Parts 1-  2 - 3

Part 1
A century ago, a powerful Carlton outfit - still bearing numerous legends from our 1906 and 1907 flag teams - tore through the VFL season with skill and gusto, losing only a single match mid-season. That team, led by the great Jack Worrall as Coach, and Fred Elliott as Captain, destroyed St Kilda by 58 points in a one-sided Semi Final, to set up Carlton’s 4th Grand Final in 5 years against the only team that had defeated us that year. And now, 100 years later, the Blueseum is pleased to present the story of that fascinating Grand Final, using actual historical recollections from the day itself.

Much like today, and perhaps because of matches like this over the years, there was no doubt that the Carlton and Essendon match-up was keenly anticipated. The teams had faced off twice in the season, for one win a piece; 11 points to Carlton then 13 points to Essendon in the quagmire at the East Melbourne Cricket Ground in our only loss for the entire year. As a result, the match itself had received a mass of attention, and a correspondingly enormous crowd was expected to attend, to see all-conquering Carlton versus the emerging Essendon. The Age reported:

The match attracted an immense gathering of spectators, 49,371 persons passing through the turnstiles, and the gate receipts amounting to £1789, which eclipsed all previous records.

The large crowd created issues of its own, with various fights and events causing a distraction to the game (the Age):

On two occasions part of the railing surrounding the playing enclosure succumbed to the pressure of the crowd. Spectators were perched in the branches of the elms on the railway side of the ground, and numbers of people who had paid for admission to the big grand stand being unable to obtain sitting accommodation under cover, sought and found it on the roof. In the vicinity of the western goal some of the over exuberant onlookers came to blows, and some excitement was caused by a woman fainting and being carried on to the playing ground, where, after being fanned and attended to, she recovered.

As an interesting aside to the reporting of the time, the Age reporter clearly was unimpressed with the media facilities of the day:

Notwithstanding the immense attendance, most of the spectators were able to view the game in comfort, an advantage which, however, was not enjoyed by representatives of the press. The inconveniently situated press box on the M.C.C. ground is a disgrace to the club, whose other appointments are irreproachable.

Given the build-up to the match, 2 special balls had also been prepared for the big game (just the two; as distinct from football these days with bags of balls at each end), which appeared to set a new precedent of football for use in our beloved game:

In view of the interest attached to Saturday’s match, two special balls were manufactured by Mr. T. W. Sherrin, of Collingwood, whose footballs, cricket balls and boxing gloves have been pronounced by visiting champion athletes to be equal to any produced in England or America. Mr. Sherrin made the balls for Saturday’s match similar in shape to those which he manufactured for the recent Jubilee Carnival games (*1), the ends being rounded and experts agreed that the innovation was a decided improvement.

At team selection, both teams were able to provide strong line-ups. Carlton went with their strongest possible team, but were missing key players in Doug Gillespie and Frank ‘Silver’ Caine through injury. 'Mallee' Johnson went into the match under a cloud as he had bruised his hip in the Semi Final against St Kilda, yet the Age reported ‘but at the request of his comrades he stripped, and proved as useful as usual, being one of the most prominent players on the field’.

B: Norman Clark Les Beck Arthur Ford

HB: Billy Payne Jim Flynn Fred Jinks (vc)

C: Ted Kennedy Rod McGregor George Bruce

HF: Alex Lang Jim Marchbank Martin Gotz

F: Harvey Kelly Vin Gardiner George Topping

Ruck: George 'Mallee' Johnson Charlie Hammond Fred Elliott (c)

Coach: Jack Worrall

 Essendon created something of a stir at selection, picking Legge and ‘Wesley College Crack’ Prout over the more experienced Parkinson and Landmann, with the Age considering in regard to the latter’s removal ‘…not at all surprising to find that the latter’s omission proved to be a disastrous mistake’. However, as in football through the ages and until today, team selections remain controversial and a point of great discussion, and Phil Garlick of “Punch” thought them a positive:

A lot of people will condemn the executive on the losing side for changing the team, but they did the correct thing. Prout made a brilliant debut, and in him they have found a star.

(1)  The first Australian Rules Football carnival was held at the MCG in celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the sport, and was played in Melbourne between the States. A team from New Zealand was also included.