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4. Anyone who can add some colour about how / why / when Jesaulenko moved out from Full Forward and into other positions would be great.
As I understand it, this happened over a few seasons, namely 1972-73. But Carltons quest for a Full-Forward went on for years to come when perhaps the solution was there all along. I can't really answer (and I think possibly only Jezza, Big Nick and Wes Lofts would know) why Jezza wasn't a permanent fixture at FF for more years than he was - but here's my take from a historical perspetive.
In 1972, Greg Kennedy was outstanding and kicked 76 from full-forward - however the selectors left him out of the Grand Final side; preferring to play Jezza at Full-forward where he kicked 7. However throughout the season, the selectors saw Kennedy as the heir apparent and on many occasions, Jesaulaenko found himself next to a young Robert Walls on the half-forward line.
In 1973, Jezza had a pretty ordinary year that was interrupted by injury. Greg Kennedy continued to show good form and Brian Walsh ran amok in the forward line with the rover topping the goalkicking with 60.
In 1971, a kid called Rodney Ashman kicked 100 goals for Eaglehawk in the Bendigo League. The Blues might have thought they had 'another Jezza' on their hands - at 16, Ashman was a goal-kicking freak, had a soaring leap, was a great mark and could kick goals with either foot from anywhere. Alas - he was no taller than Adrian Gallagher and a goal kicking rover he became.
On Round 5, 1973 - Ashman made his debut - replacing the injured Jesaulenko. The Blues also blooded Craig Davis whose form in the reserves was too great to ignore.
1974 was not a good year...Carlton missed the finals, Craig Davis won the goalkicking, Alan Ruscuklic was tried in the forward line to no avail and it was felt that Jezza was at his most destructive when running free through the packs and off the half-forward flank. The Blues kept looking for a full-forward...they debuted a future KPF - however Mark Maclure played his first year in defence.
1975 started out great for the Blues. The Club won 13 of the first 14 - eventually finishing 2nd to the Hawks only to be bundled out of the finals in straight sets. Craig Davis suffered a terrible head injury that lead to him being diagnosed as a hemophiliac and the club was reluctant to accept the medical risks associated. He went on to play another 121 games and kick 198 more goals at three other clubs.
Unbelievably, in 1975 - Jesaulenko won his only B&F. He played the year almost exclusively as a defender and finished third in the Brownlow.
Walls won the goalkicking in '75 and '76, yet the club failed to find a player who would hold down full-forward. Despite playing brilliant football as a defender in '75 - Jezza returned to the forward line in '76, although was hampered by injury again.
Behind the scenes in the mid-70's; getting a key forward seemed a high priority. The club were beaten to Malcolm Blight's signature due to Barassi having knowedge of who the Blues had their eye on and North made Blight priority number one.
By the time 1977 came around - the Blues recruiting a key forward had become such a growing concern that it got to desperation.
Peter McKenna came to the club - albeit with a stuffed kidney and only managed 11 games. Tony Southcombe was involved in a car accident on his way home from training and quit after 13 promising games. David McKay was looking for a clearance to Subiaco and having bewildered many by recruiting McKenna, Peter Bedford and Renato Serafini - the clubs officials did the unthinkable. They offered Jesaulenko, McKay and one other player in exchange for Essendon* wildman Ronnie Andrews.
Perc Bentley openly admitted later than when taking the vote - he was one of the Carlton officials who thought Jesaulenko was finished. Luckily for the club, Essendon* refused the deal. We missed the finals by half a game and suffered a humiliating loss to Collingwood in Round 6 by 102 points. Mark Maclure topped the goalkicking with 39 and although the club hierarchy changed at season's end - the new brigade which included George Harris' second stint as President continued it's search for the forward problem.
In 1978 Carlton offered Leigh Matthews 3 times what he was earning at Hawthorn. The Blues offer of $60,000 a year was rejected when Hawthorn upped the ante to $40,000 and loyalty lead to Matthews staying in the brown and gold. We finished fourth, Rod Galt won the goalkicking with 49 and the following year (a Premiership year) Ken Sheldon won with 53...Jezza played in the centre and in defence and the clubs quest for a full-forward would go on until it looked as though Peter Bosustow answered our prayers - then Ross Ditchburn - then Warren Ralph.
In 1983 - the club conducted a poll amongst members to pick their best side for the 25 year period 1957-1982. Jesaulenko was named Full-Forward.
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