Game Review

First played last when Carlton met St Kilda at Princes Park on this blustery Saturday afternoon, although the final scores did not reflect the evenness of the contest in general play. The hapless Saints had not won a game all year, and started at even longer odds in the wake of a board upheaval that had seen two committee members walk out on the struggling club.

On the other hand, the Blues were bubbling along under their inspirational captain-coach ‘Pompey’ Elliott, and even the absence of the team’s two first-choice rovers in Alex Lang and Jack Baquie didn’t dent the team’s confidence. When Elliott promoted Andy McDonald to first rover, and backed him up by shifting George Bruce from the wing to the forward pocket, it was business as usual.

A strong breeze was blowing diagonally across the ground at the start of the match, but it eased as the game unfolded. Carlton led at every change, although the Saints stuck to their task and provided a real contest. Carlton’s major advantage came from the boot of their nifty full-forward Vin Gardiner, who kicked five goals with deadly precision from different angles and ranges. Both full-backs; Doug Gillespie of Carlton, and Harry Lever of St Kilda thrilled the crowd with their booming drop-kicks from the goal-square before the Blues ran out winners by 33 points.

This win boosted the No.1 positioned Carlton's percentage to 160.74, a whopping 31% better than second-placed Essendon. Collingwood and Geelong made up the top four, but they were two wins adrift of the two top sides.

Team

Changes

In : E.Jamieson, C.Hay
Out : J.Baquie, A.Lang

Milestones

Debut and Only Game for Carlton : Charlie Hay