Glenn Manton

Career : 1995 - 2003
Debut : Round 12, 1995 vs Geelong, aged 22 years, 22 days
Carlton Player No. 1004
Games : 178 (157 at Carlton)
Goals : 34 (30 at Carlton)
Last Game : Round 22, 2003 vs North Melbourne, aged 30 years, 90 days
Guernsey No. 22
Height : 185 cm (6 ft. 1 in.)
Weight : 86 kg (13 stone, 8 lbs.)
DOB : 1 June, 1973
Premiership Player 1995

Glenn Manton was 22 years and 22 days old - and proudly wearing Carlton’s number 22 guernsey - when he ran down the player’s race and out on to Princes Park to play his first game for the Navy Blues against Geelong in round 12, 1995. A few short months later, he stood on the podium at the MCG on Grand Final day, basking in the glory of Carlton’s magnificent 16th Premiership win.

Barely three years beforehand, Manton had begun his AFL career at Essendon, and in hindsight, it was quite remarkable that he was ever let go by the Bombers. Born and raised in their neighbourhood, he played his early football at Strathmore and East Keilor, before joining the Under-19 squad at Windy Hill and working his way up through their Reserves team to enjoy his first senior match in 1992. Although ‘only’ 185 cm, Glenn’s great asset was his ability to play tall in defence. A very safe mark for his size, durable, and a clever reader of the play, he started at Windy Hill at a time when Essendon boasted a talented list, although recurring hamstring injuries in 1993 - and doubts about his commitment - didn’t help his prospects.

The facts were that Glenn was openly enthusiastic about many other aspects of his life outside football. Well-read and articulate, with a keen interest in social issues and politics, he didn’t quite fit the mould of a nineties footballer in the eyes of some at Essendon. As a consequence, and because the Bombers were still fresh from their Premiership triumph over Carlton in 1993, Manton was delisted in '94, having played 21 games in three seasons.

Carlton threw Glenn a life-line in the 1995 Pre-Season Draft, seeing him as a potentially handy back-up to an already strong defensive unit. He was assigned guernsey number 22 and, partly because of his gratitude to the Blues for giving him a second chance, whole-heartedly embraced the club. From his earliest days at Princes Park, he never walked past the portrait of Harry ‘Soapy’ Vallence in the clubrooms without giving the glass a friendly tap with his knuckles – to acknowledge the link between himself, and the legendary Carlton full-forward who had also worn number 22 while kicking 722 goals in 204 matches.

Manton found his feet in the Reserves for the first half of his debut year, before being granted that precious first opportunity at senior level at Princes Park against the Cats. In a thrilling, top shelf contest, Carlton got up by three points and Blues fans got their first look at the lean ex-Bomber with a slightly awkward kicking style and a trademark black pressure bandage on his right elbow. At the age of 18 that arm had been almost severed in an accident, and for a while it was feared that Glenn’s football career was over. Thankfully, that proved not to be the case.

Once he had shown his wares in that first game, Manton was retained in the side throughout the rest of that fabulous year. Quick enough for the flank, and good enough to pinch-hit in a key post, he was seen as the ideal interchange player and even drifted forward to kick the odd goal. Meanwhile, the Mighty Blues continued an unbeaten run of 16 consecutive matches, culminating in a 61-point slaughter of Geelong in the Grand Final. As he had done during both lead-up finals, Manton started on the bench in the Big One, and was more than handy across half-back in the second half. After just 12 games for Carlton, Glenn’s name had joined Soapy’s on the number 22 locker.

In 1996 Manton stepped up further, and was one of five Blues who played every game (along with Brett Ratten, Ange Christou, Stephen Silvagni and Anthony Koutoufides). Carlton however, got the staggers and slipped to fifth, and the finals were a disaster. While West Coast and Brisbane handed out successive thrashings, Manton was one Blue who stood tall - taking the most marks for the year, making the top 10 list for disposals, and laying the highest number of tackles. These were astounding stats for a regular key defender.

