Other teams such as the Eagles, the Crows and North Melbourne were often suggested as the ‘Teams of the 1990’s’, but it must be said that the Blues provided plenty of highlights themselves. Although we could not match the 2 Premierships of each of the previously mentioned teams, the Blues would absolutely dominate the competition to win our 16th flag in 1995, make two other Grand Finals in 1993 and 1999 and play finals also in 1994 and 1996. But behind the obvious climactic ends to these seasons, stand many great Home & Away matches worthy of memory and celebration as key building blocks to Carlton’s successes in this era.


Round 13, 1990 – Carlton v Geelong
Carlton by 19 points in an amazing come from behind win against Geelong. Kernahan kicked 7 and Sartori 4.</b>
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Geelong had all the play in the first half, and it seemed Carlton couldn't find a way to contain Paul Couch and the rest of their midfield. We trailed at half-time by a seemingly uncatchable 41 points.

At the break, Coach Alex Jesaulenko swung Kernahan to full-forward, and SOS to centre half-forward. We were kicking to the Lygon St end of Princes Park in the third term. Silvagni got the ball rolling with a beautiful smother on the members' wing which seemed to lift the crowd, and the team. Kernahan then went berserk, kicking four goals for the term. 'SOS' kicked a long bomb that stayed in the air forever. The Blues had kicked 9 goals to 1 in the third quarter, and would take a 7 point lead to the final term. Now kicking to the Heatley end, some handy marks to Peter Sartori ensured a 19 point win. Special mention to Steve Da Rui who kept Ablett to 4 goals.


Round 2, 1991 – Carlton v Adelaide
Carlton defeated the Crows by 4 goals after they had annihilated Hawthorn the week before</b>

Carlton fans, like fans of other Victorian Clubs, had probably sat back the week before to watch the new Adelaide team take on the then mighty Hawks. But what we didnt expect was this upstart South Australian outfit to dismantle Hawthorn in front of a national audience. And Carlton was going to play them in Round 2.

But the Parkin-led Blues were controlled and systematic in a strong second half to take the game and quell the South Australian force.


Round 14, 1991 – Carlton v West Coast
Carlton by 3 points against the previously unbeaten and dominant Eagles</b>

The Blues pulled out to a 4 goal lead at half time, but the surging Eagles (who would play in 3 of the next 4 Grand Finals) would come at the Blues. Despite the loss of Silvagni with a season-ending knee injury and 5 goals to the Eagles in the last, to our 3, the Blues would win in a boilover.

The game is also remembered for 2 other reasons - Darren Tarczon charged off the bench and almost split Guy McKenna in two with one of the best shirt-fronts of all time, and Simon Minton-Connell kicked the winning goal from a tight angle in front of the Robert Heatley Stand late in the game.
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Round 6, 1992 – Carlton v St Kilda
Carlton by 8 points as Dorra plugs the St Kilda forward line</b>

St Kilda and Sydney Legend Tony Lockett was running amok at Princes Park, booting 6 goals in the first half to give the Saints a 24 point margin. But two Carlton Champs would make their mark in the second; firstly, Jon Dorotich was swung on to the Big Man, preventing Lockett from scoring another major, and Luke O'Sullivan would kick 4 goals in a heart-pounding spree to take the lead and deliver triumph to the Mighty Blues.


Round 8, 1992 – Carlton v Collingwood
Carlton by 33 points in Collingwood’s Centenary Match. Kernahan kicked 7 and Silvagni 4</b>

Not remembered as a close match, or actually a great match – in fact this was one of those matches with a similar ascendancy of one team throughout actually diminishing the potential climax at the end – this match stands as a great party-ending result to a cherished and heavily pumped up moment for Carlton’s great foe, Collingwood. The new Great Southern Stand was being exposed to the world and over 82000 were there to celebrate Collingwood’s centenary.

But it was not to be. The Blues started pulling away in the second, clinching the game in the third and getting comfortable in the last, on the back of Kernahan’s 7 and Silvagni’s 4 majors.
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Round 3, 1993 – Carlton v Hawthorn
Carlton by 2 points after a big third quarter comeback.</b>

The week after sprawling a kick out of bounds on the full to fail to take the lead post siren against the Bombers, resulting in the highest draw of all time, Captain Stephen Kernahan quickly took his kick after a mark about 50 metres out. Whether he didn’t want to think about the kick the week before, or he was just aware that time was running out in what was a very long last quarter, Kernahan’s long goal took the lead for the Blues. In a nerve-wracking final 2 minutes, the Blues kept the lead and won the match.


