| Venue: Windy Hill | Date: Saturday August 1, 1936 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Result: Win by 59 points | Umpire: G.L.Murphy | Crowd: 13,000 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Goalkickers: H.Vallence 6, M.Crisp 3, H.Bullen 2, A.Clarke 2, C.Davey 2, F.Gilby 1, J.Wrout 1. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Best: J. Park, H. Bullen, J. Francis, A. Clarke, M. Crisp, R. Cooper | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Reports: | Injuries: W. Mutimer (broken thumb), replaced by B. Butler at half time, M. Crisp (gashed shin), F. Gilby (back) R. Green (toe) | |||||||||||||||||||
Game Review
It took Carlton half a game to shake off the persistent Dons, but the second half showed the Blues at their best, kicking twelve goals to three to record an emphatic 59 point victory. Troubled by Essendon’s pace early, once the Blues’ ruckmen and forwards got going it was a matter of by how much they would win.
Coach Frank Maher was recovering from influenza and could not conduct training, so Captain Jim Francis took charge. On a sloppy oval, he put the side through a strenuous session, at which Keith Shea and Warren stood out. Will Kuhlken (broken finger), Eric Huxtable (gashed leg) and Keith Dunn (bruised shoulder) could not be considered and Jack Carney’s strained thigh was still not right. The Blues announced three changes: Kuhlken, Frank Gill and George Collard were out and Ted Pollock, Jim Park and Bert Butler (19th man) came in.
Responding to a statement circulating in the press over the last week, alleging that Carlton stood in the way of players wanting to leave and hung on to players, Secretary Newton Chandler emphatically denied it was the case. He said that over the last four seasons, the club had granted clearances to 95 players, which included 41 to other VFL teams and 36 to the VFA.
Smart play brought Essendon an early goal. Playing with the breeze, the Dons were doing all the attacking early and Francis and Mutimer were both prominent for Carlton. Carlton’s first major thrust was down the centre of the ground through Clarke, but Cooper managed only a behind. Essendon’s pace was worrying Carlton but strong defence by Park, Francis and McIntyre was keeping the Dons from scoring. Wrout was infringed, and from his free kick passed to Davey for Carlton’s first goal, with a clever snap over his shoulder. The Dons deserved more than a behind from their next attack after eluding several Carlton defenders. Wrout was involved again after receiving from Hale, with a hurried snap for a behind. Attacking again, Essendon scored a good goal, again using pace to weave through the defence and this time kicking truly. Essendon was matching Carlton in the aerial duels but spoiling their constant good play, wasting scoring opportunities with several shots being sprayed wide or fumbled. It was a rough game, with tempers flaring, and Umpire Murphy was made to work hard to keep things under control. Stopping another Essendon attack, Park cleared well and the ball found its way to Crisp for a goal to level the scores. Francis began the next attack, kicking to Bullen for the third goal. Moments later, Bullen repeated with another goal from a free. Carlton was using its weight well, playing faster and more open football as the quarter progressed and were attacking with an eleven point lead when the bell sounded for quarter time.
A behind to Essendon after a clever run heralded the start of the second term. Park, playing splendidly, relieved several attacks; his marking and clearing dashes applauded by all. It was a battle of defences at this stage, with both sides struggling to break through. Vallence had two chances for the Blues but he was off target and only behinds came. Another behind to the Blues was rushed through then Essendon, with some sparkling wing play, scored a well-deserved goal. It was still a fast game, with Essendon’s small men doing well across the centre. There was spite being shown by both sides too, sending supporters into an angry frenzy. Shea was being well held and although the Blues were winning in the ruck, the big men looked slow across the muddy patch in the middle. Carlton attacked and Vallence was able to pass to Wrout who marked and goaled. Essendon responded well; a behind followed by a mark and goal to make the difference just six points. The Blues were wasting chances and scored three behinds. Gilby had slightly injured his back and was sent forward in an effort to relieve him and assist the struggling forward line. The Dons attacked again and, finding Park out of position, scored an easy goal. Park earned a free and passed to Wrout but he hurried the kick for another behind. The game had become crowded due to the strong defences. Both sides had been inaccurate, with the Blues more so, kicking one goal nine for the term. Essendon was the more impressive side and Crisp was Carlton’s only effective forward to date. At half time, the Blues held a narrow five point lead. Best for the half were Park, Bullen, Francis, Clarke and Crisp.
Mutimer (broken thumb) was replaced by Butler at half time. The wind had dropped and now gave only a slight advantage. A spectacular mark by Park enabled him to repel an attack and then pass to Crisp, who scored a behind from a pack. Carlton increased its lead after Gilby brought the ball around the grandstand wing and found Crisp again, who made no mistake this time. Then Shea, playing better, came down the other wing and passed to Vallence for another behind. An exciting burst from Crisp, well in the action, saw the ball passed to Clarke, who kicked Carlton’s seventh goal. Clarke followed up with another goal shortly after, receiving from Cashin who had earnt a free kick. Carlton was now dominating the ruck and the forward line was playing well. Essendon kicked a nice goal after a 50 yard dash, but wasted their next two chances with behinds. Davey kicked Carlton into attack and Vallence scored his first goal for the day. His second goal came following a great mark. Carlton’s defence, centred around Park, Francis, Gilby and Hale had become very difficult to penetrate, but Essendon broke through for a goal, leaving them 23 points behind. Carlton was attacking on the bell.
Carlton put a stranglehold on the game early in the term with Davey goaling from a quick snap following some dazzling play from Cashin. Essendon, visibly tiring, goaled but Carlton attacked again and Gilby goaled after a dashing run. Vallence, right in the game now, scored two quick goals to end Essendon’s resistance. The four Carlton goals had come in the first ten minutes, overwhelming the Don defence. The fire had gone out of the game now. Vallence scored a behind and then kicked two more goals; the second after leading out well and kicking at an unguarded goal. This put the result beyond any doubt and when Cooper passed to Crisp for the 16th goal, it capped off a great second half to give Carlton a 59 point victory at the final bell.
At the end of this round Carlton were in 5th spot on the ladder with a percentage of 129.5. Importantly for Carlton, Fitzroy defeated Melbourne, putting Carlton only one game out of the four, with a higher percentage than Melbourne with just five games left.
Team
| B: | 6 Fred Gilby | 26 Jim Park | 2 Don McIntyre |
| HB: | 11 Jack Hale | 10 Jim Francis (c) | 1 Frank Anderson |
| C: | 35 Norm Cashin | 8 Keith Shea | 32 Bob Green |
| HF: | 19 Ron Cooper | 28 Jack Wrout | 12 Creswell 'Mickey' Crisp (vc) |
| F: | 17 Charlie Davey | 22 Harry Vallence | 16 Ted Pollock |
| Ruck: | 15 Horrie Bullen | 3 Wally Mutimer | 31 Ansell Clarke |
| 19th Man: | 29 Bert Butler | ||
| Coach: | Frank Maher | ||
Milestones
50 Games: Jim ParkRound 12 | Round 14