Reserves

This page tracks information about the success of the Carlton Football Club in the Reserves Grade competition, in place from 1919 until 2002. Thereafter, Carlton - like many of the Victorian based AFL Clubs - chose to disband its Reserves team and work with an affiliate team in the VFL - the Northern Bullants (later the Northern Blues). Information regarding those teams is provided here.
The Northern Bullants were a rebranded Preston Football Club which for many decades held a prominent position in the old VFA.
The Blues had a proud history in this competition, particularly during the 1980's when our playing stocks were swelled with a successful national recruiting drive. Details of our Premierships at Reserves level are highlighted in light blue below:

1910's	1920's	1930's	1940's	1950's	1960's	1970's	1980's	1990's	2000's	2020s
	1920	1930	1940	1950	1960	1970	1980	1990	2000
	1921	1931	1941	1951	1961	1971	1981	1991	2001	2021
	1922	1932	1942	1952	1962	1972	1982	1992	2002	2022
	1923	1933	1943	1953	1963	1973	1983	1993		2023
	1924	1934	1944	1954	1964	1974	1984	1994		2024
	1925	1935	1945	1955	1965	1975	1985	1995		2025
	1926	1936	1946	1956	1966	1976	1986	1996
	1927	1937	1947	1957	1967	1977	1987	1997
	1928	1938	1948	1958	1968	1978	1988	1998
1919	1929	1939	1949	1959	1969	1979	1989	1999

NB : Carlton had a side in the VFL (old VFA) between 2000 and 2002, before joining up with the Northern Bullants which would become the Northern Blues.
In 2021 Carlton would again field it's own stand alone club in the Reserves (VFL). A 22 team competition which included 5 interstate teams.
The Northern Bullants would also field a team in this competition.

The first Carlton Reserves (or Seconds) team was formed in 1866. Details of many of these matches can be found in the Pre VFL year by year section of Blueseum.
The reserves competition petered out in the 1890's probably due to the severe economic depression which greatly affected Victoria.

