On March 26th, the players and coach will be together at Crown Palladium to celebrate 30 years since the first of the back to back flags of 1981/82. The reunion will coincide with the 2011 Carlton Hall of Fame Dinner.
To celebrate the 30 year anniversary of the first of the back to back premierships, renowned artist Jamie Cooper has produced a magnificent painting depicting the celebrations of the time. This original painting will be auctioned at the function and the Carlton Football Club is selling prints of this original.
The painting took Jamie over three months to complete and even longer to research, spending time with many of the 23 players involved in the two flags. The result is magnificent with many stories now coming to life on canvass.
Click here to order you print
Click here to book to attend the Hall of Fame Dinner
Jamie Cooper has provided the following explanation of some of the highlights and stories behind the painting:
From left to right.
Ken "Bomba" Sheldon swings from the lockers in his usual excitable fashion. He is draped in the famous Tiger rug, now somewhat toothless and missing an eye that has been symbolically plucked by the Mighty Blues. Ken holds it in his hand as a trophy. It is also a play on the fact that the song "Eye of the Tiger" was the motivational song for the finals campaign in 1982.
What are those knickers draped on the locker at top left with the initials B.B? Do they have something to do with the white platform boots and the pale blue Pom Pom on the floor, bottom left?
Mario "tatts" Bortolotto waves a tatts ticket above his head in recognition of his perceived good fortune in 1981. He has his arm around Scott Howell who is wiping Mario's muddied arm with a Scot Towel. David Glascott and Greg Wells are part of this group standing on the seats arm in arm. Wells holds an empty glass as he was famous for his "sculling" ability.
The brains behind the back to back campaign...Mike Fitzpatrick and David Parkin stand proudly holding the 1982 cup.
Rod Ashman is hoisted on Robbert Klomp's shoulder giving the famous thumbs up. This thumbs up was made by Rod after kicking a decisive goal in the 1982 Grand Final. He had befriended a sick boy who was losing his hearing and sight and had asked for some sign from Rod that he was thinking of him on the famous day. The thumbs up was that sign.
Wayne Harmes and Des English were best mates and are seen here embracing in victory. Harmes is savouring it all with a Park Drive "ciggy" and a bottle of Bacardi. He is just looking for a bottle of coke to wash it all down.
Below them in the foreground David "Swan" McKay raises a drink and lays a consoling arm around a still dazed Ross Ditchburn. Ross holds an ice pack to his head after copping one from Jimmy Jess early in the 1982 Grand Final. He chews a hayseed to remind him of home in the wheat belt of W.A.
Part two (coming soon) looks at the rest of the painting.
Aaah... the good old days.
Jamie Cooper
