Name: Dominic Spataro
Carlton member years: 36 years
Favourite player: Michael Jamison
Memorable match: All grand final wins in his lifetime (’79, ’81, ’82, ’87 & ’95) and the 1999 preliminary final against Essendon
When Carlton turned up to play Collingwood at Victoria Park in Round 7, 1978, the Blues had their backs to the wall. Carlton had made a terrible start to the season, losing five out of six matches, having been defeated by Richmond, Geelong, Essendon, South Melbourne and Hawthorn. The Blues’ sole win so far that season had come against Melbourne in Round 3.
So when Dom Spataro turned up to watch his very Carlton first match, it was an understatement to say the Blues were “massive underdogs”.
However, against all odds Carlton dug deep against the Pies and “beat them in the slush” – 12.13.85 to 9.14.68. In that match back in ’78, Rodney Ashman kicked five goals, while Trevor Keogh was the highest possession getter on the ground with 30 touches.
Dom, now a proud Carlton man, recalls walking away a happy supporter.
“The whole team was best on ground, including all the good old legends,” he said.
The following year, 1979, Dom signed up as a Carlton member and has been a fully-fledged Bluebagger ever since. Born “a blue boy”, he came from a family full of Blues – well almost.
“Most of my family are Carlton supporters except for my mum – she’s a Collingwood supporter believe it or not!”
There’s no doubt Dom’s a true Carlton man. When he popped the question to his now wife, there was another question he also asked: will you become a Blue too?
“My wife was an Essendon supporter but if she was going to get married to me she had to be a Carlton supporter,” he laughed.
“On the night of our engagement we went to the 2007 Wizard Cup Grand Final between Carlton and Brisbane – that was our celebration!”
And if you’re wondering whether Dom received the right answer, he says “she’s now a Blue through and through”.
The civil construction foreman and his Carlton-supporting wife are parents to 12-year-old twins, Anthony and Ethan, who have taken after their father and become Bluebaggers too.
Having been a member for 36 years, Dom has “a lot of Carlton stuff stashed away,” but there’s one item that stands out above the others.
“My most prized possession is an original photo of Alex Jesaulenko in the 1970 grand final taking a screamer over Graeme Jenkin (which was named Mark of the Century) personally signed by Jezza himself.”
Jesaulenko, you beauty! (Photo: Clive Mackinnon/News Limited)
Dom loved watching ‘Jezza’ back in the day, as well as Ken Hunter. His favourite current day player is reliable backman Michael Jamison, while he believes young gun Patrick Cripps is “our next champion midfielder”.
“I’ve got no doubt about that! I’ve seen champions come through the ranks, like Wayne Johnston and Chris Judd, but this young kid is going to be good,” he said.
