1966

Ron Barassi's second year as Carlton's captain-coach was a mirror image of his first. In 1966, our win loss record (10-8) and ladder position (6th) were identical to our performance in 1965. Starting with two losses, the team found its feet after that, and won its next four games in a row to be in 5th place on the ladder, only one game out of the top four.

The toughest part of the season was between rounds 7 to 12, when the club could manage only two narrow wins. Even so, the Blues were competitive throughout. The round 7 loss to Geelong was by only 1 point, and the round 9 defeat was only by 4 points. In fact, Carlton would play in four games during the season with a six-point or less result, and unluckily lose three of these.

The Blues finished off the year winning four of their last six games, but heavy losses to finalists Essendon in round 1, and Geelong in round 18, would have caused the club some concern.

Overall,, Barassi's first two years at the helm of the club were very encouraging. After a thoroughly disappointing 1964, he had made the Blues competitive again, paving the way for Carlton to once again contest the finals football the following year, for the first time since 1962.

Ladder

People of 1966

Captain & Coach: Ron Barassi
Leading Goal-kicker: Adrian Gallagher - 24 goals
Best & Fairest: John Nicholls

Debuts

Round 18: Ron Auchettl
Round 17: John Morrison
Round 16: Peter Jones, Peter Gilbert
Round 13: Bob Lane, Dick Vandenberg
Round 11: Paul Constance
Round 9: Ricky McLean
Round 6: Gil Lockhart
Round 5: Vin Waite
Round 3: Peter McLean
Round 2: Bill Bennett
Round 1: Maurie Fowler, Ian Robertson, Max Thomas