| Venue: Lakeside Oval | Date: Saturday April 17, 1954 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Result: Loss by 5 points | Umpire: Barbour | Crowd: 38,000 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Goalkickers: N.O'Brien 3, J.Howell 2, V.English 1, G.Ilsley 1, G.Kerr 1, J.Mills 1, B.Milroy 1, M.Wenn 1. | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Reports: | Injuries: Comben, bruised back. | |||||||||||||||||||
Game Review
In one of the most exciting games seen for years, the lead changed three times towards the end of the game. Eventually South were out to an 11 point lead and looked home. But Max Wenn shot the ball out to Vin English who goaled and with a minute left reduced the lead to 5 points. There was time for one more Carlton onslaught and Doug Beasy flashed in from a flank and had a shot for goal but the ball dropped 20 yards short. Jack Howell and newcomer Noel O'Brien were there, and both flew for the mark unfortunately spoiling each other. The ball rebounded from their hands and was taken away by South.
The Blues best quarter was the second. With their long kicking game in full flow they smashed the Southerner's defence and scored 5 goals, 4 of them from moving the ball through the centre of the ground. "With long raking drop kicks the Blues hammered away with solid frontal assaults."
It was the debut of Noel O'Brien at full forward. For the first time in years the Bues had a spearhead who could kick straight. O'Brien played like a League veteran and cooly slotted a goal from a very difficult angle to give the Blues a 20 point lead at half time.
Carlton lead by 4 goals during the third term, but South had wasted their opportunities with scoring a paltry 4.13. The home side started to hit the target and they took the lead 17 minutes into the final quarter.
Best
Mills, Warburton, Comben, Beasy, Howell, Brown, Kerr.Team
| B: | 15 Bruce Comben | 6 Alex Boyle | 14 Vin English |
| HB: | 19 Denis Zeunert | 16 John Brown | 10 John James |
| C: | 28 Graham Gilchrist | 7 Keith Warburton | 34 A. Max Thomas |
| HF: | 17 Doug Beasy | 18 Max Wenn | 27 George Ilsley |
| F: | 2 Bill Milroy | 26 Noel O'Brien | 9 Jack Mills |
| Ruck: | 13 Jack Howell (vc) | 1 Ken Hands (c) | 35 Graham Kerr |
| Res: | 25 George Ferry | 23 John Chick | |
| Coach: | Percy Bentley | ||
Milestones:
Debut: Denis Zeunert, Noel O'Brien, Graham Kerr, George Ilsley1954 | Round 2