Sam Docherty and Andrejs Everitt chest the banner together on Sunday, moments before their 50^th senior appearances for Carlton, against Adelaide on the MCG.

In doing so, Docherty (the 13-game former Brisbane player) and Everitt (a journeyman with 36 games at the Western Bulldogs and a further 43 with Sydney) become the 318th & 319th players to achieve this honour - with 268 having represented the Blues in each of their first 50 League games.

Scrupulous club statistician Stephen Williamson advises that Docherty and Everitt also become the 50^th and 51^st players respectively to play 50 games for Carlton having played senior football elsewhere – from one-gamers Tom Clancy (South Melbourne), Kevin Clarke (Melbourne) and Maurie Connell (South Melbourne) to Melbourne’s 204-game great Ron Barassi.

Williamson also reveals that the Docherty-Everitt joint milestone match is only the second time in which two players, having played seniors at another League club(s) each play their 50th Carlton game in the same match. The others to do so were the 28-game former Essendon player Cory McGrath and North’s 33-gamer David Teague in the final round match of 2006 against Sydney at the SCG – co-incidentally their last League appearances.

In the 10^th and final game of 1935, Norman Le Brun, who in World War II lost his life fighting the Japanese in the jungles of New Guinea, fronted for his fifth and final senior game for the club, having managed 45 appearances at three other League clubs - South Melbourne (three matches), Essendon (23) and Collingwood (19).

At 22 years and 266 days, Docherty becomes the second youngest of 51 players to play 50 games for Carlton after playing seniors at another League club(s), while Everitt, at 27 years and 119 days, becomes the 23rd eldest.

Sam Docherty has raced to 50 games for Carlton since crossing over from Brisbane. (Photo: AFL Media)

The youngest is Justin Murphy (22 years and 91 days having played 12 games for Richmond), and the oldest Jim Flynn (35 years and 101 days having played 72 games for Geelong).

The most games missed by a player between his Carlton debut and his 50th senior game is 143. Luke O’Sullivan, who in game number 50 sported the iridescent blue guernsey into the M&M promotional match (Round 3, 1997 versus Adelaide), claims that dubious honour.

Carlton’s three youngest 50-game club players are Robert Walls (aged 19 years and 68 days, 1969 Grand Final versus Richmond at the MCG); Lance Whitnall (aged 19 years and 287 days, Round 10, 1999 versus West Coast at Subiaco); and Brent Crosswell (aged 19 years and 351 days old, Round 17, 1970 versus Fitzroy at Waverley.

Its three oldest are Jim Flynn (aged 35 years and 101 days old, Round 8, 1906 versus Melbourne at the MCG; Ron Barassi (aged 33 years and 80 days, Round 7, 1969 versus Melbourne at Princes Park); and Mick Grace (aged 31 years and 33 days old, Round 15, 1905 versus Collingwood at Victoria Park.

A total audience of 1,776,968 have witnessed Sam Docherty’s 49 Carlton matches (at an average of 36,265 per game. 1,808,435 people have watched Andrejs Everitt in 49 Carlton matches (at an average of 36,907).

Andrejs Everitt has proved to be a handy pick-up for the Blues. (Photo: AFL Media)

Of the 1176 players to have so far represented this football club in in VFL/AFL competition, 319 have gone on to play 50 senior Carlton games.