Round 14, 1993 – Carlton v WCE
Carlton by 1 point after Mainwaring’s shot on goal after the siren hit the post</b>

The Blues and the Eagles played in many wonderful games in the 1990’s, but none was better than this beauty at Subiaco, particularly against the reigning Premiers. The Eagles took the honours in the first half but a 5 goal to 2 third quarter put the Blues in the lead on the back of Earl Spalding and a young Stephen Oliver booting 5 goals. Up by 2 points and a minute to go, first-year Blue Andrew McKay was penalized for a deliberate out of bounds on the full and Chris Mainwaring, the Champion Eagle Wingman was given a shot on goal. His banana hit the goal post, giving Carlton a magnificent away from home victory by 1 point.

Part 2 - 1994 to 1995
Round 22, 1994 - Carlton v WCE
Carlton annihilate the ladder leading Eagles
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Absolutely awesome - the Blues demolished the team that had headed the ladder all year. Carlton overpowered the Eagles in both midfield and defence, and had the key forward and support cast to pull away with the win.

Led brilliantly by Greg Williams with an astonishing 45 possessions, including 28 handballs, and the regular midfield cast of Brett Ratten (26 possessions), Barry Mitchell (27 possessions) and Craig Bradley (29 possessions), the Blues strangled the Eagles and earned almost 100 more touches. The Captain’s 6 goals were pivotal, but Tom Alvin’s 3 and Mitchell’s 2 were also important as the Blues turned the season on it’s ear with only a few rounds to go.

The best of the goals was a banana from 50 metres by Craig Bradley in the first quarter. After his great run, and a shepherd by Andrew McKay against Peter Matera, the ball just beat a desperate Glen Jakovich lunge.


Round 7, 1995 - Carlton v Essendon
Carlton may have been missing some stars, but we destroyed the Bombers in a final quarter onslaught...</b>

The Blues would take on our mid 1990’s nemesis in the Bombers without Captain Stephen Kernahan, 1994 Brownlow Medallist Greg Williams and 1995 surprise packet Brad Pearce yet come away with the points. Essendon fans would remind us all game of the 1993 Grand Final, but the Blues were out to shape a new chapter of our history in 1995 - a massive 5 goal 5 last quarter to almost double our score for the game was a testament to that.

Carlton welcomed back Dean Rice for his first game of the year after a season-ending knee injury in 1994 – his only game for Carlton in his debut year. Ricey would be more than useful with 2 goals in a tight, behind-dominated game.

In midfield, the Blues were without Williams as bove but Brett Ratten and Fraser Brown would carry the load, with 28 and 25 possessions respectively.

Carlton would stay on top of the ladder on percentage from the rampaging Richmond.


Round 10, 1995 - Carlton v Hawthorn
Carlton return to form to trounce Hawthorn

In recent weeks Carlton had suffered 2 embarrassing defeats at the hands of St Kilda and Sydney. In an era of much media talk about us being 'too old, too slow', water-cooler talk inevitably focussed on the loss and opposition fans were already discounting our chances. We'd been good in '93 and '94, but would not be there for the flag.

Talk about turnarounds! Welcoming back Stephen Kernahan, the forward line fired with a 3 prong attack kicking 5 each including Mil Hanna from the wing and Brad Pearce from the forward pocket.

Best on Ground would go to Barry Mitchell with 37 possessions and 2 cracker goals, with an able support cast in midfield comprising Kouta, Ang Christou and Brett Ratten.

The Blues were back on track and hungry for success.


Round 12, 1995 - Carlton v Geelong
Carlton defeat the Cats by 3 points in a brilliant game</b>
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This game was a modern day classic and is generally accepted by Carlton fans as one of the best home & away games of the last 20 years, if not longer.

In one of the best and tightest games for the year, and in a season where Carlton were dominant but the Cats had confidence against us, the Blues narrowly held out a strong Cats outfit on the back of a 3 goal to nil third quarter. Gary Ablett would kick 4 goals 5 and arguably have the better of ‘SOS’ but not be able to convert. Their midfield, led by Gary ‘Buddha’ Hocking and the gatherer Liam Pickering would hold their own against Greg Williams, Brett Ratten and Craig Bradley (who would win the BOG) but the Blues would prevail on the back of yet another great forward performance by Brad Pearce. Pearce would kick 4 goals in this match, and play a pivotal role in the next rematch between these two teams – the 1995 Grand Final.


Round 14, 1995 - Carlton v Richmond
Carlton defeat Richmond by 30 points in this battle reminiscent of the 1970's</b>

The Richmond Bandwagon rolled into this Round 14 Top-of-the Table Clash and brought over 84,000 fans with it as a sign of the latent power of these 2 Clubs. Richmond were having a stellar year, their best for 15 years (and remains their best to 2008) on the back of a strong midfield comprising Wayne Campbell, Matthew Knights, Paul Broderick and former Blue Chris Bond.

But the Blues would have their measure in this cracker of a game. With only points in it at three quarter time, the Blues blew the Tigers away with a 5 goal to nothing last term to take top spot on the AFL ladder.

