Career: 1897 - 1899, 1901
Debut : Inception Blue - Round 1, 1897 vs Fitzroy, aged 21 years, 325 days.
Carlton Player No. 15
Games : 41 (Plus at least 10 V.F.A. games)
Goals : 25 (Plus 11 V.F.A. goals)
Last Game : Round 7, 1901 vs Essendon, aged 25 years, 351 days.
Height : 175 cm (5 ft. 9 in.)
Weight : 74 kg (11 stone, 9 lbs.)
DOB : 17 June, 1875
Leading Goalkicker: 1897
The grandly-named Alfred Richard Wallace ‘Wally’ Ocock was Carlton’s first VFL full-forward, and the winner of the Blues’ goal-kicking award in our inaugural season. Although he was just 175 cm tall, Wally wasn't short of courage or enthusiasm on the field. He was a sometimes spectacular mark, and a reliable place-kick for goal.
Ocock was already established in Carlton’s team when the first four matches of the fledgling Victorian Football League were held on Saturday, May 8, 1897. Carlton was drawn to meet Fitzroy at the Brunswick Street Oval. Neither side scored a goal in the first quarter, but in the second term, Ocock lined up a place kick and sent it sailing through the posts. Sadly, Carlton kicked just one more goal for the match and lost by 33 points.
Later that year, an incident occurred that demonstrates how long the road to professionalism in Australian football has been. Carlton was due to play Melbourne at Princes Park in late July, but incessant heavy rain had turned the playing field into a bog, so the match was transferred to the MCG. The Blues had hoped to include Ocock in the team on his return from injury, only to be told that he couldn’t play because he was unable to obtain a medical clearance. So what did they do? Easy – they registered him under the name of Alfred Wallace, and sent him out to play! Wally kicked Carlton’s only two goals for the match, while the Fuchsias proved too good by almost five goals.
Ocock’s 15 goals from ten matches in his debut season ensured a niche for him in Carlton’s history. He went on to play another 31 games over the next four years, although he did miss the entire 1900 season for undisclosed reasons. From 1898 he was often played further up the ground as a half-forward flanker or winger, and rarely missed being mentioned among Carlton’s best players.
Wally was only a few days short of his 26th birthday when he played his last game, against Essendon at the East Melbourne Football Ground in June 1901. The battling Blues may have lost another match to Essendon by 80 points, but brighter days lay ahead.
Wally never became a household name (and perhaps just as well) at Preston, but on May 2, 1903, he had the honour of kicking the the club's first goal in V.F.A. football just before half-time in the opening game against the 1902 premiers, Richmond at Punt Road. Ocock was first sighted playing against Preston with Carlton Juniors back in 1894 and would almost certainly have played for Carlton in the Association up until 1896. Six clubs broke away to form the Victorian Football League in 1897, and later Carlton (along with St. Kilda) were invited to join the new competition provided they could guarantee improvements to the rather ramshackle Princes Park of the time. Ocock played 41 games with Carlton between 1897 and 1899 and in 1901 and led the club's goalkicking in 1897 with 13 goals. Just where Ocock resided during his time at Carlton is not known, but he captained the fledgling Preston Cricket Club from 1902 to 1905, indicating that at least by then he was probably a resident of the district. 1903 was his only year of football at Preston Park.
Note: For many years we spelled Wally's surname as Ocock unaware that this was incorrect. After being contacted by family and seeing Wally's grave at Holbrook we now use the correct surname, Ocock.
Victorian Football Association
Games: 10; (possibly played 17 games)
Goals: 11
Career: 1896
Leading Goal Kicker: 1896
Born in Melbourne, and recruited from the northern suburbs club, Albion United.
Ocock passed away 14 June, 1951 aged 76.
1896 May 2
Round one of the season.
Ocock named in the squad that played Ballarat Imperials in Ballarat.
The Blues had the bye this week.
1896 May 9
Wally Ocock debuted for the Carlton F. C. (aged 20 years, 325 days) in The Blues' first game for the season, the round two clash against Essendon.
The Argus reported that he was one of the prominent new recruits for the Blues.
1896 May 15
Ocock named in the 24 man squad to play North Melbourne at Carlton.
Wally kicked the only two goals that his side scored that day. The Blues going down by 4 goals. The North Melbourne Courier's report on this match said Ococks second goal came from a free kick only one yard out from the goal.
The newspaper also said of Wally's opponent; "E. Launder a bit too good for Ocockalorum, though the latter managed to score twice."
1896 May 23
Ocock named in the 28 man Carlton squad to play Richmond at Punt Road.
1896 May 30
Ocock scored a goal in the match against Collingwood at the University Ground.
1896 June 13
Ocock scored one of Carlton's 3 goals against St.Kilda at St.Kilda.
Ocock was one of four Carlton players charged with misconduct (obscene language) arising from the match against St.Kilda.
1896 June 20
Ocock scored Carlton's only goal in the drawn match against Geelong at the M.C.G.
1896 June 27
Ocock scored a goal in the drawn match against Port Melbourne at the University ground.
1896 July 02
The V.F.A. tribunal suspended the four players from the St.Kilda game, the others Ashton, Balharry and Aitken.
Wally Ocock copped a one week suspension.
Ocock wrote a letter to The Argus on July 4 stating that he was prevented from using witnesses who could have proved his innocence.
The letter is signed J. Ocock. (A printer's error?)
1896 July 04
Ocock played against Fitzroy at the M.C.G.
1896 July 11
Ocock scored one of Carlton's 3 goals in the match against Footscray at the University ground.
1896 July 18
Ocock is named in Carlton's 24 man squad to play South Melbourne at South Melbourne.
1896 July 25
Ocock is named in the 28 man Carlton squad to play Melbourne at the M.C.G.
1896 August 01
Wally Ocock scored 2 goals in the match against Williamstown at the University Ground.
1896 August 15
Carlton played Footscray at Footscray.
Wally kicked 2 of his side's 4 goals
1896 August 22
Ocock scored 1 goal in the win over St. Kilda at the University Ground
1896 September 05
Ocock is named in the 27 man squad to play North Melbourne at North Melbourne.
1896 September 12
Ocock is named in the 24 man squad to play Collingwood at Victoria Park.
1896 September 19
Carlton played Richmond on the Richmond City Reserve.
No team details available.
1896 September 26
Ocock is named in the 27 man squad to play Williamstown at Williamstown.
1896 CFC Annual report, Ocock scored 11 goals during the season.
1896 Was among the remaining group of players who formed a strong combination.
(The Carlton Story, H.Buggy and H.Bell. P77)
Links
Articles: Here's Wally!Blueseum: Summary of playing statistics for Wally Ocock | Pre VFL Players | Ocock's Blueseum Image Gallery