Umpire: Jim Smith

Goalkickers: M.Gotz 2, G.Topping 2, J.Baquie 1, A.Barningham 1, V.Gardiner 1, J.Wells 1.

Game Review

Compared to the previous year’s Grand Final line-up, Carlton’s team for this first match of 1910 had had its heart ripped out. During the off-season, political ructions had triggered a mass exodus of players from Princes Park, including Premiership stars Fred Jinks, Charlie Hammond, 'Mallee' Johnson, Harvey Kelly, Frank Caine, Les Beck, and Ted Kennedy. And to make matters worse, champion centreman Rod McGregor was ruled unfit for selection.

Therefore, when captain-coach Fred Elliott sat down to select a team for this home game against Collingwood, he called on three first-gamers in Tom Clancy, Andy McDonald and Andy O'Donnell as well as his star recruit; ex-St Kilda captain Jack Wells, in a raft of seven changes. To be fair, the Magpies were injury-hit too, but still heavily favoured to win.

The visitors won the toss and kicked with a strong breeze in the first quarter, which turned into a battle of defences. Neither side could break the shackles until the second term, when Elliott and Wells exerted their authority in the ruck duels and Carlton slammed on six goals to Collingwood’s two in an open and entertaining contest. At half time, the home side led by 24 points and was showing all the cohesiveness Carlton was renowned for.

Collingwood came out hard with the breeze in the third term, to be met by a resolute Blues defence. Norman Clark, Billy Payne and Doug Gillespie at full-back (where he held a tight rein on Collingwood’s champion Dick Lee) restricted the Maggies to 2.1 for the quarter, and at the last break, Carlton still held a 14-point advantage.

All seven of Carlton’s inclusions had played well to this point – particularly the three debutants – and they went right on with it in the final term, adding 3.3 to 1.0 to run out emphatic winners by 28 points in an impressive start to another season for the Navy Blues.

At the end of this round Carlton were in 3rd spot on the ladder with a percentage of 180.0.

Team

Image: Punch May 05

Changes

In: D.Harris, V.Gardiner, J.Wells, T.Clancy, A.Barningham, A.McDonald, A.O'Donnell
Out: T.Kennedy, H.Kelly, C. Hammond, G.Johnson, F.Caine, F.Jinks, R.McGregor (inj.)

Milestones

Debuts: Tom Clancy, Andy McDonald and Andy O'Donnell
Debut (Carlton): Jack Wells