Umpires: B.Deller & K.Smith

Goalkickers: W.Johnston 7, W.Jones 2, M.Fitzpatrick 2, K.Sheldon 2, R.Ashman 2, P.Maylin 1, P.McConville 1, M.Maclure 1, P.Francis 1.

Best: W.Johnston, R.Austin, M.Fitzpatrick, R.Klomp, M.Maclure, M.Young, A.Marcou, K.Sheldon.

Reports: Nil

Injuries: V.Perovic (bruised thigh)

Game Review

After another poor preseason, Carlton were rank underdogs in this grand final replay at Victoria Park. Wayne Johnston was not a 100% fit and Carlton were unsure if he would play , but history showed he did and was 'Best on the Ground". Carlton welcome their new recruits in Val Perovic (from St Kilda who refused to live in Melbourne and against their President's Lindsay Fox wishes and was traded) and Phil Maylin (who had been named as an emergency).

Carlton had won this game by three quarter time and took their foot off the pedal and allowed Collingwood to score 8 goals in the last quarter. This was to become a regular trait over the season, and perhaps an indicator that things had not quite come together under Percy's coaching this year, as our finals performance bore out.

An interesting byline was that footage from this match was used in the David Williamson's movie of "The Club". The justification for this, was that by having a premier club also in the footage playing the Magpies, this would hopefully attract their supporter base to watch the movie.

The match was also the debut of Peter Jones as senior coach, with Val Perovic in defence and Phil Maylin from SA. Maylin came with little fanfare (he came from the lowly unfashionable Woodville club, which may explain his relative obscurity). So much so that in a practice match he was listed as Phil Mahlin!!!

This game is remembered fondly by Carlton fans, and is considered one of our best wins in the Home & Away rounds of the 1980's.

In the Grand Final replay at Victoria Park Wayne Johnston of Carlton, paved the way for the Blues victory against arch-rivals Collingwood with a match-winning seven goals. He was brilliantly supported by Blues Rod Ashman who finished the game with two goals. - Inside Football Player of the Year.

Pre-season form not a true guide. So much for pre-season form, the classic form reversal came from Carlton. The Blues probably could not have looked worse in their pre-season matches. They lost all their practice matches against other League sides and were thrashed by WA club South Fremantle in an Escort Cup match. That defeat was extremely humiliating for last year's League premiers. Critics wrote Carlton off because of their poor form, but with four premiership points at stake, the Blues bounced right back to flag favoritism with a resounding first-up victory. We're told every year, just before the first match, not to take any notice of pre-season form. But we continue to fall for the same trap. Perhaps from now on we'll think more carefully before writing teams off or heaping too much praise on teams before the season proper kicks off with the Blues being a fine example of this. - Tony Greenberg Inside Football.

Carlton's brilliant opening round victory against Collingwood at Victoria Park on Saturday could be an omen for new Blues' coach Percy Jones. It was at Victoria Park on May 13 1978 that Jones predecessor at Carlton, Alex Jesaulenko made his coaching debut. The Blues had started 1978 season disastrously. Coach Ian Stewart was forced to resign because of ill health and the side lost five of their first six matches. Then enter Alex Jesaulenko. He guided Carlton to a gutsy backs-to-the-wall victory against Collingwood, a win which started an amazing Blues revival duirng the rest of that season and last year. Jezza led Carlton to 35 wins in 42 matches, including last season's premiership. Now, as everyone knows, Jezza is no longer at Carlton and Percy Jones has the coaching reins. The big question is can he emulate Alex Jesaulenko's coaching feats? His first-up coaching effort certainly suggests he can. And the "omen" is there. - Tony Greenberg Inside Football

Carlton's Wayne Johnston has developed into one of the most dangerous forwards in the game. Johnston made an excellent debut in the VFL last season and carried on the good work in Saturday's opening match against Collingwood at Victoria Park. His match statistics sum up his outstanding contribution to Carlton's victory. He relentless attack on the football resulted in 18 kicks, nine marks, five handballs and booted seven inspiring goals. - Tony Greenberg Inside Football

The mosquito fleet were at it again on Saturday. The Carlton small men in Sheldon, Buckley, Marcou, Ashman and Johnston all played well in the side's win over Collingwood. Opposition sides will definitely have to play smaller and faster men against the Blues in future weeks, if they are to overcome Carlton's many match winners. - Ray Shaw Inside Football.

Carlton Crushed Critics
The critics said it could not be done, but first-year coach Peter Jones and a second season recruit Wayne Johnston paved the way for its opening round 38 points victory over Collingwood on Saturday. Carlton's poor pre-season form and an expected on-field flow-on from a political administrative battle were reasons for Collingwood becoming red-hot favorites for the return Grand Final clash. However the Blues had no "hangovers" and romped away with victory to return to the top of the charts as the team to beat again for this season's flag. It was a personal triumph for Jones, who many doubted had the qualities to be a League coach, and if anything, he would have been disappointed only in not being one of those on the field to have played in the match. One of Jones prime moves as a coach was that of playing Val Perovic, who was cleared from St Kilda last week, on potential match winning centre half-forward Allan Edwards. Perovic kept Edwards under constant pressure and this allowed his fellow backmen, Bruce Doull, Rod Austin and Kevin Heath the chances to repel attacks. Newly appointed captain Mike Fitzpatrick outrucked 1979 Brownlow medalist Peter Moore as he did in last year's Grand Final. He was more mobile around the ground and created many opportunities for his smaller teammmates. But it was Johnston, who, in his 21st game for the Blues, was the main destroyer of Collingwood. He booted seven goals and most of his kicks came from his diving into packs to clear the ball. The loss placed Collingwood at the bottom of the ladder, a position it held after the first game last season. - Football Record.

Memories
We went to the game, but couldn't get in, it was a lockout.
What to do? The next best thing to being there!
We went back into the city to the Graham Hotel in Swanston Street, bought a round of beers, and stood in front of the pub on the footpath, and watched the game live on the large sepia video screen from across the road in the city square!

Team

Milestones

Debut: Phil Maylin
Debut (Carlton): Val Perovic
Debut (Coach): Peter Jones

Video