Most Proficient Bench Warmer

In 1930 The League introduced the 19th man to the competition. This 19th man was able to replace a player during the course of the match and the replaced player could not re-enter the field, before this if a player was injured and left the field he couldn’t be replaced and the side played ‘one short’. Carlton’s first 19th man was Jim Crowe in their Round 1, 1930 win against Essendon at Windy Hill. Back then Carlton like most League clubs didn’t pay match payments to the 19th man if he didn’t play and that game didn’t count toward their senior record, (but has since fallen in line with the current League records that includes these games, when the player didn’t enter the playing field during the game). Soon players found ways to be injured in the last moments of the game to enable their mate to replace them and thus be paid. Carlton’s last ‘solo’ 19th man was Charlie McInnes in the Grand Final, 1945 victory against South Melbourne in the “Blood Bath” premiership at Princes Park.

In 1946 the League introduced the 20th man and the next change occurred in 1978 when the 19th and 20th men became interchange players, with the replace players being able to re-enter to field of play, as long as they went thru the interchange ‘gate’ and only 18 players from their side were on the ground at anytime. In 1994 a third player was added to ‘This Bench’ and in 1998 a fourth player was added. Between 2011and 2015 the interchange bench was changed to 3 interchange players and a one substitude player (in a green vest), the substitude player can replace any player and that player who has been replaced can't go back on the ground and must wear a red vest. In 2016 it reverted back to a 4 interchange players and no substitude.

Between the 2011 and 2015 seasons to see which Carlton Player was the substitude the most times click here.