Game Review

"Carlton captain Ken Hands, sat in the dressing room after the game at Fitzroy on Saturday, dabbed gingerly at his swelling right eye and admitted: "It got a bit willing!" Willing? Take the prize, Mr. H., for the season's biggest understatement. Five minutes before, Hands had been lying semi-conscious on the ground while play milled past him. Dropped in a fierce ruck encounter, he finished the game in a blackout."

The Blues had set up the win before half time with fast, dashing play which left the 'Roys (who were without their State Reps) goal-less. Fitzroy clogged up the game in the third and outscored the Blues by 2 goals.

"Bush-fire paced half-forward flanker Doug Beasy burned up the Fitzroy defence, his attacking flame fanned by a brisk draught of rebounds from Denis Zeunert, invincible on the half-back flank. At times Zeunert seemed to have a Svengali-like influence over the Fitzroy forwards and rucks." Don Nicholls beat the highly fancied Don Furness in the centre and acted like a spring-board into Carlton's forward line. Kevin Clarke worked overtime in the ruck.

The final quarter resembled a wrestling match with players "punching, tripping, and stiff arm jolting" 50 yards behind play. The umpire seemed oblivious to the fighting.

Carlton coach Jim Francis

"It was a very hard slogging game, but we had the upper hand while we were able to keep the play open. Our centre line won and gave us lots of drive while our ruck did a good job against Fitzroy's heavy brigade. Kev Clarke won a big share of the hit outs and Ken Hands did much useful work. I was pleased at the way Bill Milroy came into the game in the second half, but it is obvious we miss Crowe's fast leading in the forward zone."

Best; Beasy, Zeunert, Nicholls, Ferry, Hands, Clarke.
Scorers; Hamilton 4.3, Beasy 3.1, Donaldson 1.1, Clarke 1.1, Nicholls 1.1, Garra 1.1, Mills 1.1, Milroy 1.0, Hands 0.1, Kerr 0.1.

Team

Milestone:

100 Games: Laurie Kerr