WHEN Bill Redmond was invited to break bread with Carlton Captain Patrick Cripps and the senior group at Bendigo’s Quality Hotel Lakeside, the local Bendigovian – at 97 Carlton’s oldest known surviving former player – didn’t have to be asked twice.
Accompanied by his son Phil, the Blues’ former back pocket of the immediate post-World War 2 years was warmly welcomed into the fold, as visiting senior squad members rounded out the first day of their community camp with dinner at the aforementioned establishment.
Proudly wearing his Spirit of Carlton polo shirt and player badge No.620, Bill posed for happy snaps with Cripps, Harry McKay, Charlie Curnow, Tom De Koning and Lachie Cowan – the current keeper of the No.2 Bill wore in seven senior appearances for the Percy Bentley-coached Blues through the Premiership season of 1947 and ’48.
He also rubbed shoulders with Carlton’s recent draftee Harry O’Farrell, whose family is not unknown to him. In his former life as a local cop, Bill often exchanged pleasantries at the courthouse with Harry’s grandfather Laurie O’Farrell, a solicitor by profession.
Speaking the morning after the night before, Bill couldn’t contain his excitement.
“What an absolutely magnificent occasion it was,” Bill said. “The players were wonderful. I was introduced to them in the room and they all came over to my table. By gee they were polite and very approachable too. They made me feel happy and good about myself.”
Bill added that Patrick Cripps told him he remembered crossing paths with him in the previous community camp in Bendigo last year, while Charlie Curnow also popped across for a chat on what was his 28th birthday.
“I then jumped into a photo with Tom De Koning. Standing beside him I had to remind myself I once played in the ruck too. Crikey he’s a big bloke,” Bill said.
“My son Phil then approached Jack Silvagni with a list of Carlton’s Under 19 winners – me being the first in 1946 and Jack’s grandfather Serge ten down in 1956. Jack was pleasantly surprised, saying ‘I wasn’t aware of that’.”
William George Arthur Redmond became the 620th player to complete his Carlton senior debut at VFL/AFL level in the 13th Round match of 1947 against South Melbourne at Princes Park. The Blues got over the Bloods by four points in that one and Bill was but a young man of 20 then.
More than three quarters of a century on, the sprightly nonagenarian’s love for his old club has not abated – and having rubbed shoulders with Cripps and co. it’s only intensified.
