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ROUND 15

It has already been well-documented that the Carlton Football Club’s first few years in the VFL were desperately unsuccessful – typified by Essendon’s big victory in the very first round 15 game between the two clubs in 1898. Within five years of that debacle however, our fortunes had turned completely, and it would take exactly 100 more seasons before an opponent was again able to muster the skill and resolution to beat us by more than ten goals at this stage of the year. Over that same time, the Old Dark Navy Blues hammered opposition teams by sixty points (or more) on ten occasions, with some of the greatest forwards the game has seen literally gorging on goals. In addition, there have been milestone matches galore in this round, more notable debuts, and as usual, the odd sensational incident for good measure.

1898 - A MISERABLE START
Carlton’s debut round 15 game was played at the East Melbourne Cricket Ground against Essendon on August 27, 1898. The Same Old were totally dominant in general play, but their wayward shooting for goal saw their final score at 9.21 (75). Carlton on the other hand, managed an abysmal 1.2 (8), with follower Jim Pender kicking his side’s only major in the second quarter. That awful result still stands today as Carlton’s lowest-ever score against the mob from Windy Hill.

1911 - VIN GARDINER’S WAYWARD 10
Within a decade of that embarrassment, the Navy Blues had been transformed from a mediocre team into the powerhouse of the competition – primarily due to the discipline and vision of the club’s first coach, Jack Worrall. After winning landmark triple VFL Premierships in 1906, ’07 and ’08, and losing the next two Grand Finals by a combined total of 16 points, the Blues were sitting solidly in third place on the ladder and gunning for another chance at finals glory when round 15, 1911 rolled around. Our opponent on that afternoon at Princes Park was ninth-placed St Kilda, and Carlton showed the Saints little mercy. Winning all over the field from the first bounce, the Blueboys surged into attack time and again. Chief beneficiary of Carlton’s dominance was our lively full-forward Vin Gardiner, whose sure marking and elusiveness at ground level brought him a staggering 21 shots at goal – but Vin’s customary accuracy mysteriously deserted him from the start, and he finished the match with a personal tally of 10 goals, 11 behinds as Carlton won by 114 points. This was the first time ever that a Carlton player had booted double figures, and it stood as a club record in this round for 18 seasons.

1929 – SOAPY SLAUGHTERS THE SWANS
The player who eventually topped Vin Gardiner’s great effort was Harry ‘Soapy’ Vallence – one of Carlton’s legendary figures, and a champion whose name appears time and again in this series of round reviews. Playing his 50th game for Carlton in round 15, 1929 at Princes Park, Soapy booted a magnificent 11 goals at full-forward against South Melbourne, helping the Blues win a high-standard match by 38 points. Nine seasons later (at the age of 33 years, 63 days) Vallence celebrated his 199th game as a Bluebagger by repeating the dose, and steering through another 11 great goals while his team thumped Fitzroy by 50 points at the Brunswick St. Oval.

1939 – KENNY, PAUL AND MICKEY FLAIL FOOTSCRAY
Carlton was sitting one win out of the top four, but with the second-best percentage in the competition when we hosted last-placed Footscray at Princes Park in round 15, 1939. Launching a last-ditch assault on a finals place, the Blues slaughtered the struggling Bulldogs by 88 points, with forwards Ken Baxter and Paul Schmidt kicking 8 goals each, and clever rover Creswell 'Mickey' Crisp helping himself to another five. Between them, this lethal trio contributed 21 of Carlton’s 24 goals for the match.
Indeed, round 15 has proven to be a rich hunting ground for Carlton spearheads ever since Vin Gardiner set the ball rolling in 1911. Among the many other big bags kicked by Bluebaggers down through the years, Horrie Clover got eight against Melbourne in 1920, smart rover Martin Cross notched another eight against South Melbourne in 1961, and controversial forward Brendan Fevola had a day out when he booted nine in Carlton’s 20-point victory over Richmond in 2009. Paul Schmidt helped his average when he notched a separate 7-goal haul against North Melbourne in 1943, and Matt Clape was at his dangerous best when he booted seven against Adelaide in 1995. But it is doubtful if there has ever been a more electrifying seven goals scored than those kicked by Carlton’s Jim Baird against Fitzroy in round 15, 1942.

