played at the Northerners home ground.
Round 1 1984, and the Blues had their revenge, this 137 point victory is still, to the end of 2010, the Blues' largest winning margin against the Kangaroos.
Footnote
I attended the Round 19, 1983 Arden Street match with a North supporting workmate. Surrounded by a mob of shinboners, what a day, a complete humilation!This first game of 1984 was the only game I saw live for the next few years as I was being transferred interstate in my employment. This was a complete reversal, plus more, from 10 months previous.
I went north-west a very happy Blue.
Thanks for the fantastic video highlights! Brings back so many happy memories in these days of COVID lock down.
Team
| B: | 27 Des English | 11 Bruce Doull | 20 Geoff Southby |
| HB: | 18 Allan Montgomery | 15 Val Perovic | 33 Peter McConville |
| C: | 37 Wayne Harmes | 8 Wayne Blackwell | 32 David Glascott |
| HF: | 7 Wayne Johnston (c) | 36 Mark Maclure | 23 Paul Meldrum |
| F: | 9 Ken Hunter (vc) | 22 Warren Ralph | 16 Jim Buckley |
| Ruck: | 3 David Honybun | 31 Tom Alvin | 30 Fraser Murphy |
| Interchange: | 44 Justin Madden | 28 Spiro Kourkoumelis | |
| Coach: | David Parkin | ||
Video
Milestones
Debuts: Tom Alvin, Wayne Blackwell, David Honybun, Fraser Murphy, Warren RalphGames Records: Bruce Doull passed John Nicholls' Carlton's Games Record
Score Records: This is Carlton's highest ever score and greatest winning margin against the Kangaroos
Score Records: This is one of Carlton's greatest ever winning margins in the VFL / AFL.
1984 | Round 2