Almanac Books: ‘Champions of Carlton’ – Miles Wilks
Miles Wilks’ recent publication, Champions of Carlton has many great features.
Among the many highlights Miles features in his book includes the fantastic colourised photos of the stars from the 1940s – 1950s; the recognition of players whose stories have not been told until now – Fred Davies and Jack Howell in particular, there’s a terrific interview with Brent Crosswell, and a who could forget the exploits of the two Waynes, Harmes and Johnston. And, of course, there is plenty more information to satisfy any Blues supporter.
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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Thanks John for the kind words above.
From my viewpoint, it’s a good coffee table book if you are a Carlton supporter…or an even better coffee table book for the moments such as when your Essendon supporting relatives come over for tea or drinks. You can leave it on the table and casually flick over to the page on Kouta in the 1999 preliminary final or the 1947 GF. “Oh, you’ll love this book,” you can say just as they open it up for the page with Kouta taking a mark over three Essendon opponents. (Yes, I have a cruel streak!)
On Talking Carlton and Big Footy, I have given away one book as part of a promotional effort and I will do the same here. The first reader who can name the match (and year) in which Jezza kicked nine goals against Essendon (it is discussed in the book) can obtain a free copy of Champions of Carlton.
I’m guessing it was about Round 1 in 1970 that he bagged 9 against Essendon-
Greg posted in the almanac some years ago-
Essendon’s opening match was at Princess Park, against the previous season’s runners up, Carlton. The match was never a contest as Carlton jumped away to a 33 point lead at quarter time, 7.6.48 to 2.3.15. Carlton won by 49 points 21.19.145, to 14.12.96, with club legend Alex Jesaulenko kicking a tally of 9 goals, 6 behinds on his way to a season tally of 115 goals. One of the few notables for Essendon was a 6 goal performance from future Victorian and South Australian Sheffield Shield batsman, Les Stillman.
I meant Glen! not Greg!
I think Jezza kicked 9 in a Grand Final against Richmond in 1972 when Carlton amassed a huge score of 150 points?
Congratulations Miles. I’ve always found Croswell to be a fascinating character and a bloody good writer. I’ve always wondered why there’s never been a biography of him.
Hi Dan,
You are correct. Channel 7 has about two minutes of highlights from this match and the crowd behind the goals in the Heatley Stand go slightly bananas every time he kicked one. A great moment in the Jesaulenko story. Such a shame that the Heatley Stand was pulled down as it really was the emotional core of the ground. What can you do? Time marches on and they call it “progress”, yet some things are worth preserving. That is good detail you provide of that match by the way. I will have to look at Greg’s article sometime.
Can you send John your email address and he can pass it onto me so you obtain a book.
Cheers- Miles
Barry,
That’s a great point made on Brent. He was a member of four premiership teams and best on ground in two Grand Finals. Besides Barassi (1957 & 1959) and one or two others, not many players from the 1950s up until the 1990s achieved this feat of being best on ground in two Grand Finals.
Yes, I agree with your point on him as a writer. He was streets ahead of others (one has to put him in the Martin Flanagan class….also from Tasmania) due to his honesty and his ability to provide first class descriptive language. I researched a few of his articles from the 1980s and they always have those two ingredients as mentioned above.
Some people I have spoken to have said the Champions book is worth getting just for the Crosswell chapter alone. He never wrote a biography I believe as he isn’t one to seek attention or big note himself. It was fortunate timing that he was willing to discuss aspects of his football career with me.
Dan,
You can see the Jezza footage against Essendon about six minutes into this video.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OJkExHSlkvw&t=1904s
Thanks Miles, I think an avid Blues supporter, not an avid Tigers supporter, would be a more appropiate recipient of your kind offer
John will know of someone. Good luck with your book sales.
In regard to 1972 Grand Final Jezza only kicked 7 goals; Carl 177 def Richmond 150 in an old-fashioned shoot-out.