Key players included the emerged – no more emerging to talk about – Anthony Koutoufides with 34 possessions and 10 marks in midfield, Brad Pearce with 4 goals 4 and the Captain, Stephen Kernahan with 6. A superb support cast of Andrew McKay, Craig Bradley and Adrian Whitehead helped the Blues through.


Round 21, 1995 - Carlton v WCE
Carlton defeat the Eagles in yet another 1 point classic</b>

What a game! The expectation was high all week – this year’s trendsetters versus last year’s Premiers. This year’s clear best team versus a team that you could never, ever, write-off. The Eagles were a formidable team in the early to mid 1990’s, with a hard, tight midfield and defence and explosive Peter Matera on the wing. There was no way you could miss this game, it was going to have everything.

And it did. Dean Rice bobbing up with 3 key goals. Earl Spalding delivering the perfectly timed (and legal) shirt-front on Eagle Champion Guy McKenna to demonstrate his commitment to the game.

Key players were Rice, Scott Camporeale in one of his best games in his debut year with 19 stats and 2 goals, Anthony Koutoufides and Mil Hanna. Adrian Whitehead had limited game time but kicked 2 timely goals for the Blues from the forward pocket. In a game where their defence kept us close, and our team was limited to less than 300 stats for a rare time in the season, the Blues were hard and fierce and came away with the win.

Part 3 - 1996 to 1999

Round 5, 1996 - Carlton v West Coast
Yet another 1 point win over the Eagles in the 1990's, thanks to Kouta's domination and a rushed behind that was awarded a goal</b>
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In 1996, Carlton were still on something of a high after the 1995 Grand Final win, and although only 2 weeks earlier the Dockers had ended our glorious run of wins, we were still a top-notch team. In fact, we would still come away with the points in this game, despite being without Stephen Kernahan, Peter Dean, Fraser Brown, Mil Hanna and Dean Rice, while Brad Pearce, who had just returned after 2 weeks out with a hamstring injury would suffer a further injury, this time to his hand and not have a great impact.

The Blues would have to scrounge for goals in a tight game where both defences prevailed – this week fittingly through West Australians Earl Spalding, playing his 200th game, with 3 and Matt Clape with 2. But it was perhaps a goal claimed by Greg Williams that would be the difference in this match – despite it coming from the feet of Eagle Tony Evans. Evans soccered the ball through the Blues' goals at the Lygon St End of the ground to try to concede a behind, only for Williams to raise his hands to try to claim it as a goal, to which the Goal Umpire agreed. In a game of tight margins, this event could have been the difference, though it would be one of a number of questionable umpiring decisions.

Throughout, the star was Anthony Koutoufides, who was everywhere and would dominate the game with the very impressive statistics of 26 kicks, 18 marks and 9 handballs. On two occasions late in the game, he would fly high in defence to repel desperate Eagle attacks which would save the game.


Round 16, 1998 - Carlton v Adelaide
Carlton come from behind to defeat the reigning Premiers</b>

After being smashed the week before by Richmond, the Blues were huge underdogs against the rating premiers on their home turf. The game started as predicted with the Crows getting a jump on the Blues and had a lead of 25pts at quarter time. The start of the second term produced a different looking Blues outfit, which saw the younger core of key players in Allan, Whitnall and Beaumont all step up and snatch the win. Brett Ratten's goal on the boundary line in the pocket was among one of the goals of the year.
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Round 3, 1999 - Carlton v the Bulldogs
Carlton win a high-scoring, all wrestling affair in Brown's 150th game</b>

A 7 goal third quarter maintained the ascendancy for the Blues but it was one of those games where the Dogs kept on coming, and Carlton kept on fighting. In the background a young Brett Backwell would kick 3 and win the Norwwich Rising Star, yet within a year or two would be off the list.


Round 17, 1999 - Carlton v Collingwood
Carlton trounce the Pies by 10 goals, but an unknown up forward kicks 8!</b>

Although Brendan Fevola's debut match, this game was more memorable for a performance up forward by a player better known through his career as a good defender over 1999 - 2003. And it wasn't just his future roles as a defender that made this performance surprising, it was the skill of his goals, the accuracy of his sometimes shaky left, and his demolition of Collingwood's defence including future Brisbane Premiership Full Back Mal Michael.

Simon Beaumont's 8 goals was an incredible performance, made even more amazing by the fact that all were kicked in the first half. The Blues left the forward line open for him in the second, but he failed to register another major!


As you can read, there were many magical Home & Away victories in the 1990's, and that's before we get to the finals performances of Carlton in the era. As a fan, the Blues were never far away from a highlight and it all just adds up to Carlton fans being the luckiest in the world.

The Blueseum has also compiled a list of Carlton's great Home & Away wins of other decades, which can be found via the following links: 1980's | 2000's