Almanac Book Reviews: ‘Champions of Carlton’ – Miles Wilks

 

 

I have enjoyed reading Miles Wilks’ book Champions of Carlton. The research and effort involved in writing the book appears to have been a labour of love for Miles. It is certainly an indulgence for Carlton-supporting readers, who in these years of famine can enjoy the reflective pleasure of past glories.

 

His approach is a novel one compared to more conventional histories of the club. Miles has focused on ten distinguished players in the famous navy blue uniform in the period from the late 1930s until the early days of the 21st century. While there would be pub arguments over the appropriate inclusions, Miles has used the criterion of performance in finals – especially Grand Finals – as a major justification for his choices. Predictably, the towering figures of the golden years (1965-1995) are there. Nicholls, Jesaulenko, Crosswell, Harmes, Johnston, Kernahan, (Stephen) Silvagni and Koutoufides who all have a legitimate claim on that over-used appellation ‘Champion’. 

 

Somewhat more debatable is the consideration of Ron Barassi the only one of the chosen, who had an extensive career – as player and coach to say nothing of his distinctive role as an informal ambassador for Australian Rules – at other club(s). Miles argues persuasively that Barassi’s impact on Carlton as playing coach and then in the non-playing role is such that he qualifies as a Carlton champion.  

 

The earlier period – immediately before and after World War II gets a guernsey with chapters on Jack Howell, a star in the late 1940s and early fifties, and two rather more obscure nominations, Ken Baxter and Fred Davies. I confess that Davies was previously unknown to me, although I was hazily aware of the Baxter name at Carlton. Miles provides plausible justifications for rescuing these two players from comparative obscurity, because of their contribution in finals and their performances in winning premiership teams. 

 

Wilks’ research is detailed drawing extensively on contemporary newspaper reports as well as communication with surviving family members from more distant years, and communication with playing contemporaries of the ‘moderns’. For the more recent champions, he complements the public record with personal memories. This is where the content most resonates, as readers (of now advanced age!) will bring their own recollections of glorious moments and magic afternoons at Princes Park, the MCG and other suburban grounds. The (relatively) modern-era accounts will serve as a prompt for readers as they draw from their personal memory banks recollections of inspirational feats of Hunter, Doull, Bradley, Bosustow, and others. We will share Miles’ delight in remembering Sticks Kernahan’s wonderful leadership in the run to the 1987 and 1995 premierships, the phenomenon of Jezza during his career, but particularly during the 1970 season – and especially its culmination and Kouta’s remarkable final quarter in the 1999 Preliminary Final.

 

Baxter played in successful Grand Finals – 1938, 1945 and 1947, as well as the decisive loss in 1949. Davies was part of the 1947 premiership and also played in the 1949 Grand Final. His final game for Carlton was the 1952 first semi-final against Fitzroy (lost by a solitary point thanks to appalling inaccuracy).

 

Both were particularly prominent in finals. Baxter kicked 8 and 7 goals in the second semi-finals of 1938 and 1949, and featured regularly among the best players in his several finals. Davies was outstanding in the 1947 finals series, arguably BOG in both the semi-final and Grand Final.

 

I was aware of Jack Howell, but underestimated him in my recollection as a very young child during his playing career.  He was a dual Carlton best & fairest winner (1946, 1948), runner-up in the Brownlow (1946) and a routine inclusion in the Victorian  team for most of his career. Like Davies and Baxter, he was a distinguished finals performer, featuring in the 1947 and 1949 campaigns as well as the 1952 semi-final loss. In my mind – prior to being encouraged by Miles to review my judgment – I considered Jack’s main claim to fame as being part of the only three generation premiership family (Jack snr. 1918 – South Melbourne, Jack jnr. 1947 – Carlton, Scott 1981, Carlton), and the best of the trio.

 

A revelatory interview with Brent Crosswell complements a series of photographs and description focused on his 1970’s finals campaign, capped by his performance in the Grand Final, when by general consensus he was best afield. The account of this interview is alone worth the price of admission.

