| Venue: Princes Park | Date: Saturday August 8, 1936 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Result: Win by 19 points | Umpire: S.A.Scott | Crowd: 9,000 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Goalkickers: H.Vallence 4, H.Bullen 2, A.Clarke 2, C.Davey 2, K.Dunn 1. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Best: F. Williams, J. Park, J. Carney, J. Francis, C. Denning, R. Cooper | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Reports: | Injuries: R. Green (thigh) late withdrawal, replaced by C. Denning, C. Davey (thigh) replaced by B. Butler at ¾ time. | |||||||||||||||||||
Game Review
In an underwhelming performance, Carlton recorded a 19 point victory over a spirited Hawthorn in a gritty game marred by a blustery wind. Despite having the majority of the play for three quarters, Hawthorn lost mainly because of a slow and ineffectual forward line, which was completely dominated by the strong Carlton defence.Another light training session was conducted, consisting of the usual running, kicking and marking drills and a short match practice. Wally Mutimer’s dislocated thumb was responding well to treatment, and Jack Carney (strained thigh) was a possible inclusion. Mick Crisp (knee) would definitely miss, Keith Shea and Jack Hale were in the state team in Adelaide and Norm Cashin and Bert Butler were omitted. Into the side came Eric Huxtable, Keith Dunn, Frank Williams (on debut), Clen Denning (as 19th) man and Carney. This game would be Fred Gilby’s 168th for the Blues, passing Paddy O’Brien (167) on the games list. Harry Vallence, on 166 games, would soon overtake O’Brien as well.
Prior to the game, Bob Green was a late withdrawal with a thigh strain. Denning came into the starting eighteen and Butler was included as 19th man. A blustery, cold wind was blowing diagonally across the ground, slightly favouring Hawthorn’s end. Clever play from Denning brought up Carlton’s first score; a behind from a snap from Wrout. Hawthorn responded in kind, with a behind from a hurried shot. The wind was playing havoc with the ball, making it hard for the tall men, but the smaller players on each side were playing well. Hawthorn repelled an attack mounted by Carney and Pollock, but smart play from first gamer Williams ended with Vallence having a shot; the distance being too far even for him. He goaled a minute later from a free kick to put the Blues ahead. It had taken Carlton five attacks to get the first goal, as the Mayblooms’ defence was very strong. Hawthorn were faster and surer in their ground play, using handball well, but were falling down in attack, fumbling and not positioning correctly. Carlton’s tight defence wasn’t helping either. Francis relieved a Hawthorn attack, but they thrust forward again and a dribbled kick bounced through for their first goal. Former Blue Jack Green scored another soon after. Working hard against the wind, Carlton persisted. Vallence was infringed and received another free, from which he kicked Carlton’s second goal. A good rally from Hawthorn resulted in a nice snap for their third. Hawthorn should have been further ahead than ten points at quarter time but hurried shots and poor ball handling had wasted several opportunities.
Smart play started a fast move into attack from Hawthorn, but Denning and Pollock relieved and sent Carlton forward. Williams, playing well, found Davey who marked confidently. His shot from a tight angle went straight for the Blues’ third goal. Carlton’s ground play had improved, but Hawthorn were overdoing the handball and still hurrying their kicks. A good move forward by Carlton saw Vallence mark brilliantly and kick his third goal. Moments later, Pollock had another chance but hit the post for a behind. Determined play against the wind resulted in two Hawthorn goals, despite Carlton now looking the more confident side. Responding strongly, a brilliant solo effort from Clarke brought a great goal, and then Cooper found Wrout who scored a behind to level the scores. It was a gritty game, not at all pretty to watch. Another attack by the Blues went to Vallence, who snapped over his head to give Carlton a one point lead at the main break. Williams, Pollock, Carney, Denning, Park and Vallence were Carlton’s best for the first half.
A poster to Hawthorn began the second half. Carlton replied with Huxtable combining with Dunn for a behind. The Blues went forward again with a straight thrust straight down the centre, to where Wrout passed to Davey who kicked the sixth goal. Carlton had opened the game up well, and Clarke found himself loose and kicked his second goal. Hawthorn, still well in the game, goaled from clever play and another tenacious passage brought their eighth goal to stay within two points of the Blues. The game remained tight for the rest of the term, until two late goals to the handy Bullen gave the Blues an edge. Then Vallence just failed to take what would have been a fine mark and Hawthorn cleared and attacked but for a behind only. Neither side could be considered to be playing well; Carlton lacked spark and while Hawthorn’s rucks and small men were playing well, the Mayblooms were failing badly in attack. At the last change, the Blues had a 13 point lead.
With the strong breeze at their backs, Carlton raced away from the bounce. Fine play from Carney and Williams kept the Blues on the offensive. Butler, who had replaced Davey (thigh) at the change, worked the ball to Davey. He passed to Wrout, who found Dunn for Carlton’s tenth goal. The tempo of the game had quickened, with both sides keen at the ball. A towering mark began a Hawthorn attack, but Williams intercepted the kick and passed to Carney. He kicked into attack but the forwards were badly out of position and Hawthorn cleared easily. Carlton’s use of weight and height over their smaller opponents had worked, as the Mayblooms were tiring. Francis and Butler combined for the latter to score a behind. A determined thrust by Hawthorn was stopped by a delightful mark to Park, who was again brilliant in defence. Keeping up their momentum, Hawthorn gained a rushed behind and then their eighth goal from a kick off the ground. Carney took a lovely fingertip mark and sent the Blues forward, where Vallence kicked his fourth goal to seal the game. The Blues were attacking as the bell sounded for a not entirely convincing 19 point win. Hawthorn had cost themselves many chances with a slow, fumbling and unconfident forward line and the strong work of Park and Francis in defence.
The happiness that the Blues and their supporters felt after winning the game was increased when news was gained that Melbourne had suffered their second loss in a row, putting Carlton into the four. So with four rounds remaining, the equation was thus:
Collingwood and South Melbourne were safe in the four and would probably keep first and second spots. Richmond was one game above Carlton, who with nine wins, held fourth spot by percentage over Melbourne. Geelong and St Kilda were two games further back and could mathematically still make the four, but only if they won all their games and sides above them lost most or all of their remaining games. The Blues faced the toughest run home; the game next week against Richmond being pivotal to their chances. After that came Footscray, Collingwood and St Kilda, in the last round. Carlton would worry about injuries all week. Shea had injured his ankle in Victoria’s narrow win over South Australia, Davey and Green had thigh problems and Crisp’s knee was a concern. But if they were any good, they would.
Clen Denning was awarded the committee’s trophy for being adjudged the best player, but most reporters had Frank Williams and Jim Park as the Blues’ best men.
Team
| B: | 6 Fred Gilby | 26 Jim Park | 2 Don McIntyre |
| HB: | 9 Eric Huxtable | 10 Jim Francis (c) | 1 Frank Anderson |
| C: | 7 Jack Carney | 34 Clen Denning | 18 Frank P Williams |
| HF: | 19 Ron Cooper | 28 Jack Wrout | 5 Keith Dunn |
| 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
Debut: Frank P WilliamsRound 13 | Round 15