In 1997, the Blues brought up their second
Pre-Season / Night Series Premiership. Below we outline the stories of the games that brought us the Flag, including the Grand Final:
1997 ‘Night’ Series First Round
| Carlton |
2.3 | 15 |
5.5 | 35 |
11.6 | 72 |
13.9 | 87 |
|
Melbourne |
2.2 | 14 |
4.5 | 29 |
6.7 | 43 |
9.10 | 64 |
| Venue: VFL Park, Waverley (Night) |
Date: Wednesday February 26, 1997 |
| Result: Won by 23 points |
Umpires: A.Coates, G.Deller & S.Wenn |
Crowd: 14,043 |
| Goalkickers: Koutoufides 3, Murphy 2, Whitnall 2, Allan 1, Camporeale 1, Dean 1, Hanna 1, Manton 1 & Whitehead 1. |
| Best: Koutoufides, Murphy, Allan, Manton, Beaumont & Sexton. |
Game Review
Carlton won its opening game of the Pre-season Ansett Cup against
Melbourne. This came at a heavy price, however, with
Stephen Kernahan injuring a tendon in his hand, which would sideline him for 6 weeks and force him to miss the opening 3 games of the home and away season.
Team
| B: | 34 Ron De Iulio | 1 Stephen Silvagni | 39 Ang Christou |
| HB: | 22 Glenn Manton | 14 Michael Sexton | 5 Andrew McKay |
| C: | 29 Simon Beaumont | 7 Brett Ratten | 13 Mil Hanna |
| HF: | 32 Adrian Whitehead | 4 Stephen Kernahan | 36 Aaron Hamill |
| F: | 18 Justin Murphy | 8 Lance Whitnall | 41 Jacob Anstey |
| Ruck: | 24 Matthew Allan | 43 Anthony Koutoufides | 16 Scott Camporeale |
| Interchange: | | | |
| 30 Adam White, 35 Peter Dean, 33 Matthew Hogg, 40 Tony Bourke |
| Coach: | David Parkin |
1997 ‘Night’ Series Quarter Final
| Carlton |
2.2 | 14 |
6.6 | 42 |
10.8 | 68 |
15.13 | 103 |
|
Fremantle |
4.5 | 29 |
6.7 | 43 |
9.9 | 63 |
9.11 | 65 |
| Venue: VFL Park, Waverley (Night) |
Date: Saturday March 8, 1997 |
| Result: Won by 38 points |
Umpires: K.Nicholls, M.Prince & T.Shearer |
Crowd: 8,135 |
| Goalkickers: Beaumont 3, Clape 2, Koutoufides 2, Camporeale 1, De Iulio 1, Dean 1, Hamill 1, Murphy 1, Ratten 1, Rice 1 & Whitnall 1. |
| Best: Sexton, Christou, Allan, Hamill, De Iulio & Beaumont. |
Game Review
In its next game it defeated
Fremantle: 15.13.103 to
9.11.65.
Simon Beaumont was reported for wrestling Tony Delaney and fined the princely sum of $52 (don't ask me how that sum was arrived at).
Team 1997 'Night' Series Quarter Final
| B: | 34 Ron De Iulio | 1 Stephen Silvagni | 39 Ang Christou |
| HB: | 22 Glenn Manton | 14 Michael Sexton | 5 Andrew McKay |
| C: | 29 Simon Beaumont | 7 Brett Ratten | 13 Mil Hanna |
| HF: | 16 Scott Camporeale | 35 Peter Dean | 36 Aaron Hamill |
| F: | 18 Justin Murphy | 8 Lance Whitnall | 41 Jacob Anstey |
| Ruck: | 24 Matthew Allan | 43 Anthony Koutoufides | 21 Craig Bradley |
| Interchange: | | | |
| 30 Adam White, 23 Dean Rice, 6 Matt Clape, 40 Tony Bourke |
| Coach: | David Parkin |
1997 ‘Night’ Series Semi Final
| Carlton |
0.5 | 5 |
6.7 | 43 |
10.9 | 69 |
12.11 | 83 |
|
St.Kilda |
1.4 | 10 |
3.5 | 23 |
3.10 | 28 |
10.13 | 73 |
| Venue: VFL Park, Waverley (Night) |
Date: Saturday March 15, 1997 |
| Result: Won by 10 points |
Umpires: D.Goldspink, H.Kennedy & M.Norden |
Crowd: 25,940 |
| Goalkickers: Murphy 3, Hamill 2, Rice 2, Allan 1, Beaumont 1, Camporeale 1, Dean 1 & Hogg 1. |
| Best: Ratten, Sexton, Christou, Koutoufides, Bradley & Murphy. |
Game Review
It then defeated reigning champions
St Kilda 12.11.83 to
10.13.73 to advance to the final. This would also come at a cost, with young ruckman
Tony Bourke rupturing his spleen, which would force him to miss the entire season. In addition,
Simon Beaumont was reported for kicking Austinn Jones and suspended for 3 matches, including the opening 2 premiership matches.
Team 1997 'Night' Series Semi Final
| B: | 32 Adrian Whitehead | 1 Stephen Silvagni | 22 Glenn Manton |
| HB: | 39 Ang Christou | 14 Michael Sexton | 5 Andrew McKay |
| C: | 29 Simon Beaumont | 7 Brett Ratten | 16 Scott Camporeale |
| HF: | 6 Matt Clape | 35 Peter Dean | 23 Dean Rice |
| F: | 18 Justin Murphy | 8 Lance Whitnall | 36 Aaron Hamill |
| Ruck: | 24 Matthew Allan | 43 Anthony Koutoufides | 21 Craig Bradley |
| Interchange: | | | |
| 33 Matthew Hogg, 30 Adam White, 40 Tony Bourke, 2 Greg Williams |
| Coach: | David Parkin |
The 1997 Ansett Cup ‘Night Preseason’ Grand Final
| Carlton | 2.1 | 13 | 6.6 | 42 | 10.8 | 68 | 14.13 | 97 | | Geelong | 0.3 | 3 | 1.5 | 11 | 3.8 | 26 | 5.10 | 40 |
| Venue: MCG (Night) |
| Date: Friday March 21, 1997 | Result: Win by 57 points |
| Umpires: G.Dore, M.Nash & B.Sheehan | Crowd: 74,786 |
| Goalkickers: J.Murphy 4, M.Clape 2, A.Hamill 2, L.Whitnall 2, A.Koutoufides 1, S.Camporeale 1, C.Bradley 1 & G.Williams 1. |
| Best: C.Bradley (Michael Tuck Medal), J.Murphy, M.Clape, A.Koutoufides, S.Camporeale, G.Williams, M.Sexton, A.Christou, B.Ratten, A.Whitehead & M.Allan. |
| Reports: Nil |
| Injuries: M.Hogg (ankle). |
Game Review
This was a rematch of the 1995 Premiership, with another ruthless demolition of Geelong.
Craig Bradley was best afield and was awarded the
Michael Tuck Medal.
Images from the big night can be found
here.
1997 Ansett Cup 'Night Preseason' Premiership Team
Links
Season 1997 |
Pre-Season Night Series Games Menu |
1998 Pre-Season
