1954

Carlton continued its sliding form in 1954, after finishing 4th and playing finals in 1952, and finishing 5th with 10 wins in 1953, the club finished 8th this year. The Blues lost their first four games of the season, and while the biggest loss was only four goals, it left the club in second last on the ladder and effectively ended any chance the club had of playing finals football.

The team finished the rest of the home and away season a little stronger, winning eight games and only losing six.

South Fremantle vs Carlton October 16, Subiaco

Crowd 10,000
A rough, and tough game. The Blues had been idle for seven weeks since completing their season, whereas South were the premiers of the W.A.N.F.L. Carlton were out of condition, but hitting the post five times did not help their cause. The umpire's decisions changed after half-time. Before the break Carlton were on the the receiving end of many technical frees, but in the second half they weren't paid at all and this confused many of the players. In the third term brawls broke out, due to excessive scragging and they players lost their control.
Carlton team;
Backs; Comben, Ferry, Moran or Sullivan
Half backs; Brown, Webster, James
Centre; Gilchrist, Warburton, Chick
Half forwards; Zeunert, Crowe, Robertson
Forwards; Burke or Moloney, O'Brien, Spencer
Ruck; Hands, Milroy
Rover; Mills
Reserves; Thomas, Munro
Umpire; D. Cowper
Carlton lost; 19 points
Carl. 4.5 5.710.13 10.14.74
S.Fre. 1.0 7.5 9.6 14.9.93
Goals; Mills 3.2, Sullivan 2.3, O'Brien 2.2, Hands 1.4, Chick 1.2, Crowe 1.1
Best; P.Webster (until injured), W.Milroy, K.Hands, J.Mills, R.Robertson, J.Brown, J.Chick, R.Crowe
Injuries; P.Webster (bruised thigh) replaced by M.Thomas in the third quarter. D.Zeunert (cramp) replaced by J.Spencer in the fourth quarter.

Ladder

Note: Carlton is represented by an elephant wearing a Carlton guernsey.

People of 1954

Coach: Percy Bentley
Captain: Ken Hands
Vice Captain: Jack Howell
Leading goal scorer: Noel O'Brien - 45 goals

Debuts

Round 17: Bob Crowe
Round 11: Ron Rhodes
Round 4: Kevin Hunt
Round 3: Kevin O'Brien, Bernie Moran
Round 2: Frank Munro
Round 1: Denis Zeunert, Noel O'Brien, Graham Kerr, George Ilsley

Milestones

Knighthood: Sir Sir Kenneth Luke is knighted in his 17th (of 18) year as President of Carlton