At the centre of the story is John Green, the son of the former Carlton and Hawthorn footballer Jack Green. John was but a boy of nine when the Blues secured their eighth premiership pennant in the dying seconds of the final quarter, but he unwittingly left an indelible mark on proceedings as he shortly explains here.
John graciously agreed to relate this yarn to Carlton Members and supporters after the club recently made contact with both him and Terry Green - the son of Jack’s brother Bob Green, a member of Carlton’s 1938 Premiership team and the club’s 187-game record holder in the No.32 guernsey.
This is John’s story.
“I am the son of Jack Green who played for Carlton through the 1930s.
After Jack injured his knee, Carlton swapped him for Jim Francis of Hawthorn in the eighth week of the 1934 season. Jim went on to captain Carlton and had a very distinguished career as player and coach with the Blues.
Carlton had not been playing Jack at full-forward but Hawthorn, knowing Jack had kicked 116 goals in a season as full-forward for University Blacks, played him there. Jack played the rest of the 1934 season with Hawthorn at full-forward and kicked 80 goals - a record which he held for 34 years.
During the 1936 season, Jack retired from football with a badly damaged knee. But he was soon back on the football scene as a broadcaster with Norman Banks on 3KZ.
I well recall, as a nine year-old, sitting in the broadcast box at the MCG on the afternoon of September 27, 1947. I was under strict orders to not make a sound whilst I watched the Carlton Essendon Grand Final.
It was an exciting match with Essendon one point ahead at quarter time and eleven ahead at both half and three quarter time.
The last quarter was very exciting, particularly when Fred Davies goaled, bringing Carlton within six points. Shortly thereafter “snozzly” Garby kicked a goal and the crowd erupted, only to be quickly silenced when it was found that Ken Hands had crossed the boundary line when passing it to Ray.
With just two minutes to go, Fred Davies, who had kicked four goals, kicked for goal but scored only a point.
Carlton was now five points down with less than a minute to the bell with the ball out of bounds near the Carlton goal. On the throw-in, Ken Baxter grabbed the ball and passed it to Freddy Stafford who, half turning, screwed a left foot kick over his shoulder and scored the winning goal.
It was then that I made my radio debut by shouting ‘HOORAY’ in the broadcasting box.
Carlton won by a point, thanks to its accurate kicking of 13 goals 8 behinds to 11 goals 19 behinds.
My father paid special tribute to the persistent and inspirational play of the Carlton Captain Ern Henfry. Ern, at this point, had played only 20 games for Carlton having been made Captain after only two games.
Cheers
John Green”
To listen to the dying moments of the ’47 Grand Final and hear John Green cheer for his beloved Blues after the final siren sounds, click here.
Footnote: A further untold story of the ’47 Grand Final involving Allan Greenshields - one of only four members of that Carlton Premiership team still living - will appear on the website in coming days.