See 1893 - 1918 Reserves

Carlton Juniors and/or Carlton District were probably the feeders for the senior club until the establishment of the VFL Reserve Competition.
Further research is required into these competitions.
1893: The VFA reserves comp. was disbanded on July 14. The reason is not given, but Victoria's severe economic depression due to the crash of the land boom probably was the catalyst.
1894: Carlton Juniors? see Herald July 06 p3 VJFA B section Argus May 07 p6
1897: Royal Crescent/ Royal Park Crescent, was Carlton's junior team this season. (Herald May 07 p3)
1898: Melbourne Juniors (VJFA) play on the Carlton ground.
1899: Melbourne Jnrs home grnd Carlton C.G. Herald May 05 p2 said,"The team practice at the corner of Exhibition and Lonsdale Streets each Tuesday and Thursday evening.
1900: Carlton has taken the Carlton Juniors under their wing and will allow the juniors to train on the Carlton ground. (Herald May 04) Victoria Junior Football Assocation.
1900: Carlton Jnrs v Footscray Jnrs on the Brunswick C. G. June 30
1900: Carlton Jnrs v Melb. Jnrs at Carlton C. G. July 28
1901: Footscray Jnrs. v Carlton Jnrs.at Footscray. McGuiness, Bass, Ryan, Browne, Fyan, Topping, Jones, Mitchell, Prescott, Robertson (Capt), W. Seath, Laidlaw, Shaw, O'Dea, McAndrews, Edwards, Davis, McLean.Foots won, 6.10 - 1.6
1902: Carlton jnrs to play Burnley at Burnley Herald Fri April 18 p2 Herald May 02 p2
1902: Carlton jnrs to play Carlton Monday April 22 at 3pm
1902: The Herald April 25 p7; Writing about the V.J.F.A. "Carlton is still under the wing of the Carlton seniors and play on the Carlton Oval." J.Berry secretary, J. Williams (delegate)
J. Berry (1907) in letter to the editor said he was secretary of the Juniors for 5 years from its inception. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article198616288 (see 1907 below)
May 03 v Fitzroy Robertson (c), Gilchrist, Hood, Prescott, Lazarus, Eastmont, Schimke, Mitchell, Fyans, Gyles, Sharp, W. Seith, Gorsuch, Carney, Delaney, Kelly, Martin, Topping. Umpire F. Roche
Carlton lost 3.10.28 - 4.6.30
1903: Finished third on the ladder
1904: Harry Powell was given a permit to transfer from Carlton to Carlton District in the V.J.F.A. and they played home games at Princes Park. (Carlton Oval)
1904: VJFA 10 clubs; Carlton, Coburg, Collingwood, Fitzroy, Melbourne Juniors, Northcote, Footscray, Rose-of-Northcote, South Melbourne, Yarraville. Fixture Herald 29 April (p4)
1904: Norman Gilchrist (Capt) Jimmy Lovelace (vice capt) , Edie Robertson (former capt), Davis, Nance. Jimmy Franks club trainer.
1906: Herald (June 14 p4) under the heading Juniors, Carlton v Footscray on the Carlton football ground;
Carlton team; (18 named)
Bater, Lovelace, Watt, Steele, O'Connor, Reid, Anderson, Lee, Schwotz, Hennessy, Smithams (Capt), Grant, Mayne, Donnelly, Isaccs, Richards, Richards, McCormack.
Umpire; Sykes
Carlton lost by 32 points.
Carl; 1.0 2.0 3.0 4.2.26
Foots;1.4 4.5 7.9 8.10.58
Goals; Lovelace, Watts, Mayne, McCormack
1907: The CFC committte voted to withdraw suppport for Carlton Juniors use of the Carlton Oval for home matches this season (Age 29 April p9)
1907: Carlton Jnrs competing in the VJFA. (Age April 15 p5) Home ground is now the old Preston ground on which the local Presbyterians used to play.(Herald May 03 p4)
1907: The Age April 27 p16 in a list of fixtures mentions Essendon U.F.A. play Carlton District (Royal Park).on the Essendon ground.
1907: "Carlton District's players (late Royal Park) who will meet the Melbourne Grammar School team on the Carlton Oval tomorrow afternoon are requested to assemble in the pavilion at 2.30 sharp. The District put up a creditible game with Essendon's Association team last Saturday." (Herald May 03 p4)
1907: Carlton Dist. v Melb. from; Barningham, Bell, Blake, Caven, Connan, Evans, Evans, Evans, Grant, Millikin, Mitchell, Mclean, McLean, Numa, Paton, Robertson, Shelley, Smith , Smith, Stevens, Swalling, Triplett, Walker, Youl, Young.
1907: Carlton District are playing in the Melbourne District Association, other teams are Abbotsford, Melbourne Grammar School, University B, Clifton Hill, Melburnians, Hawthorn Rovers and Oakleigh. (Herald May 24/31)
1907: Carlton District ventued to Woodend to play the local team. Best, Numa, Hopze, Keating and Hanslow in Carlton's victory.
1909: Metro. Fixtures Leader April 17 p18
1910: Carlton Dist fixture http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article10848121.The Herald June 03 (p3) mentions Carlton District were playing Seymour at Seymour and that the club's secretary was H. Numa.
Bert 'Tracker' Numa played cricket for Carlton and later became the CFC treasurer 1919-1924.
Also in the column it mentions Carlton District playing Collegians on the Carlton Oval in the club's next match.
Numa was Carlton District captain in 1910.
This was in the Metropolitan Junior Association which in 1910 had 10 clubs.
Carlton District, Collingwood District, South Yarra, (Wesley) Collegians, Caulfield, Oakleigh, Beverley (Richmond area club), Hawthorn, University and Leopold (South Melbourne)
Collegians played on the Wesley College ground fronting St.Kilda Rd.
1910; Carlton (minor premiers) played Leopold in the Final as a curtain raiser to the VFL Semi Carlton v S. Melb. Carlton D. wore a white band around the waist because of Leopold's similar colours. Carlton Dist lost by 18 points.
Carlton D lost the Grand Final against Leopold the following week by 39 points.
See Herald April 29 p3 1910
1911: Prahran Teleg. May 06 p2
1911: Carlton Dist.Metro.Assoc.Herald May 19 p3 Herald June 16 p2
1913: Carlton District fixture http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article199436225 President W. F. Evans, hon. Treasurer R. Millikin, hon Secetary H. Numa.
1913: Roy Cazaly has left Carlton District for St.Kilda and named in their first round team. Played well on the Saints' back line, was in the ruck at Districts
1914: in July, there were three first class junior associations playing namely, the Melbourne District Association, Metropolitan Amateur Association and the Victorian Junior Association.
Of these the first mentioned was the only body affiliated with the Victorian Football League (the ruling body) and received official recognition as a first-rate football association by that body. (Age March 13 p6 1919)
1915: Carlton District have 8 players enlisted in the AIF based in Egypt. Herald April 01 One Carlton Dist.player, Pvt. G. S. Whitfield 23yo. 87 Cardigan St. Carlton. wounded. (Age May 18)
1915: Due to the War the season was terminated early in July, finals matches played, Carlton D played Coll D. in semi final at EMCG.

