1940

The 1940 season was almost a carbon copy of 1939: the club had a solid start, fell away in mid season, and finished well. Carlton wound up in the same place on the ladder; fifth, although the superior 1939 record of 12 wins and 8 losses would have seen the club finish second this season.

After winning four of our first six games, the Blues sat third place on the ladder - then a loss of form undid all that good early season work. In seven games between rounds 7 and 13, the club won just once - against Richmond in round 11. We were competitive in all these games, with the losses coming by margins of 10, 23, 4, 7, 1 and 15 points (an average of 10 points over six matches). But in the final analysis, the club's inability to pinch one of these close results was costly, dropping the Blues to eighth on the ladder in a season in which they missed out on the finals by one win.

Thankfully, this was a temporary situation, because Carlton would bounce back into flag contention in 1941.

Ladder

Melbourne would win the 1940 Premiership.

People of 1940

Captain & Coach: Brighton Diggins
Leading Goal-kicker: Paul Schmidt - 55 goals
Best & Fairest: Jim Francis

Debuts

Round 12: Clinton 'Dick' Chandler
Round 7: Bert McTaggart
Round 6: Gordon Cameron, Bernie Bignell
Round 5: Jack Bavin
Round 4: Jack Bennett
Round 1: Jim Mooring

Patriotic Carnival August 03

All League teams took part in the Patriotic Carnival Lightning Premiership which was part of the War effort, held on the M.C.G.
Matches were of 20 minutes duration.
Carlton team;
Backs; McIntyre, Park, Anderson
Half backs; Chitty, Baxter, Cameron
Centres; Carney, Skinner, Green
Half forwards; Mooring, Wrout, Crisp
Forwards; Price, Shields, Francis
Followers; Savage, Bennett
Rover; Hale
19th man; Bavin
Round 1: Carlton defeated Geelong 2.3 - 0.4
Goals; Price, Savage
Best; Park, Carney, Hale, Bennett
Round 2: Carlton defeated Fitzroy 3.3 - 1.2
Goals; Crisp 2, Price
Best; Wrout, Carney, Park, Francis
Round 3: St. Kilda defeated Carlton 4.4 - 1.2
Goal; Shields
Best; Chitty, Crisp, Mooring, Baxter.
(St. Kilda defeated Richmond in the Grand Final)

Cocky Marr Dies, November 28

A white cockatoo that was a feature at Carlton home games for more than 30 years died. The cockatoo was 43 years old.
He would screech when the Blues scored a goal and had a liking for Harry Vallence, whenever the footballer was near the ball the cocky would scream "Up there Soapy"
When the opposition scored a goal Cocky Marr would screech, "Who told you you could umpire?"

1940 - Who's Who In Football - No. 8 Carlton

The Sporting Globe's Jim Blake in a series on all clubs profiles 33 Carlton players.
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article188807013

Dietician

"That Carlton officials have been perturbed regarding what or when their players should eat prior to embarking for Geelong. So worried have they been, folks, that they sought the advice of a lady dietician, who decided in favor of grills. There's no doubt about this march of time. In the old days a feed of good old corned beef and carrots, with a noggin or two to wash same down, and the rolling of the train acted as a digester.
Carlton Football Club are sure putting on the side in 1940."
(Williamstown Chronicle, April 27 1940, p8)

'Roys Adopt A Monogramme

Fitzroy have added a dark blue FFC monogramme to their jumper. The maroon jumper has a blue monogramme, collar, shoulder band, and cuffs. Maroon socks with a dark blue band on top. (Herald March 06)