Newton Chandler

Newton Chandler is remembered as one of Carlton's most revered sons; a wonderful clubman who lived a long and productive life of dedication to the Navy Blues. Born in Euroa, he grew up in the tiny settlement of Porepunkah, near Bright, in Victoria's high country. At 19 he was recruited by VFA club Brunswick, and following the disruption of the Great War, signed with Carlton in 1919. A skilful, pacey wingman who loved to take opponents on, he made the Victorian State side in his second season, and played in Carlton's losing 1921 Grand Final team.

Newton packed his boots away for good in 1924, to begin an unbroken span of off-field service to the Blues. Eight years as Secretary, three years as Vice President and 14 years as Treasurer is impressive enough, but besides this he loved nothing more than using his own time to find and recruit future stars. Later he would say that his proudest achievement was signing Carlton's first four Brownlow medallists; Bert Deacon, John James, Gordon Collis and Greg Williams; as well as numerous others including John Nicholls and Jim Francis.

Talking of Collis, he once said; "I asked George Woodward, a former committeeman, to slip up to Healesville to see Collis - the young fellow lived there and played for Healesville. But he said he had decided to play for Fitzroy. I worried about that, and a few days later George volunteered to go up there again. Collis showed him the papers he had signed for Fitzroy, but George told him 'they're no good' and tore them up. Then he got Collis to sign for us. And as George was leaving Healesville he passed the Fitzroy coterie going up in their car to collect Collis's papers."

Even in his twilight years, Newton - "The Grand Old Man of Carlton" - was at every possible game, always keen to take a look at the latest youngsters on our list. A life member of both the Carlton Football Club and the AFL, he passed away in March 1997, aged 103.

Newton Chandlers had two nephews who played in the VFL competition,
- Clinton 'Dick' Chandler played 1 game for Carlton in 1940 after earlier playing two games at Hawthorn in 1931.
- Bert Chandler played 11 games for Melbourne in 1937.

Milestones

50 Games: Round 10, 1922 vs Essendon

Footnotes

1935 February 28
The Argus reported;
"Mr. N. Chandler and Mr. H. Clover, respectively secretary and delegate for the Carlton club, offered their services for a blood transfusion when it was announced that the club's wingman Terry Ogden was seriously ill. After a blood test Mr. Chandler was accepted, and the tranfusion took place. Odgen, who is suffering from pleurisy in both lungs, is in the hospital at Farfield. It was said that he had improved yesterday."

In 1977, the VFL instituted the Jack Titus Award, to recognise outstanding individual contributions to the game. Named in honour of the much-respected former Richmond player, match committee member, vice-president and senior coach, it was presented to Newton Chandler in 1984.

Video

Seated; Reg Hunt (secretary) & Bert "Tracker" Numa (Treasurer)