The fact that Crosswell did NOT play 200 game for us is one of the worst things from that period. I remember him being able to do it all, but he never reaally harnessed his talent the way we all wanted.
To see him go to North in 1975 was terrible.

Yes it was but....he WAS a firebrand who only responded to Barassi.

There were stories too at the Club that he wasn't always "with it"....and that perhaps his behaviour was "affected"....who's to know?

In those days he was at Uni and going out with Bob Ansett's daughter; as a matter of fact; he may even have eventually married her.

Of course; Bob Ansett was North President.....(at the time?)

Robert Walls played 218 games and kicked 367 goals for Carlton between 1967-78.

Robert wrote this article for The Age on July 25-1999 on the 20th anniversary of our memorable Premiership Win of 1979.

He said we wasted the period between our Flag wins of 1972 and 1979.

It's very interesting reading.

What a ripper article.

_________________
Writer for SuperCoach Paige www.scpaige.com.au
Twitter - @johnfeeney24

Aggro asked if Kouta could have squeezed into Team of the Century.

My feeling (and I'm right) is that Kouta was a far, far better player than Trevor Keogh - and so wewre plenty others I could name.

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"You can't polish a James Hird"

Rather frightening, actually, Robert's article. I have always felt we stuffed up from '74 to '78. Thoro had plenty of positives, but he wasn't a premiership coach. For all that, we should have been up there in '75 and '76.
To hear of the lack of communication - that is what frightens me the most. That is just so unprofessional. Supposedly we were known as the most professional club in those days: makes me worry about the rest!

Yes Steve....I hope everyone read that Walls article....some hometruths; especially about Ian Stewart, which disrupted the whole run of success in the 1970's.

Anyhow....on to other things.....lets look at two Carlton stars from the 1970 Grand Final, relaxing with their Wives over that weekend.

The story about Robert Walls and Ian Stewart that I have known that has never been published.

My understanding is the main reason Robert left Carlton - is that one night at training, Ian Stewart asked why Bruce Doull was absent, Robert told Ian that Bruce's mother had passed away. Ian Stewart's response was "Is Bruce dead".

Robert smacked Ian straight in the chops and walked out of the club - not long after - Ian Stewart resigned due to "health reasons".

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"Hence you will not say that Greeks fight like heroes but that heroes fight like Greeks"?

Winston Churchill

Yes mate....many variations abound....we DO know for a FACT that Stewie definitely had personal problems that affected him at the time.

I think this extended to wandering around Beaumaris Beach in female attire.

_________________
"Hence you will not say that Greeks fight like heroes but that heroes fight like Greeks"?

Winston Churchill

Is that why he speaks so fondly about you?................

Vin Waite was a favourite of mine.....192cm and 96kg; and fast for a big man.....people got out of Vinnies way when he ran out of defence
and cleared with his powerful left foot.

At Carlton from 1966-75....153 games and 33 goals; he suffered a serious spleen injury in his first year; but became our permanent back pocket
ruckman in 1969....a member of our 1970 and 1972 Flag sides.

Luckily, and sadly too....he lived to see his son Jarrad selected to play his first game; but passed away the day before the match.

Well played Vinnie!.....and the Legend lives on!

The first pic is of Vin and Bryan Quirk,both from Morwell, pictured with our other legendary wingman Gary Crane who was from Yallourn.



Next is a photo of Vin coming off injured during the 1972 Grand Final.



Lastly is a great pic of Vin proudly doing a lap of honour with his Captain John Nicholls and Kevin Hall, following our great Victory in the 1970 Grand Final.

Not sure it was SOV's FIRST match. It WAS early on, though.

That bloody game is one of the biggest disappointments I've suffered since Black Friday.

That day, that game, THAT GOAL - we should have bloody won that day.

Still feel gutted about it.

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Richard Pratt - A Carlton legend.

Yes Moshe.....amending that .....Jarrad was playing in early 2003 when Vinnie died suddenly from a heart attack.....and many people expected Jarrad not to play
the next day; but he did.....as Vinnie would have wanted; and Jarrad won the admiration of all football followers that day.

The Melbourne game obviously will rank highly in Jarrods career.

I remember seeing Vin,s first game.It was at the MCG, also against Melbourne .

IIRC he kicked 2 Goals with his first 2 kicks in league football.

Carlton got fair dinkum about winning a Flag when it pinched the

legendary Melbourne Captain Ron Barassi

to Coach us for a 3 year deal of 5000 pounds....about $10,000 in

1965......(a lot of money then)

Within 3 years.....he coached us to a Flag....and 5 years to another.

An unbelievably strict disicplinarian.....I was there at PP every

night.....he banned sideburns which were the fashion;

and kicking and handballing with your "right side".....banned drop kicks...

..insisted on players wearing the full Carlton Blazer Outfit to games etc etc.

Did we celebrate after 21 years or what?....

.Syd Jackson was a mate of ours in those days, and it's all a

blur.......McNaughtons Pub was like home !

Still on the post match euphoria after our 1968 Flag win; we see a jubilant Ron Barassi hugging his dashing defender John Ragsy Goold.



Next is the cover of Harry Beitzel's Magazine, FootyWeek; of Sept.30-1968.....showing Ian Robertson and Robert Walls chairing Big Nick.



Next is a group of happy Carlton players....Nick....Walls...Percy....Wes Lofts....Barry Gill....and of course Barass.

Continuing with the after 68 GF Win; we have two photos; this first one took up the whole front page of The Sun of September 30-1968.

I've had to reduce it so much to fit our computer screens, that it's not as clear as the original; but it's not too bad...
..it's a great photo which captures THE moment after Nick was presented with the Premiership Cup.....our first in 21 years.

Can we name everyone?.....well; I'll try to start off from the left.....

Barass....Serge....and below them....is that Denis Munari or Kevin Hall next to Wes Lofts?.....George Harris with his arms raised to the sky with elation.....
Jezza (half hidden).....Robbo....Walls....Crosswell.....Kekovich....Crane and Ragsy Goold.....anymore?....what do you guys think?

Notice a very sporting Robin Close of Essendon* clapping behind Big Nick?




This next photo shows the players doing their lap of honour.

From the left I see.....Brian Kekovich-Big Nick-Ragsy Goold-Wes Lofts-Robbo-Gags-Jezza-Barry Gill-Gary Crane-Ian Collins-Kevin Hall....and....?

It looks like Ian Nicoll who played in our losing 1969 Flag side....hmm...

Any thoughts?

Was that Ted Hopkins article written by THE Ross Warneke who passed away recently? He would have been pretty young if so. Regarding the player at the edge of the photo, was it too early for Phil Pinell? Thought I'd take a punt before checking at the museum.