1918 NEW JUNIOR ORGANISATION (VJFL) - LEAGUE AFFILIATION

"Representatives of the Junior Football League waited on the Victorian Football League last night to further its organising proposal.
The idea is that each League club should have a junior club "under its wing," and by encouraging it, financially and otherwise, bring it to a state of playing perfection,
for the good of junior sport, and also the strengthening of the senior clubs. Under the scheme district rules will be observed.
It was stated that Fitzroy Juniors, Collingwood Juniors, Leopold and Caulfield had withdrawn from the Metropolitan Amateur Association, and would play in the Junior League competition.
Essendon nominated West Melbourne Juniors as its junior team, and Richmond, Carlton and St.Kilda will be asked to form junior clubs in their districts. The League advised the
representtives to hold a meeting and draw up rules for its approval or otherwise." (The Age January 18 p13)
The Caulfied Football Club will be known as the Melbourne Juniors, training and playing on the MCG. (Herald April 11 p3)
With the establishment of the Junior League means that there are now three junior bodies, VJFL, VJFA and the Metropolitan Association of Amateurs.

1922 Geelong for the first time, entered a second eighteen team in the Victorian Junior Football League. Their first match on May 6th. was against Coburg on the Geelong Oval. This was followed by a match against Essendon Juniors on May 13th at Essendon.
"The Geelong second eighteens will play the junior team whose senior club has an engagement with the Geelong Seniors on the same day, the grounds of course being reversed.
The Junior League's consitution provides that not more than six senior players or permits can be played in the second eighteen in any one season. It also provides that no junior player will be classed as a senior player until he has played seven matches with the Senior League club." (Geelong Advertiser April 10 p2)

GREAT PROGRESS MADE

"In 1916 the Victorian Football League intimated their intention of forming a junior competition, to play on the grounds of the seniors when these teams had visiting engagements.
At this time Leopold, Fitzroy, Collingwood District, Carlton District and Beverley (Richmond) were members of the Metropolitan Amateur Association, which had ceased its activities during the war.
Mr. E. L. Wilson, secretary of the League, convened a meeting of the interested parties, at which it was decided that an association to play as the second eighteens to the senior clubs should be formed.
The meeing, after electing Mr. W. J. McDonnell as honary secretary, decided not to take the field until the end of the war.

In 1918  a start was made. 

The teams forming the League were Collingwood District, Leopold, West Melbourne, St.Kilda, Carlton, Fitzroy and two teams from the University styles "The Blues' and "The Blacks
The first year was a milestone passed. The football showed decided promise, and, as a credit balance £5/4/9 ($10.47) was in hand, the scheme seemed firmly established.
In 1919 West Melbourne withdrew in favor of Essendon, while Melbourne were also admitted. Marked improvement was noted in the form of the teams, and final struggles between the Collingwood District and University are now history.
Those who saw those 'curtain raisers" to the senior finals had a whetted appetite for fast, open football.There were many, indeed, who now prefer the prologue to the League finals to the senior exhibition.
In 1921 the University teams transferred to the Metropolitam Amateur Association to fill this vacancy, Coburg were admitted. As the junior eighteens were allotted the same areas as the senior teams under the district football scheme, the difficulty arising, through the admission of Coburg, was overcome by Fitzroy offering to share its district with the new club.
Trove; Sporting Globe May 31 p8 1924

Sporting Globe April 11 (p16) 1945

Charles Orr

Former president of the Carlton second eighteen.
Died aged 49, September 1932
Obit; Advocate 15 September p 16 1932

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