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1939 Summary
In the first half of the 1939 season Carlton lacked the consistency that had characterised their 1938 premiership. After a solid start, winning 3 of their first 4 games, the Blues sat in second place on the ladder. Close losses in rounds 6 and 7 to Hawthorn (3 points) and Richmond (7 points) saw the club fall to sixth. Two wins in the four matches between rounds 7 and 10 saw the club lift to fifth place, but were three games our of the four.The club finally rediscovered some of the form of the previous year in round 11, winning six games in a row. This saw Carlton sneak into fourth place on the ladder in round 16, the first time they had been in the top 4 since round 4. A round 17 loss to Richmond, a team we had struggled against for over a decade, was our second of the season to the Tigers and pushed us down to fifth place. A final round victory wasn't enough to overtake St Kilda in fourth, and the Blues would dissappointingly not make the finals to defend our flag.
At the end of the season the Blues had the best record of any team in terms of having the least points scored against it. This was helped greatly by a highly committed and stable backline, Jim Francis, Frank Gill and Don McIntyre played every game and Frank Anderson, Bob Chitty and Jim Park only missed one game each for the season.
It appeared Captain Coach Brighton Diggins would have some serious work on his hands to restore the Blues to Premiers.
Footnote:
The Blues played Hawthorn in Canberra enroute to Sydney.The match took place on Wednesday July 26th. It was a brilliant exhibition of football.
Carlton defeated Hawthorn in front of a record Canberra crowd of 4,000 at Manuka Oval. 300 cars lined the fence.
Carlton team;
Backs; B. Bignell, J. W. Park, J. McElroy
Half backs; J. Jones, J. Francis, F. Anderson
Centres; J. Carney, K. Rae, R. Green
Half forwards; J. Skinner, J. Wrout, P. Schmidt
Forwards; A. Price, K. Baxter, R. McLean
Followers; H. Hollingshead, R. Savage,
Rover; R. Cooper
19th. & 20th; C. McInnes, G. Cameron
Umpire; W. "Bill" Blackburn
Carl. 5.3 8.3 12.4 15.8.98
Haw. 2.4 5.10 10.12 12.15.87
Goals; Baxter 4, Schmidt 3, Wrout 3, Skinner 2, McElroy, Cooper, Price.
Best; Francis, Park, Anderson, Carney, Jones, Baxter, Rae, Cooper.
Carlton then journeyed to Sydney to play the N.S.W. team on the Sydney Cricket Ground, Saturday July 29.
The Sydney Morning Herald July 25, had a write up on each Carlton player.
To read the article, click here> http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article17596885
A crowd of 14,000 saw the Blues win.
Carlton team;
Backs; J. McElroy, J. W. Park, C. McInnes
Half backs; J. Jones, J. Francis (Capt), F. Anderson
Centre; J. Carney, P. Schmidt, R. Green
Half forwards; K. Rae, J. Wrout, J. Skinnner
Forwards; A. Price, K. Baxter, R. McLean
Followers; H. Hollingshead, R. Savage
Rover; R. Cooper
19th; B. Bignell
Carlton won by 40 points
Carl; 19.19.133
NSW; 14.9.93
Goals; Wrout 5, Price 5, Baxter 2, Schmidt 2, Rae, Skinner, Cooper, Hollingshead, McElroy.
Best; Savage Hollingshead (ruck), Cooper (rover), Francis Anderson Park McInnes (backs), Wrout Baxter Price (forwards), Carney Green (wings)
Ladder
| Pos | Team | Wins | Draws | Losses | Points | For | Against | % |
| 1 | Melbourne | 15 | 0 | 3 | 60 | 273.290.1928 | 206.266.1502 | 128.4 |
| 2 | Collingwood | 15 | 0 | 3 | 60 | 272.240.1872 | 215.245.1535 | 122 |
| 3 | Richmond | 13 | 0 | 5 | 52 | 239.300.1734 | 210.209.1469 | 118 |
| 4 | St Kilda | 13 | 0 | 5 | 52 | 255.276.1806 | 216.254.1550 | 116.5 |
| 5 | Carlton | 12 | 0 | 6 | 48 | 251.290.1796 | 205.229.1459 | 123.1 |
| 6 | Essendon | 8 | 0 | 10 | 32 | 238.268.1696 | 247.267.1749 | 97 |
| 7 | Geelong | 7 | 0 | 11 | 28 | 223.244.1582 | 243.255.1713 | 92.4 |
| 8 | Fitzroy | 6 | 1 | 11 | 26 | 206.246.1482 | 237.239.1661 | 89.2 |
| 9 | Nth Melbourne | 6 | 0 | 12 | 24 | 227.199.1561 | 241.263.1709 | 91.3 |
| 10 | Hawthorn | 5 | 1 | 12 | 22 | 198.239.1427 | 228.289.1657 | 86.1 |
| 11 | Footscray | 4 | 0 | 14 | 16 | 210.234.1494 | 261.243.1809 | 82.6 |
| 12 | Sth Melbourne | 3 | 0 | 15 | 12 | 191.221.1367 | 274.288.1932 | 70.8 |
People of 1939
Captain / Coach: Brighton DigginsLeading Goal-kicker: Ken Baxter - 65 goals
Best & Fairest: Frank Gill
Best team Man: Bob Green
Most Improved Player: Ken Baxter
Most Consistent: Jack Carney
Meritorious Play: Don McIntyre
Stanford University (USA) Kicking Competition: Best Drop Kick Jack Wrout, Best Punt Kick Frank Anderson, Best Place Kick Jack Hale.
Milestones
Retirements: Harry Vallence (722 goals in 204 games)Debuts: Keith Rae, Jim Jones, Cyril Mann, Jack Skinner
PRINCES PARK
Seating
"A row of seats have been placed all around the Carlton ground, close to the fence, and this will be much appreciated by supporters. This is part of a general improvement scheme arranged by the ground committee."(The Argus April 19 1939 p26)
Admission Charges
The League agreed to increase the charge to the outer from 10d to one shilling. The extra 2d will go into ground improvements and maintence.Huge Shelter For Carlton -Work To Begin Immediately
"It was announced on Saturday that the ground managers had decided to start immediately with the erection of a huge shelter in the outer.Plans were discussed a fortnight ago, and now that the extra twopences from outer patrons are rolling in the committee feels that it can start, with an expenditure of about 1,400 pounds, on the first section of a steel structure.
This will be placed immediately opposite the old grand stand, and as funds permit will be extended to the left and right to gradually cover the whole of the outer." (Age April 24 1939 p14)
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