Dunne

Henry Francis Dunne

Another of the core group of Carlton players who made the transition from VFA football to the VFL in 1897, Henry Francis Dunne gave the club honest service in his 24 games over two seasons.

Born in Ballarat and recruited from the local Austral Football Club, Dunne was a pre-VFL Carltonian, having represented us in our final VFA season. (1896 CFC Annual Report: Henry Dunne scored 2 goals during the year.)
Dunne/Dunn is mentioned in three games this year. He could have played in all eighteen matches but records for 1896 are incomplete.
("Origins of Australian Football" Vol 4 has H. Dunne playing 13 games and scoring 2 goals in 1896)

Dunne was 25 years of age when he was named to play at centre half-forward in Carlton’s first VFL game - against Fitzroy at the Brunswick Street Oval in May, 1897. The Blues approached that auspicious occasion with confidence, but proved no match for the Maroons and were beaten by five goals.

Unfortunately that was just a foretaste of things to come for Carlton, and over the following two years victories on the field were few and far between for the Old Dark Navy Blues. Yet through it all, Henry Dunne was consistent and durable at both ends of the ground.

After that first game in attack, Henry was switched back into defence and played out the rest of the season minding opposition ruckmen in a back pocket. In 1898 he was sent forward again, and kicked all of his six career goals from half-forward or the forward pocket.

He retired from top level football in September 1898, having celebrated just four wins and a draw in his VFL career. In 1899 Dunne was granted a permit to Sandhurst from Carlton. Following his football career, Dunne opened a woodworking studio in Little Collins St, Melbourne which remained open for over 53 years. In 1892 he won a gold medal in art wood carving at the Melbourne Art Exhibition. His work can still be seen in Melbourne today. For example, he created the patterns for the lampposts on Prince's Bridge and Church Street in Richmond.

The Blackham Ball

This ball was the first Test cricket ball used and was in the possession of Australian wicket keeper John McCarthy Blackham.
In 1917 during WW1 to raise money, the ball was put on display on a six foot wooden stand. 614 people each donated 1 pound and had their name placed on the stand.
Henry Dunne made the stand which is now on display at the Sports Museum at the M.C.G.
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article242685660
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article243189763

Footnote:

The Age on April 09 1895 reported that Collingwood played the Carlton Juniors at Victoria Park. Collingwood won 4.11 - 2.5
The Carlton Junior goal kickers were Henry Dunn and Ocock.