Over 1997-98, Carlton’s fortunes dipped further as many of the stars of the ’95 Premiership retired. Manton was called on to shoulder more of the on-field leadership, and showed that he could be an effective forward target in favourable circumstances, although his real value was still in defence. When Carlton caused a huge boilover in beating flag favourites Essendon by 1 point in a sensational 1999 Preliminary Final, Manton was used in a decoy role at full-forward and got the Blues off to a great start with a goal after only a minute of play. But the game will forever be celebrated for the individual brilliance of Anthony Koutoufides, a match-saving tackle by Fraser Brown, and the obstinate courage of the entire Carlton team.

Regrettably, Essendon only had to wait one more season to wreak revenge on the Blues. In the following year’s Preliminary Final, they inflicted a seven-goal defeat on a Carlton side seriously weakened by the absence of injured champions Koutoufides and Silvagni. Manton found himself on the last line of defence during the finals, and at full-back in a makeshift defence against the Bombers.

By this time, Glenn had also became a regular guest on the top-rating Channel 9 program; The Footy Show, and was proving himself to be a relaxed and capable media performer. In 2001, he played every game again under a new coach in Wayne Brittain, until the Blues bowed out of the finals after a typically tough Semi Final loss to Richmond. That defeat heralded bleak times ahead for everyone at Princes Park in 2002, as Carlton crashed to near oblivion at the foot of the ladder, and Manton’s season was wrecked by injuries to a knee, a calf and ultimately, a broken leg.

After two years in charge, Brittain was sacked by a nervous Carlton board, and replaced by former North Melbourne Premiership coach Denis Pagan. Manton's role then came under question because Pagan favoured 'gorillas'; big, strong key position players, and one of his first decisions was to draft North Melbourne’s veteran defender Mick Martyn, who had only just been delisted by the Kangaroos. Martyn was installed at full-back for the 2003 season, and Manton played only five more games before being delisted himself. His final match was a traumatic, record defeat by North Melbourne on a Sunday afternoon at Docklands Stadium in round 22, 2003.

After his AFL career Manton was inducted into the prestigious AFL 200 Club.

In the years after his retirement from League football, Manton immersed himself in a diverse range of projects. After completing a degree in Education, he founded the Whitelion Foundation, to provide guidance and inspiration to troubled young people from all sectors of the community. He has written three football-themed books, including Mongrel Punts and Hard Ball Gets, while serving as a director of the Melbourne Fringe Festival. In 2008 he took to the stage with a well-received standup routine at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival, and has expanded his public speaking roles to include corporate, charity and sporting groups. He was a regular commentator on a number of Melbourne radio stations, and even found time to train for a place in the 4-man Australian Bobsleigh team that was aiming to qualify for the 2006 Winter Olympics in Italy.

Through all of this, Glenn still chased a football around suburban grounds on weekends, as his love affair with the game continued. In 2010, Manton joined Albion in the Western Region Football League, and was one of the Cats’ best as they won their first 1st Division flag in over 25 years. He then retired from the field for good, but coached Albion into a second-successive Grand Final in 2011, only to lose to Spotswood.

Furthermore, Glenn has been a good friend and adviser to the Blueseum since our earliest days, and has often provided his insights and answers to readers' questions. Some of his most recent contributions can be found [tiki-index.php?page=ask+glenn|here].

Milestones

50 Games (AFL) - Round 17, 1996 vs Essendon
50 Games (Carlton) - Round 14, 1997 vs Western Bulldogs
100 Games (AFL) - Round 3, 1999 vs Western Bulldogs
100 Games (Carlton) - Semi Final, 1999 vs West Coast Eagles
150 Games (AFL) - Round 10, 2001 vs West Coast Eagles
150 Games (Carlton) - Round 18, 2002 vs Collingwood

Career Highlights

1995 - Premiership Player
1996 - 7th Best & Fairest
1997 - 10th Best & Fairest
1997 - Pre-Season Premiership Player
1998 - Best Clubman Award

Links

Blueseum: Summary of playing statistics for Glenn Manton | Career Breakdown for Glenn Manton

