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| Venue: | Princes Park | ||||||||||||||||||
| Date: | Saturday 2 September 1939 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Result: | Win by 56 points | ||||||||||||||||||
| Crowd: | 12,000 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Goalkickers: | K.Baxter 9.5, R.Cooper 2.0, J.Wrout 1.4, P.Schmidt 1.3, M.Crisp 1.1, J.Hale 1.1, F.Gill 1.0, J.Skinner 0.3, B.Green 0.2, B.Diggins 0.1, J.Park 0.1, Rushed 0.1. | ||||||||||||||||||
| Reports: | |||||||||||||||||||
| Umpire: | Bride | ||||||||||||||||||
| Injuries: | J.Hale (leg) replaced by C.McInnes last quarter | ||||||||||||||||||
| Best: | R. Cooper (BOG), F.Anderson, B.Green, B.Chitty, F.Gill, K.Baxter, J.Hale, D.McIntyre | ||||||||||||||||||
Game Review 
A ruthless Carlton hammered Essendon by 56 points in the final round of the season at Princes Park. Ken Baxter matched the 9 goals kicked by club legend Harry Vallence to share the Carlton Goals Record against the Bombers. but in the end it was all in vain.Blues through Paul Schmidt registered the first goal within seconds of the start. This was brought about by Brighton Diggins' long punt and Paul Schmidt received an excellent hand pass from Jack Hale. But the visitors were stung into action and soon answered with three goals. The Blues tried to bottle up the game on the outer wing, but Essendon aided by the strong breeze persisted. Bob Chitty, Jim Francis and Frank Gill and a winning centre line turned many attacking moves. Despite the wind the Blues were the better team and goals to Ken Baxter and Ron Cooper evened the scores at the first break, 3.5 apiece.
Carlton now with the wind bombarded the goals, six shots within minutes of the restart registered only behinds. The forwards were goal hungry and not looking for team mates in better positions. Frank Gill was still dominating across the half back line. Ron Cooper on the forward line got the ball to Jack Hale and his clever left foot snap went through for a goal. Ron Cooper then bought up the Blues' sixth goal. Defender Frank Anderson playing to the conditions, kept driving the ball deep into attack with his long kicking. His other team mates were still messing around and wasting opportunities in attack. Then Ken Baxter hit a purple patch and rammed on four quick goals to lead 9.13 to 3.6 at half time.
Essendon made some positional changes at half time and they soon scored two goals. In defence Bob Chitty three times in succession saved the situation for the Blues. The Dons continued to attack and scored goals. The clouds darkened and rain threatened. Players threw themselves in the fray. Defender Don McIntyre stood out during this term with his cool, effective play. Ken Baxter scored his sixth goal and only Carlton goal for the quarter. The Blues led 10.16 to 8.11
Once again with the wind the Blues wasted opportunities and scored a string of behinds. Creswell 'Mickey' Crisp goaled, and this was soon followed by one from Jack Wrout to seal the game. Now the Blues dominated and four goals were added, three to Ken Baxter to bring his tally to nine for the day and the other goal to Ron Cooper.
A disappointing season for the reining premiers Carlton. It had hit it's peak at the wrong time of the year and had just missed the final four by one game and having a higher percentage than fourth placed St.Kilda.
The Blues wound up in fifth place with a percentage of 123.1, four points behind St Kilda.
Footnote
This round would be the last peace time round until August 1945. Tomorrow, Australia will declare war on Nazi Germany.Team
| B: | 2 Don McIntyre | 21 Frank Gill | 26 Jim Park |
| HB: | 6 Bob Chitty | 10 Jim Francis (vc) | 1 Frank Anderson |
| C: | 7 Jack Carney | 12 Creswell 'Mickey' Crisp | 32 Bob Green |
| HF: | 8 Jack Skinner | 28 Jack Wrout | 19 Ron Cooper |
| F: | 17 Harry Hollingshead | 4 Ken Baxter | 23 Paul Schmidt |
| Ruck: | 5 Brighton Diggins (cc) | 14 Rod McLean | 11 Jack Hale |
| 19th Man: | 31 Charlie McInnes | ||
| Coach: | Brighton Diggins | ||
Round 17 | 1940