THE WALLS of the aptly named Victory Room reverberated to the strains of ‘Lily of Laguna’, as members of Carlton’s 1972, ’81 and ’82 Premiership teams belted out the Club’s theme song in celebration of those famous Grand Final victories of yesteryear.
More than 900 Carlton people joined in the chorus, to bring rousing finality to the ’72, ’81 and ’82 Premiership Luncheon - one of the greatest events convened by the Spirit of Carlton.
Earlier, they had heard reminiscences from the key cast members of ’72 – Captain-Coach John Nicholls, rover Adrian Gallagher and full-back Geoff Southby, the Club’s best-and-fairest winner in that same year – and later from 1981 and ’82 Senior Coach David Parkin and captain Mike Fitzpatrick, together with team members Jim Buckley, Phil Maylin and Ken Sheldon.
Those in the house included Carlton’s 1982 premiership ruckman Warren Jones, now living in Sydney; and 1970 and ’72 premiership player Syd Jackson, 1981 and ’82 premiership player Peter Bosustow, and ’82 premiership player Ross Ditchburn, all of whom jetted in from their native Western Australia.
Endearingly nicknamed ‘Farmer’ by way of his kindred links to the five-generation Ditchburn family farm in Kukerin, some 302 kilometres south-east of Perth, Ditchburn was recruited to the Club on the recommendation of his old Claremont and Carlton premiership teammate Ken Hunter.
Though his on-field career spanned just 28 games through two seasons at Carlton, Ditchburn’s friendships with his premiership teammates truly endure.
“It was amazing to get back and catch up with all the boys,” Ditchburn said, in a to-camera interview for the Carlton Football Club archive.
“I cherished every minute I spent with those players. It was just unbelievable.
“There weren’t too many handshakes, only hugs, because that’s how close we are. It’s such a warm feeling when you’re in the midst of those players – and for someone who only played 28 games and was only here for two years I feel so humble to be in their midst.”
Spirit of Carlton Manager Shane O’Sullivan described the reunion, belatedly staged due to COVID-19 lockdowns, as “one of the great Carlton events”.
“The number of people we got to the function ensured that the atmosphere in the room was just electric. The auction got the event buzzing even more and topping it all off were the players on stage singing the song before all the cameras,” O’Sullivan said.
“To see the Carlton members and supporters so happy to mix with past champions was the best part of the day.”
O’Sullivan said that the event had generated funds “to go towards supporting past players who have fallen on hard times with their health or wellbeing”.
“So from the Spirit of Carlton’s past players, a big thank you to all the supporters who attended,” he said. “You were the people who made the day.”