Gallery

Manton at home.jpg
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1995 Grand Final Celebrations.
2009 - Glenn Manton Snippett (HS 22/03/09).
1995 GF - Glenn Manton takes a well judged mark.
1995 GF - The boys break through the banner.
1995 GF - An emotional Glenn Manton after the game.
1995 GF - The Heroes.
1995 GF - Glenn Manton.
Glenn Manton.
Glenn Manton.
2002 - Glenn Manton.
1999 1st Semi Final Vs WCE.
Glenn Manton.
1997 Night GF - Glenn Manton stands over Steven Handley.Pic: The Geelong Advertiser.
1997 Night GF - The triumphant Blues.Pic: Inside Football.
1995 - Carlton pre-season selections (22/02/95).Inside Football.
1995 - Manton's Mission (16/08/95).Pic: Inside Football.
1995 - Glenn Manton: Now for the real thing.
1995 GF - Carlton Boys and the Holy Grail.Pic; Sports Weekly.
1995 GF - Writing on the wall for Manton.Pic: Inside Football.
1995 GF - Blue Bliss.Pic: Inside Football.
1995 GF - Manton: Hangover cure.
1995 GF - The Blues celebrate with the cup.
1996 - Glenn Manton Trivia (01/05/96).
1996 - Glenn Manton's on a roll (15/05/96).Pic: Inside Football.
1996 - Glenn's Star Gazing (15/05/96).Pic: Inside Football.
1996 Rd 9 - Glenn Manton in starring role.
1996 Rd 12 - Player of the Round: Glenn Manton.
1996 Rd 9 - Glenn Manton in action.
1996 - Clape on Glenn Manton (21/08/96).
1996 Rd 20 - Manton & De Iulio fly to spoil Eagle player.
1996 2nd Semi Vs Bris. - Manton & Sexton fly to spoil pack.
1997 Rd 3 - Hamill & Manton spoil Standfield.
1996 Rd 9 - Glenn Manton takes a big grab.
2011 - Ex Blue Manton; Albion's playing coach.
1997 - Super Manton (21/05/97).
1997 - Manton in fine form (21/05/97).
1996 Rd 19 - Glenn Manton.
1997 - Glenn Manton: Eye catcher.
1997 Rd 8 - Man Manton.
1997 Rd 14 - Glenn Manton marks.
1997 Rd 21 - Manton spoils Lockett.
1997 Rd 22 - Glenn Manton marks.
1996 Rd 2 - Glenn Manton.
1996 Rd 4 - Glenn Manton.
1996 Rd 10 - Glenn Manton.
1996 Rd 11 - Glenn Manton.
1996 Rd 12 - Glenn Manton: Blue of the week.
1996 - Glenn Manton: Lock up your luck (July 96).
1996 Qual. Final - Silvagni & Manton spoil the pack.
1996 Semi Final - Glenn Manton.
1998 Ansett Cup - Glenn Manton.
1998 Rd 6 - Glenn Manton spoils Rocca.
1998 Rd 6 - Glenn Manton takes a one-hander.
1998 - Glenn Manton the TV Star (03/06/98).
1998 Rd 20 - Sexton & Manton tackle a Saint.
1998 Brownlow Medal - Glenn Manton.
1999 Prelim - Manton wants to bury Bombers.
1999 Prelim. - Manton's Bombers comments.
1999 Prelim. - Manton & Elliott: Right On.
1999 GF - Glenn Manton having treatment by club doctor.
1999 GF - A dejected Glenn Manton.
1999 - Glenn Manton Interview (11/09/99).
1999 - Glenn Manton.
1999 Prelim. - Mental as Anything.
2000 Rd 20 - Glenn Manton spoils.
2000 Rd 20 - Kouta blow: Manton calls for unity.
1999 Qual. Final - Manton & Lynch collide.
2000 Prelim. - Manton spoils Lloyd.
2000 Rd 8 - Glenn Manton.
2001 Ansett Cup - Glenn Manton.
2001 - Glenn Manton Interview (07/03/01).
2001 Rd 2 - Glenn Manton.
2001 - Glenn Manton article (06/06/01).
2002 - Glenn Manton article (22/5/02).
2003 Rd 3 - Manton & Rice celebrate win over Essendon.
2003 - Glen Manton snippet (21/5/03).
2003 - Glenn Manton Article (2/9/03).
2003 - Manton to enter Draft (20/11/03).
1995 Grand Final Dean Rice & Glenn Manton
1995 Grand Final Manton Joins The Half Time Melee
Glenn Manton Portrait
Manton Kicks For Goal
Glenn Manton The Author.Edited image - originally submitted by molsey.
Glenn Manton photo montage.