Career : 1904
Debut : Round 2, 1904 vs South Melbourne, aged 20 years, 249 days
Carlton Player No. 165
Games : 8
Goals : 11
Last Game : Round 17, 1904 vs St Kilda, aged 20 years, 361 days
Height : 173 cm (5 ft. 8 in.)
Weight : 71 kg (11 stone, 2 lbs.)
DOB : 8 September, 1883 North Melbourne
Percival Cyril Pitt
Pitt was a lightly-framed, quick-leading forward who came to Princes Park from VFA club Essendon Town in 1904, and kicked a respectable 11 goals in eight senior matches. He launched his VFL career at full-forward against South Melbourne at the Lake Oval in May, 1904, when he notched two of Carlton’s five goals with neat place-kicks, and helped the Blues to a 17-point win.
A fortnight later, Percy had Blues’ supporters licking their lips when he booted four majors in Carlton’s gutsy 5-point victory over Collingwood at Victoria Park, but thereafter his form tapered off, and he averaged only one goal a game in his last five matches.
Pitt’s last game was a joyous occasion for the Blues. A thumping 58-point win over St Kilda at Princes Park in round 17 cemented Carlton’s second place on the ladder, and put the club in with a real chance at Premiership glory. Pitt wasn’t selected for either of Carlton’s finals however, and bid goodbye to VFL football after the Blues fell to Fitzroy in our very first Grand Final appearance.
In 1905 he was granted a permit to Northcote then in 1906 granted a permit to North Melbourne.
A decade later, Percy was married, and had settled in Parkville when World War 1 began. Although he was a city dweller, employed as a clerk, he was accepted into the 4th. Australian Light Horse Regiment (26 - 32 Reinforcements) in May 1917. He embarked on the HMAT Kyarra A55 from Melbourne September 07 1917 and served in the Middle East right through to the end of the war in November, 1918. Tpr. Percy Pitt 3793 returned to Melbourne on June 15 1919.
Percy Pitt arrived back home, and lived a long and apparently contented life until his passing at the age of 85 in June, 1968.
Footnote
Pitt was member of the Carlton team that played Norwood on the Adelaide Oval on October 01 1904.Percy Pitt scored 2 goals in Carlton's 23 point victory over the reining S. A. premiers.
The Leader June 11 p14 1904;
"A smart young recruit whio kicked three goals in rapid succession, had much to do with the Carlton Football Club's victory over Collingwood on Saturday. "That's a likely sort of youngster your've got hold of forward there," remarked a veteran to one of the club's officials; "What do you call him?" "Pitt' replied the committeeman. "Well," returned the old player, "he's pretty good, and don't let them spoil him. You tell Pitt never play to the gallery."
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