If the Lygon Street hoteliers ever saw merit in a blue beer day, then they’d surely pencil September 26 into their social calendars.
That’s because no fewer than five Grand Finals have been won by Carlton’s own on this landmark date in “Silverware September” – September 26, 1908, 1914, 1970, 1981 and 1987.
The first of them - a nine-point victory over Essendon at the old East Melbourne Cricket Ground in ’08- completed the Premiership hat-trick under the watch of Secretary (Coach) Jack Worrall.
The next – another narrow win this time to the tune of six points at South Melbourne’s expense in 1914 – came as hostilities erupted in Europe. On that day, Carlton fielded a record nine first-year players.
The 1914 Premiership side. (Photo: Carlton Football Club)
Fast forward to the Grand Final of 1970 – arguably the grandest Grand Final of all – where Jesaulenko leapt into football immortality and Ron Barassi’s Blues ridiculously reversed a 44-point half-time deficit to win by ten.
Rounding them out is the 1981 Grand Final (the first leg of the back-to-back Premiership double under David Parkin’s watch) and the big one in ’87 when David Rhys-Jones earned the Norm Smith Medal for doing a number on Dermott Brereton.
Without question the most important Premiership is the next, but if you happen to be down Lygon street way on September 26, find a local watering hole and make yours a Carlton . . . for old time’s sake.
