THE CARLTON front half of 2019 is generally considered a work in progress, but back in ’29 it efficiently operated off the trusty right boot of Bacchus Marsh’s own - the Blues’ larger than life full-forward, Harry ‘Soapy’ Vallence.
Ninety years ago, in the 15th round of 1929 at Princes Park, Vallence put 11 over the goal umpire’s hat in the match with South Melbourne (now Sydney) - this weekend’s opponent at Marvel Stadium.
That epic solo (11 from Carlton’s 17 for the match) contributed to the home team’s 38-point victory over an outfit which collectively matched ‘Soapy’s’ bag with 11 of their own.
Of Vallence’s showing against the Bloods on that Saturday in August, The Argus correspondent “Old Boy” wrote:
“His (Vallence’s) tally of 11 goals was richly deserved, for his marking and his kicking was the feature of the match. He seldom made a mistake in marking or kicking, and was responsible for more than half the scoring. He received a great ovation as he ran in”.
Ninety years on, Vallence’s 11-goal haul remains a club record for most goals kicked by a Carlton player against the Swans – and, in a further measure of the man’s goalkicking greatness, ‘Soapy’ still commands bragging rights with more 'snags' against South in totality than any other Blue – 72 from 17 matches at an average of 4.24.
Second is Stephen Kernahan with 56 goals from 18 at 3.11 and Ken Baxter with 46 from 17 at 2.71.
Back in ’31, Vallence – second only to Stephen Kernahan for most Carlton career goals kicked - offered rare insight into his modus opperandi. In a column penned for Truth newspaper, he forwarded the following sage advice in respect of goalkicking;
“In kicking, it is always very wise to stick to the one style most suitable to you, and concentrate on perfection of that kick. I prefer the punt kick when having a shot, as I find it surer and more effective,” Vallence wrote.
"When close in I sink the boot just as hard. Too many easy goals are thrown away by players making pussy little kicks, and the ball, through lack of momentum, getting off its course. A forward should realise that it is most disheartening to his team mates to see easy shots mucked up and all their good efforts thrown away.
"Although you are being beaten, never give up. Two or three goals at the end may be a match winning effort. Change your tactics, and if you try hard enough something must come your way.
"I never let the crowd worry me. “Boo-hoos” and “biting comments” go off me like water off a duck’s back. Even if you are having a bad day, they will soon forgive you when you kick the goal they have been waiting for.”
In 1935, six seasons after Vallence’s 11-goal heroics, another Carlton player also caused a stir against South Melbourne.
It happened in the 4th round of the ’35 season, when the Blues met South at the Lakeside Oval – the day the late Clen Denning, on debut, booted six goals with his first six kicks.
To place Denning’s on-field moment into historical context, 1935 was also the year that Elvis Presley was born, the FBI took out Ma Barker’s gang and Babe Ruth hit his 714th home run.
In an interview with this correspondent back in late 2007, Denning, then 96, conceded that the extraordinary goalkicking feat might not have happened had it not been for his great friendship with the former West Australian and Carlton centreman, Ron ‘Socks’ Cooper.
“I can only remember the first goal. It’s a long time ago after all – 72 years in fact,” Denning said at the time.
“I remember kicking the goal after Ron Cooper passed the ball to me. Anyhow, another one of the Carlton players, I won’t mention his name, said to Ron ‘What the hell did you kick it to him for?’. Ron replied ‘He was in a better position,” but the truth was that Ron was a workmate. He and I worked together for the city council as linemen up the electric telegraph poles.”
