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Game Review

This game at the Lake Oval in July, 1951 marked the retirement of one Carlton’s most admired figures; two-time Premiership defender and 1947 Brownlow Medalist Bert Deacon. Having battled a chronic thigh strain for two seasons, Deacon broke down again on this cold Saturday afternoon, and never played VFL football again.

The Blues eventually beat the Swans by just 5 points in a thrilling finish, but those circumstances should never have arisen. Carlton was well on top throughout the first half, only to register a wasteful 2.11 to 2.4 by the long break. From then on, the home side fought back grimly, kicking 5.5 to Carlton’s 5.3 to lose by one straight kick.

Even so, Blues supporters were filled with new hope. Suddenly, Carlton was back in the hunt for a finals berth in sixth place on the ladder, one win behind fourth-placed Essendon, and with a healthy percentage.

Free Kicks

Carlton: 6, 7, 8, 10 - 31
S. Melb. 9, 6, 6, 10 - 31

Marks

Carlton: 19, 21, 9, 11 - 60
S. Melb: 19, 28, 23, 12 - 82

Team

B:	35 Jack Conley	27 Ollie Grieve	24 Harry Caspar
HB:	25 Jim Baird	23 Bert Deacon	26 Jim Clark
C:	11 Laurie Kerr	10 Fred Stafford	8 Arthur Hodgson
HF:	4 Doug Guy	3 Harry Sullivan	12 Doug Williams
F:	1 Ken Hands (acting capt.)	7 Keith Warburton	9 Jack Mills
Ruck:	28 Fred Davies	14 Vin English	15 Bruce Comben
Res:	16 John Brown	22 Harvey Dunn jnr
Coach:	Percy Bentley

Changes

IN: B.Deacon, J.Clark, A.Hodgson, D.Guy
OUT: E.Henfry, B.Baxter, H.Dern, D.Calder

Milestones

Last game: Bert Deacon