1965

Having endured the worst season to date in Carlton's history in 1964, a newly-elected committee led by the pugnacious George Harris caused one of the biggest shocks in VFL history by almost immediately poaching Ron Barassi from the Melbourne Football Club. Barassi was installed as captain-coach of the Blues in 1965, with immediately positive results. For most of the season, the club floated between fourth and sixth place on the ladder - but after only winning five and a half games the year before, there was obvious improvement.

Barassi's Blues won four games in a row between rounds 4 and 7; another four out of five between rounds 9 and 13, finishing the year with 10 wins and 8 losses to hold sixth place on the ladder. More consistent in '65, Carlton may not have been the best side in the competition, but the scores suggest that we at last had a team giving their all for the jumper.

In fact, the only low point in the season came after round 14, when the club lost four straight games. After round 13 we were clinging to fourth spot on the ladder by percentage, but then fell away. A resurgent round 18 victory over Essendon saw us finish the year in sixth, two wins behind the fourth-placed Bombers. Such obvious improvement gave Carlton fans hope that Barassi was in fact the real deal, and that he could indeed turn around the fortunes of the famous Old Dark Blues.

Sadly, tragedy intervened against this optimistic backdrop when Carlton's popular 25 year-old ruckman Maurie Sankey was killed in a car crash shortly after the season concluded. Vice captain of the team, Maurie had played exactly 100 games for his beloved Blues.

Ladder

People of 1965

Captain & Coach: Ron Barassi
Leading Goal-kicker: Bryan Quirk - 29 goals
Best & Fairest: John Nicholls

Debuts

Round 14: Stan Harrison
Round 13: Barry Schmidt
Round 11: Ron Stone
Round 9: Denis O'Sullivan
Round 4: John Lloyd
Round 3: Bryan Quirk, Jeff Trotman
Round 1: Ron Barassi, Terry Board, John Kemp
Debuts (Carlton): Ron Barassi

Norm Smith Sacked

Legendary Melbourne player and later coach of six premiership sides in the 50s and 60s, including a hat-trick of flags, Norm Smith, was sacked as Melbourne coach on Friday evening July 23. (prior to Round 13)
A disagreement with Norm and the Melbourne selection committee led to this decision. The Demons were the reigning premiers.
GTV-9's Tony Charlton led an in depth discussion on the Sunday after the sacking. This included Norm Smith, Marjorie Smith his wife, Len Smith, Norm's older brother and coach of Fitzroy and Richmond, Ron Barassi former Melbourne captain and current Carlton playing-coach, Ken Hands former Carlton coach, who himself was sacked by the Blues to make way for Ron Barassi's appointment, Geoff Leek former Essendon ruckman, Phonse Kyne former Collingwood player and coach, Brendon Edwards Hawthorn Brownlow Medallist and others.
Also appearing the then current Melbourne players Hassa Mann, Brian Kennelly and John Townsend.
One cannot under estimate what a bomb shell decision this was, and the ramifications it held for this once powerful club. Due to the public outcry, Norm was later reinstated, but the damage had been done.
This one hour interview truly, is excellent television.
Courtesy of Rhettrospective site.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ETIqhPnIB5A