| Venue: Princes Park | Date: Saturday May 15, 1937 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Result: Lose by 2 points | Umpire: Nicholson | Crowd: 14,000 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Goalkickers: H.Vallence 4.4, F. Ayers 2.2, K. Shea 2.1, A.Clarke 2.0, B. Butler 0.2 M.Crisp 0.1, R.McLean 0.1,C. Denning 0.1. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Best: F. Anderson, J. Francis, F. Gill, H. Vallence, B. Butler, K. Shea | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Reports: | Injuries: J.Carney (torn calf muscles) replaced by C.Denning first quarter. A.Clarke (torn ligaments right foot), E.Huxtable (badly bruised thigh) | |||||||||||||||||||
Game Review
Carlton slumped to its third defeat in a row, losing narrowly to a determined North Melbourne team. Blistering pace, a dominant backline and control across the centreline were the hallmarks of a deserved North victory; their first ever against Carlton at Princes Park.Training throughout the week put the emphasis on four aspects which Percy Rowe considered lacking over the past couple of weeks. Pace, vigorous play, and team work were the overriding focus and particular attention was paid to the ruck work. On Tuesday, Frank Anderson was considered doubtful but had improved by Thursday night. Gordon Mackie and Ted Pollock were still some weeks away with their injuries. Rod McLean left training early on Thursday visibly limping but was considered to be fit. After training, the selectors announced four changes. Charlie Davey was out with a knee injury and Bob Green, Paul Schmidt and Keith Dunn were omitted. Into the side came Anderson, George Collard, Frank Williams and Clen Denning as 19th man. The Age reported that Williams was seeking a clearance to Melbourne.
As part of the Coronation festivities, a challenge match between the VFL and VFA was played on Wednesday which saw the league side win by over 100 points. Keith Shea and Jack Hale were Carlton’s representatives, with Shea kicking three goals.
Carlton was into attack early, but good entries from Francis and Shields were stopped by strong work from the North defence. A free kick got North out of trouble and led to a great run around the wing and a goal from an acute angle. Play was rough from the outset; weight being used freely. North’s pace was bothering Carlton and, attacking constantly, a great burst resulted in three goals in as many minutes. It wasn’t that Carlton was playing poorly, rather that North was inspired, leading at this stage by 25 points to one. Carlton was winning in the air, with Francis, Ayers and Clarke all taking high marks, and in the ruck, but North’s pace and ground play was negating this. Francis in the centre was doing well. Hale and Gill combined to turn a North attack, before Clarke assisted Shea to send a great pass to Vallence. He opened Carlton’s goal scoring with a great kick. Carney was floored after being met heavily and was carried off; Denning getting a run very early. Francis was creating many opportunities but the Shinboner defence was very strong and co-ordinated. They worked forward again and a kick off the ground gave them their fifth goal. Carlton replied quickly; Shields kicking high at goal, where Clarke, roving well, goaled to leave the Blues 19 points down at quarter time.
A good attack from Carlton to open the term was stopped right in the teeth of goal by determined defence. Hale and Shields, with great marks, sent the Blues back into attack to where Clarke passed perfectly to Ayers, who goaled from a tight angle. An intense ten minute period of pace and excellent football from both sides followed, giving fans plenty to cheer about. Hale and Crisp set Carlton up but a poor pass went astray. Carlton broke the deadlock when Denning received a free and his good pass went to McLean. He shot the ball to Shea, who found Vallence with a lovely pass for a goal, to leave Carlton just six points in arrears. Play was fiery; Clarke going down heavily and limping badly afterwards. Many frees were being paid as a result of the vigorous play. Carlton, much steadier now, kept the pressure up and attacked again. Clarke, despite his injury, marked well and passed to Shea, who goaled after another fine mark to level the scores. Carlton scored two behinds before North thrust forward again, but poor forward play and good defence from Anderson, Gill and Hale kept them from scoring for the quarter as the bell sounded for the main break with Carlton two points in front. It was an even game, with Francis, Anderson, Gill, Butler and Clarke notable for Carlton.
Excellent play from the bounce sent North forward again but Crsip was too clever for his opponent and defended solidly. From the centre again another good pass brought North their sixth goal from directly in front. Plenty of weight was still being used and there were several fiery clashes. North was playing like they had in the first term but now in command across the centre. Williams was winning on his wing, but Denning was being beaten on his side. A great 50 yard attack around the wing led to North gaining their seventh goal. The attacks continued and only the poor play of North’s forwards and Carlton’s strong defence were preventing more scoring chances. Gill stopped another chance with a great mark. He forwarded to where Ayers and Hale combined and found Collard, who with smart play got the ball to Shea; he weaved through the defence for a good goal. Now Carlton rallied; Huxtable turning an attack and setting up a chain of passes which resulted in Vallence’s third goal from a long punt. North attacked again but this time it was Anderson who, with great defence, sent the ball to Shea. He found Ayers who goaled with a fine kick. But a quick response from North brought their eighth goal and a two point lead at the last change. It promised to be a tight last quarter but Carlton, effectively reduced to 17 men with Clarke hobbling badly, was going to have to dig deep.
From the bounce, North went forward but a promising chance was lost when a player ran too far with the ball. Francis gained the free but North intercepted his kick and goaled after a fierce scrimmage in front of goal. Crisp had been moved onto the ball and sent Carlton into attack but North’s powerful defence was too strong. Crisp again featured, working with Shea to send to Ayers but he missed an easy chance. North was finishing well. They had increased the pace of the game and their speedy players were leaving Carlton men in their wake. Clever play in the ruck and a lovely pass increased their lead to two straight goal with just ten minutes remaining. By contrast, Carlton was attempting to slow the game down but continual attacks could not get past the Northerner’s defence. Finally, Vallence evaded several opponents and snapped a great and much needed goal. Shea, Francis and Hale were doing all they could to get Carlton forward and their persistence worked. The ball found Clarke, who despite his injured foot, kicked an inspiring captain’s goal to leave just a two point deficit. Desperately Carlton tried but North, with vigorous play, held the Blues at bay until the bell rang to finish deserving winners.
At the end of this round Carlton were in 8th spot on the ladder with a percentage of 107.0.
Team
| B: | 2 Don McIntyre | 21 Frank Gill | 26 Jim Park |
| HB: | 9 Eric Huxtable | 1 Frank Anderson | 11 Jack Hale |
| C: | 7 Jack Carney | 10 Jim Francis (vc) | 18 Frank P Williams |
| HF: | 8 Keith Shea | 25 Arch Shields | 12 Creswell 'Mickey' Crisp |
| F: | 13 George Collard | 22 Harry Vallence | 29 Bert Butler |
| Ruck: | 14 Rod McLean | 3 Fred Ayers | 31 Ansell Clarke (c) |
| 19th Man: | 35 Clen Denning | ||
| Coach: | Percy Rowe | ||
Milestones
Last Game (Carlton): Frank P WilliamsRound 3 | Round 5