McPetrie

Henry James McPetrie became the first Scottish-born Carlton player when he was included in our VFL foundation team for round one, 1897. The following week, he set another benchmark by becoming the first Carlton player to kick multiple goals in the new competition.

Born in Cathcart, Scotland in 1876, Henry was brought to Australia before his second birthday (his father, Captain Alexander McPetrie was in command of the commercial ship, Ben Voirlich which took the McPetrie family from Newcastle to Port Phillip Bay). By his late teens he was a capable footballer who found his way to Princes Park from Richmond City. Prior to that, he had turned out with St Kilda in the VFA and West Beach in the St Kilda District League.

Henry was stationed on a half-forward flank when Carlton met Fitzroy on that momentous afternoon at the Brunswick St. Oval on May 8, 1897. As expected, the Blues were overwhelmed by a far more accomplished Maroons combination, in a preview of what was to unfold over the next four to five seasons.

Carlton played South Melbourne at the Lake Oval in round two. Among the Blues’ changes, McPetrie was switched into a following role, resting in a forward pocket. Carlton put up a fight before going down by 4 points, while Henry kicked two of his team’s five goals to earn a minor niche in Carlton’s history.

Three more games and three more defeats later however, Henry was probably tired of the struggle and elected to give VFL football away. He may have played just five matches for the old Dark Navy Blues, but as one of those 20 special young men who began the journey of this mighty club over a century ago, his name is forever enshrined in our history.

McPetrie passed away in 1937, aged 61, he was working as a gardener at the time. He was the brother of Victorian cricketer, William McPetrie