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Carlton defeated Richmond by 17 points at Punt Road Oval. They ended this shortened season comfortably on top of the ladder.

Round 12, 1916

Carlton 1.1 7 7.5 47 10.6 66 12.10 82
Richmond 3.4 22 4.5 29 6.9 45 9.11 65
Venue: Punt Road Oval Date: Saturday July 29, 1916
Result: Won by 17 points Umpire: Elder Crowd: 8,000
Goalkickers: V.Gardiner 4, V.Valentine 4, C.Fisher 1, A.Lang 1, R.McGregor 1, J.Shortill 1.
Best: B.Dick, V.Valentine, T.Brown, C.Fisher, P.O'Brien, R.McGregor
Reports: S.Leehane reported by the field umpire and steward for striking Allessio in the final quarter. Result: accquitted. Injuries:












Game Review

Richmond has never beaten Carlton since they entered the VFL in 1909.

The Tigers kicked with the breeze and had a goal on the board within 30 seconds from the start. The home team attacked again but was stopped. Clever handball between Harry Haughton and Viv Valentine got the ball to Percy Daykin but he was off target. Richmond attacked missing one opportunity, but making up with another goal. Rod McGregor kicked to Vin Gardiner. Gardiner's magnificent place-kick just missed the target and bought up a behind. The Tigers scored another goal and then just missed another very easy chance. Just before the bell, a fine chain of marks by Billy Dick, Ernie Jamieson, Charlie Canet, and Athol Sharp landed the ball into the hands of Percy Daykin who scored the Blues' first goal. Richmond led by 15 points.
Soon after the restart, Alex Lang kicked to Joe Shortill who registered Carlton's second goal. Billy Robinson then had a chance but ran too far and was caught holding the ball. (The Winner newspaper said it was a common fault of his.) Richmond scored another goal. Then through some great ruck play by Paddy O'Brien bringing the ball along the wing to Viv Valentine who goaled on the run. Then another chain of marks bought the ball from the backline to Viv Valentine for Carlton's fourth. Viv was having a purple patch and kicked his third and the Blues' fifth. Billy Dick turned a couple of attacks, and with Rod McGregor starring in the centre assisted Vin Gardiner in adding two more goals before half time. The Blues led by 18 points.
Richmond now with the breeze attacked and scored a goal. Billy Dick again held up attacking moves, but the home team then broke through for another goal, and again, they missed a couple of easy goals. Then Carlton replied. From another marvelous place-kick by Vin Gardiner and a shot by Alex Lang registering two goals in two minutes. The Carlton back line led by Billy Dick once again held up Richmond. Then Vin Gardiner added another goal before the final break. The Blues held a comfortable lead of 21 points.
Fine defensive work by Ernie Jamieson and within seconds the ball was on the forward line where Viv Valentine scored the Blues' eleventh.
Not to out done Richmond scored two goals. One was the result of a free kick given against Steve Leehane who knocked out Allessio. Another free kick to the Tigers enabled them to score their ninth goal. Then Rod McGregor twisting and turning, running through the centre, put the result beyond doubt by scoring a great running goal. Carlton winning by 17 points.

"Dick, Carlton's captain, was their finest player, and has not shown such form in any previous match this year. He was not beaten once for a mark, and played right up to his best form of a couple of season's ago.
McGregor in the centre over shadowed Maybury. His dodging, marking, and kicking, combined with his judgment, made his play almost perfect, and he is having a wonderful year.
O'Brien dominated the ruck, and played almost as well when back. His drop-kicking was one of the features of the game.
Sharp roved persistently and well, and the same must be said of Valentine whose play was always dashing. His good work was crowned with four goals.
Jamieson and Brown were brilliant in defence, and treated the spectators to some fine running with the ball.
Gardiner improved on his recent form, and scored four goals.
Haughton played consistently well both back and in the ruck. Shortell's high marking was great; but his ground work was still on the slow side, and Canet, on the wing, did many serviceable things."
(Trove: Winner August 02 p7)

Carlton were minor premiers followed by Collingwood, Richmond and Fitzroy. The Blues were in outright first position, 3.5 wins ahead of Collingwood, 5 wins ahead of Richmond and 7.5 games ahead of Fitzroy.

"No League matches will be played next Saturday, but the following week Collingwood will meet Fitzroy, and the week after Carlton will again play Richmond. The winners of these two games will play off, and should Carlton be defeated they will engage in a grand final by reason of their minor premiership win." Next week two patriotic matches will take place, between veterans of Fitzroy and Collingwood playing Collingwood. University will play a combined public schools team on the M.C.G.

At the end of the round Carlton were in 1st spot on the ladder with a percentage of 137.2.

Team

B: 6 Steve Leehane 15 Ernie Jamieson 10 Paddy O'Brien
HB: 9 Ted Brown 1 Billy Dick (c) 24 Billy Robinson
C: 12 Charlie Canet 11 Rod McGregor (vc) 8 Mort Keily
HF: 7 Charlie Fisher 23 Joe Shortill 2 Percy Daykin
F: 18 Alex Lang 13 Vin Gardiner 14 Athol Sharp
Ruck: 16 Charlie Hammond 5 Harry Haughton 4 Viv Valentine
Coach: Norman Clark


On the eve of the finals the Australasian August 12 (p23) wrote about each of the top four teams.
Of the Blues the newspaper said;

Carlton

"Carlton are blessed with a team capable of winning the premiership in normal times, being well and truly manned in every branch of the game. While good men and true from the old club have joined the army, the club was so rich in reserves that in their last contest against Richmond Canet was the only new man in the colours. They thus possess a side of experienced players, possessing weight, height, pace, and skill to a marked degree. Marking ability and cleverness are allied together discriminately, and the combination is a masterful one.
The weakness of many teams, even before the war, was the absence of big, clever men in the crushes, but for many years now Carlton have known the necessity of big and strong ruck-men, several premierships being annexed as a consequence thereof. They are particularly strong in defence, the marking of Dick and O'Brien being well flanked by such brilliant dashers as Brown, Robinson, Carter, Jamieson, and McDonald (who has not been playing lately through illness). Their forwards are also an extremely effective and clever band. In Gardiner they have the greatest kick in the League, as he is the loose man he can afford to wander far afield, yet still be within kicking distance. Daykin, Shortell, and Fisher on the half-forward line have weight, skill, and strength to recommend them, and as Sharp and Valentine alternate roving with forward work cleverness and pertinacity are never lacking. Their weakest link is across the centre line, though in McGregor they have the finest, cleverest, and most scientific centre man in the game.
Latterly, on the flanks, they have been playing Kiely and Canet, who, while being really good and improving men, are not by any means dominant artists, and are frequently beaten. Serviceable men like Hammond, Haughton, Leehane, and Lang complete the combination, which is well versed in every department. In Dick they have an ideal leader, and decidedly a man of parts. He is quick and resourceful, and his tactics, especially in bunching play, have won and saved many a game that otherwise would have been lost.
Carlton is lucky indeed in having such an accomplished side at the present time, practically all veterans, though many are young at the game, and the premiership looks a certainty for them."



Round 11 | Semi Final
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