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Though he’s mostly confined to the solitude of his east suburban home these days, 93 year-old Don McIntyre still follows the on-field fortunes of his old club with great gusto.
And the former Carlton back pocket always takes an interest in the latest club best and fairest, with whom the John Nicholls Medal is now bestowed.
McIntyre, a recipient of what was then known as the Robert Reynolds Trophy in 1937, is Carlton’s oldest surviving club champion and its only living pre-World War II premiership player.
Yet humility prevails when the boy from Geelong is asked to call on his individual and team achievements of more than 70 seasons past.
“I’ve reflected on that year 1937 quite a lot. I was never outstanding and was very very lucky to win that the club best and fairest,” McIntyre said recently.
“At the time we didn’t have very many outstanding top quality Brownlow Medallists in the place and as a result if you were consistent you had a fair chance of rating fairly well from the point of view of getting an award of some sort.
“There were far more talented players than I. Keith Shea was probably the most talented left foot stab kick and “Mick” Crisp won the best and fairest twice, so I’m not being modest – just genuine. There were half a dozen others who could have got it just as well.”
McIntyre played his part in Carlton’s breakthrough season of 1938, which ended with the team’s first premiership in 23 years. He followed his captain-coach Brighton Diggins onto the MCG that September, and was forced into frog-jumping the thousands of spectators who had crammed between the fence and the boundary line to get a glimpse of the afternoon’s events.
Carlton Best & Fairest
Limited Tickets still available
John Nicholls Medal
Thursday, September 11
7.00pm for 7.30pm
Crown Palladium
Dress – Lounge Suit for men, Cocktail for Women
$165 per head – Three course dinner with premium beverages
To book contact Adam on (03 9389 6255 or Cameron on (03) 9389 6291.
Click here to download the booking form