 

Miles’ focus for the modern players is on specific performances as representative of their champion status. Wayne Harmes is lauded for his Norm Smith medal winning match in the 1979 Grand Final (across the whole game, not just the magic moment of his rescuing a ball headed for the boundary to deliver to Ken Sheldon for the decisive goal). However, Miles also draws the reader’s attention to another Harmes’ performance, when he turned the 1982 Qualifying Final against Hawthorn with a personal four goal burst in just eight minutes, during a typical Carlton premiership quarter which yielded eleven goals. 

 

Wayne Johnston’s imperious record in finals is the focus in the chapter on the Dominator. His brilliant four-quarter effort as a first-year player was reason for many observers to suggest that he might well have been the inaugural Norm Smith medallist. In the 1981 Grand Final he again featured in the best players, and in the 1982 decider with Carlton very much the underdog, Johnston’s ferocious opening five minutes set the tone for the match. While he continued to burnish his record in other finals, including the ‘dry’ period 1983-85, he again had a significant impact in the opening minutes of the 1987 Grand Final as the Blues triumphed again.

 

The primary focus in the chapter on Stephen Silvagni is his somewhat controversial selection as full back in the VFL/AFL team of the century. Wilks draws on the complimentary remarks of three great opponents, Tony Lockett, Jason Dunstall and Wayne Carey to vindicate the selectors’ choice. Silvagni played in both the 1987 and 1995 premiership teams and he perhaps reached his highpoint in successive weeks in the latter year’s Preliminary and Grand Final restricting Wayne Carey to a single goal and holding Garry Ablett goalless. 

 

In considering Stephen Kernahan, Wilks emphasises his leadership. Sticks was thrust into the hot seat at the early age of 23, leading a team with several more experienced players. He proved his mettle – as noted in the book – with a decisive goal after the siren in the final round match, which secured the Blues top spot on the ladder, and the pronounced advantage of a week off. General opinion is that this goal ultimately determined the premiership, as Hawthorn faced three bruising matches prior to the Grand Final which was played in 31-degree heat – probably the hottest day on which a Grand Final has been played. Kernahan also demonstrated outstanding leadership in the demolition of Geelong in the 1995 Grand Final. Equally notable was his lone hand (7 goals) in the humiliating loss to Essendon in the 1993 decider.

 

Anthony Koutoufides’ brilliance was never more in evidence than in the 1999 Preliminary Final when Carlton upset the raging hot favourite, Essendon, by a single point. Kouta had other magic days, and Wilks draws particularly attention to a mid-season game in 2000 against North Melbourne then the reigning premier and a top four team in that current season 17 kicks, 21 handballs, 8 marks, 5 goals gives only a hint of his dominance on that occasion. I expect that I’m not the only Carlton supporter who considers Kouta robbed of the 2000 Brownlow Medal!

 

I have a minor quibble. The focus on single matches in several of the pieces means that the sustained achievements of the various champions don’t feature. My other reservation is that Miles’ legitimate choice to emphasise finals’ (especially Grand Finals’) performances as his selection criterion omits some worthy candidates. Inclusions/omissions doubtless give rise to heated discussion. I would have tried to find a spot for Bruce Doull, and if Wilks’ criterion of Grand Final success was relaxed, Horrie Clover might be included. 

 

However, he has made his plausible choices and is to be congratulated for this distinctive addition to the collection of the Carlton literary collection. The book is beautifully presented and features many fine photographs, not limited to the champions. I was wary of the use of colourisation of black and white photographs, but this has been done in a sensitive manner and enhances the illustrations. Well played, Miles. 

 

The book  can be purchased direct from Miles for $30 plus mailing cost of $10.  https://www.wilksbooks.com/about  or at all good bookstores…..Dymocks, Collins, Readings, Avenue Books, Boffins over in WA etc..

 

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