1953

Not a bad year for Carlton, winning 10 of 18 games and finishing in 5th place on the ladder. The Blues simply weren't in the class of the top 4, however, finishing 3 games outside of the top 4 and a finals berth. We played the teams finishing in top 4 six times during the season, and lost all of those games. With the dominance of the top teams, the club simply couldn't string winning form together, with its best winning streak being two games in a row, which it managed three times.

While the Carlton senior team would have to settle for best of the rest in 1953, the reserves side went on to win their 5th premiership.

Ladder

People of 1953

Coach: Percy Bentley
Captain: Ken Hands
Vice Captain: Jack Howell
Leading goal scorer: Jack Spencer - 32 goals

Debuts

Round 18: Peter Bevilacqua
Round 12: Peter Webster
Round 7: Ken McKaige
Round 6: Gerald Burke
Round 5: Ray Martini, Dick Gill
Round 2: Noel Evans
Round 1: Max Wenn, Tony Walsh, John James, Jack Hosking, Alex Boyle

Youth Brings Carlton More Pace, Vigor

Hugh Buggy writes about the Blues' players for the up-coming 1953 season.
To read click here> http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article23238324

Lightning Premiership, Coronation Day, Tuesday June 2

M.C.G. Attendance: 36, 715 Gate: £3,150.
All teams competing, 2x10 minutes halves, elimination matches. Final to be 2x15 minute halves.
Carlton team; Backs; Comben, McKaige, Caspar. Half backs; Brown, English, Guy. Centres; Kerr, James, Thomas. Half forwards; Martini, Milroy, Beasy. Forwards; Burke, Walsh, Spencer. Followers; Hands, Howell. Rover; Chick. Emergencies; Webster, Ferry, Dern, Calder, Molony, Stafford, Tucker, Dunn.
Umpire; McMurray
Carlton played St.Kilda
Carlton lost; 0.1 - 2.1
Best; Howell, Kerr, Calder, Spencer.
Richmond defeated St. Kilda in the fourth round final.

Lower Levels

Reserves: The Blues would however pick up the Reserves Premiership in this year.

End Of Season Trip

45 players and officials including the president Ken G. Luke, secretary L. Floyd, and P. Bentley senior coach spent the weekend 10 - 11 October, at the Leura Hotel in Camperdown. One of the highlights was a cricket match against the Camperdown footballers in which skipper Ken Hands made a century. A pleasant Sunday morning was spent at the Camperdown Football Club, followed by a visit to the Mainifold property in the district.