1942 – JIM BAIRD MONSTERS THE MAROONS
The stakes were high when the Blues and the Maroons met at the Brunswick Street Oval on that Saturday afternoon in August, 1942. Sitting fifth and sixth respectively on the ladder, a loss by either side would have ended their finals aspirations, and the game was played accordingly. Throughout the first half, it was a dour, defensive struggle, and at half-time Fitzroy led 3.9 (27) to Carlton 3.6 (24). With his side lacking spark, Carlton coach Percy Bentley rang the changes; sending his captain Bob Chitty from full-forward to centre half-back, and versatile defender Jim Baird from defence into the attacking goal-square. Baird gave the Blues a target, and booted two of Carlton's four goals for the quarter – but the Maroons got on top all over the field and, aided by a strong breeze, added 7.10 to lead by exactly five goals at the last change of ends. A worried Bentley rallied his Blueboys, demanding more direct football to maximise the wind advantage, then watched on as his team grabbed the game by the scruff of the neck. With Chitty impassable across half-back, and the likes of Ron Cooper and Lance Collins pumping the ball forward, ‘Bones’ Baird began marking everything that came his way. He kicked another five spectacular goals for the term - finishing the match with seven - as the Blues came roaring back and vanquished a stunned Fitzroy by 17 points; 17.13 (115) to 13.20 (98). Popular 1938 Premiership defender Don McIntyre played his 100th and last match for the Blues that afternoon, ending his career in unforgettable circumstances.

1961 – THE NICHOLLS-BOYD INCIDENT
By 1961, John Nicholls was firmly established among the games’ elite ruckmen. Carlton’s Best and Fairest in 1959, he had already twice worn the Big Vee in interstate matches. Rival coaches planned long and hard to limit his influence, and frustrated opponents sometimes resorted to mindless aggression against him. One such incident occurred at Princes Park in Rround 15, 1961, while Carlton was busy thrashing South Melbourne. Earlier that year, rugged Swans ruckman Ken Boyd had been suspended for eight matches when he was found guilty of striking both Nicholls and Blues rover John Heathcote during a spiteful round four game at the Lake Oval.
After serving his sentence, Boyd was immediately included in the Swans’ team for the return match against the Blues – a decision that made fireworks inevitable. Sure enough, it wasn’t long after the first bounce before the pair clashed again, and Boyd was sent reeling out of the pack. When he got up, he ran to Nicholls from behind, and king-hit him – leaving the Blues colossus dazed and bleeding. Apparently, no umpire saw what happened, and therefore no reports were made. But some spectators did see the incident, including a reporter from the Sporting Globe newspaper. The scribe sought out Boyd for a candid interview after the match, and the aggressive Swan surprised when he said; ‘We went for a throw-in. He (Nicholls) went up and drove his boots right into the middle of my stomach. I was in excruciating agony. When I got up I went straight back and hit him as hard as I could. That was behind the play.’

Nicholls vehemently denied Boyd’s accusations, saying that he never used his legs or knees in general ruck play or at centre bounces for anything else but protection. Amidst claim and counter-claim, the VFL stepped in, and, armed with Boyd’s very public confession, suspended him again - his time for 12 games. Boyd’s tempestuous career ended right there. Over all, he had played 60 league matches, and missed another 30 through suspension.

1977 – STARS ON DEBUT
Somewhat surprisingly, no Carlton player of note made their senior debut in round 15 until 1977, when future Premiership wingman Michael Young joined the Blues from Clarence, Tasmania. Former Melbourne captain Greg Wells swapped clubs and played first up against his former team in this round in 1980, and two years later, another Premiership star in Paul Meldrum also made his debut against the Demons at this stage of the season. They were followed in turn by Simon Minton-Connell (1989), Matthew Allan (1994) and Aaron Hamill (1996).

1992 – A MULTITUDE OF MILESTONES
Our game’s statisticians were busy prior to Carlton’s clash with Richmond at Waverley in round 15, 1992, because no fewer than five Blues achieved important career milestones in that game. Club captain Stephen Kernahan, and vice-captain Craig Bradley both registered their 150th games for the Blues; champion centreman Greg Williams brought up AFL match number 150, and crowd favourite Mil Hanna made it to game number 100. As well, former Melbourne goal-sneak Brent Heaver wore guernsey number 55 in his first senior outing for his new club – but Richmond spoiled the celebrations by holding out the Blues by 3 points in a grandstand finish.
Among a galaxy of other Carlton stars who have celebrated milestones in round 15, Hall of Famer Rod Ashman played his 200th game in a good win over Collingwood in 1984. Ken Baxter (1950) and Val Perovic (1983) both brought up their 150th appearance, while Wayne Harmes (1983), Peter Dean (1990) Anthony Koutoufides (1997) and Heath Scotland (2008) all posted their 100th senior game in this round.