Ken Hands, one of the most influential figures in Carlton history, has graciously availed his glorious collection of memorabilia to the football club.
Included amongst the precious assortment are treasured Carlton and Victorian guernseys, club Premiership mementoes of 1945 and ’47 and framed VFL 200-game and Life Membership certificates, together with assorted press clippings.
Also there is a glorious portrait of Hands, resplendent in his dark Navy Blue guernsey, circa 1945, and a picture captured from the Robert Heatley Stand of him in the famous No.1, leading his players onto Princes Oval in game No.200.
A portrait of Ken Hands. (Photo: Carlton Football Club)
On the reverse of that pic is a caption which reads; “Ken Hands – 200th game for Carlton. May 18, 1957. Carlton 16.22 d Richmond 13.16 at Princes Oval. Ken Hands (Captain) 5 goals”.
Hands, now in his 90th year, hoped that the collection would be of interest to Members when on future display at the Carlton ground. His son John, who handed over the prized artefacts, said the family’s rationale was simple.
The scene at Princes Park for Ken Hands' 200th game. (Photo: Carlton Football Club)
“These things were sitting in a vault, hidden away for no-one to see, so Dad, my sisters Janet and Robyn and I are quite happy for the club to showcase these things,” Hands said.
“We’re all so very proud of him, not only for what he achieved in his football life but for what he achieved in his business life too.”
A member of the infamous 1945 “Bloodbath” and ’47 Grand Final triumphs, Hands commanded authority as Carlton’s resident ruckman through 211 senior appearances in 13 seasons to 1957 - during which time he earned his club’s best and fairest in 1953 and ably served as captain.
Wearing the famous No.1 guernsey, Hands, a Carlton Team of the Century and Hall of Fame member, would also serve as mentor to the budding young ruckman John Nicholls, whom he signed as club recruiter.
A senior coach in six seasons from 1959, Hands is also one of only three coaches (joining Norman “Hackenschmidt” Clark and Brett Ratten) to have represented Carlton in a minimum 100 senior matches as both player and coach.
“Dad’s first coaching experience came when he coached the Victorian team in 1954. He won all eight games from then on,” John said.
“He then won his first eight games as Carlton coach, so he had a 16-game run.”
“He still loves walking into the Carlton ground. Carlton was a very big part of his life, absolutely. His career as player and coach encompassed 20 years and that’s a big part of anyone’s life.”
