1997 Pre-Season

In 1997, the Blues brought up their second Pre-Season / Night Series Premiership. Below we outline the stories of the games that brought us the Flag, including the Grand Final:

1997 ‘Night’ Series First Round

Carlton 2.3 15 5.5 35 11.6 72 13.9 87 Melbourne 2.2 14 4.5 29 6.7 43 9.10 64	Venue: VFL Park, Waverley (Night)	Date: Wednesday February 26, 1997
Result: Won by 23 points	Umpires: A.Coates, G.Deller & S.Wenn	Crowd: 14,043
Goalkickers: Koutoufides 3, Murphy 2, Whitnall 2, Allan 1, Camporeale 1, Dean 1, Hanna 1, Manton 1 & Whitehead 1.
Best: Koutoufides, Murphy, Allan, Manton, Beaumont & Sexton.

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Game Review

Carlton won its opening game of the Pre-season Ansett Cup against Melbourne. This came at a heavy price, however, with Stephen Kernahan injuring a tendon in his hand, which would sideline him for 6 weeks and force him to miss the opening 3 games of the home and away season.

Team

B:	34 Ron De Iulio	1 Stephen Silvagni	39 Ang Christou
HB:	22 Glenn Manton	14 Michael Sexton	5 Andrew McKay
C:	29 Simon Beaumont	7 Brett Ratten	13 Mil Hanna
HF:	32 Adrian Whitehead	4 Stephen Kernahan	36 Aaron Hamill
F:	18 Justin Murphy	8 Lance Whitnall	41 Jacob Anstey
Ruck:	24 Matthew Allan	43 Anthony Koutoufides	16 Scott Camporeale
Interchange:
	30 Adam White, 35 Peter Dean, 33 Matthew Hogg, 40 Tony Bourke
Coach:	David Parkin

1997 ‘Night’ Series Quarter Final

Carlton 2.2 14 6.6 42 10.8 68 15.13 103 Fremantle 4.5 29 6.7 43 9.9 63 9.11 65	Venue: VFL Park, Waverley (Night)	Date: Saturday March 8, 1997
Result: Won by 38 points	Umpires: K.Nicholls, M.Prince & T.Shearer	Crowd: 8,135
Goalkickers: Beaumont 3, Clape 2, Koutoufides 2, Camporeale 1, De Iulio 1, Dean 1, Hamill 1, Murphy 1, Ratten 1, Rice 1 & Whitnall 1.
Best: Sexton, Christou, Allan, Hamill, De Iulio & Beaumont.

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Game Review

In its next game it defeated Fremantle: 15.13.103 to 9.11.65.

Simon Beaumont was reported for wrestling Tony Delaney and fined the princely sum of $52 (don't ask me how that sum was arrived at).

Team 1997 'Night' Series Quarter Final

B:	34 Ron De Iulio	1 Stephen Silvagni	39 Ang Christou
HB:	22 Glenn Manton	14 Michael Sexton	5 Andrew McKay
C:	29 Simon Beaumont	7 Brett Ratten	13 Mil Hanna
HF:	16 Scott Camporeale	35 Peter Dean	36 Aaron Hamill
F:	18 Justin Murphy	8 Lance Whitnall	41 Jacob Anstey
Ruck:	24 Matthew Allan	43 Anthony Koutoufides	21 Craig Bradley
Interchange:
	30 Adam White, 23 Dean Rice, 6 Matt Clape, 40 Tony Bourke
Coach:	David Parkin

1997 ‘Night’ Series Semi Final

Carlton 0.5 5 6.7 43 10.9 69 12.11 83 St.Kilda 1.4 10 3.5 23 3.10 28 10.13 73	Venue: VFL Park, Waverley (Night)	Date: Saturday March 15, 1997
Result: Won by 10 points	Umpires: D.Goldspink, H.Kennedy & M.Norden	Crowd: 25,940
Goalkickers: Murphy 3, Hamill 2, Rice 2, Allan 1, Beaumont 1, Camporeale 1, Dean 1 & Hogg 1.
Best: Ratten, Sexton, Christou, Koutoufides, Bradley & Murphy.

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Game Review

It then defeated reigning champions St Kilda 12.11.83 to 10.13.73 to advance to the final. This would also come at a cost, with young ruckman Tony Bourke rupturing his spleen, which would force him to miss the entire season. In addition, Simon Beaumont was reported for kicking Austinn Jones and suspended for 3 matches, including the opening 2 premiership matches.

Team 1997 'Night' Series Semi Final

B:	32 Adrian Whitehead	1 Stephen Silvagni	22 Glenn Manton
HB:	39 Ang Christou	14 Michael Sexton	5 Andrew McKay
C:	29 Simon Beaumont	7 Brett Ratten	16 Scott Camporeale
HF:	6 Matt Clape	35 Peter Dean	23 Dean Rice
F:	18 Justin Murphy	8 Lance Whitnall	36 Aaron Hamill
Ruck:	24 Matthew Allan	43 Anthony Koutoufides	21 Craig Bradley
Interchange:
	33 Matthew Hogg, 30 Adam White, 40 Tony Bourke, 2 Greg Williams
Coach:	David Parkin

The 1997 Ansett Cup ‘Night Preseason’ Grand Final

Carlton 2.1 13 6.6 42 10.8 68 14.13 97 Geelong 0.3 3 1.5 11 3.8 26 5.10 40	Venue: MCG (Night)
Date: Friday March 21, 1997	Result: Win by 57 points
Umpires: G.Dore, M.Nash & B.Sheehan	Crowd: 74,786
Goalkickers: J.Murphy 4, M.Clape 2, A.Hamill 2, L.Whitnall 2, A.Koutoufides 1, S.Camporeale 1, C.Bradley 1 & G.Williams 1.
Best: C.Bradley (Michael Tuck Medal), J.Murphy, M.Clape, A.Koutoufides, S.Camporeale, G.Williams, M.Sexton, A.Christou, B.Ratten, A.Whitehead & M.Allan.
Reports: Nil
Injuries: M.Hogg (ankle).

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Game Review

This was a rematch of the 1995 Premiership, with another ruthless demolition of Geelong. Craig Bradley was best afield and was awarded the Michael Tuck Medal.

Images from the big night can be found [tiki-browse_gallery.php?galleryId=812|here.]

1997 Ansett Cup 'Night Preseason' Premiership Team

B:	34 Ron De Iulio	22 Glenn Manton	23 Dean Rice
HB:	5 Andrew McKay	14 Michael Sexton	39 Ang Christou
C:	43 Anthony Koutoufides	7 Brett Ratten	32 Adrian Whitehead
HF:	6 Matt Clape	35 Peter Dean	16 Scott Camporeale
F:	36 Aaron Hamill	8 Lance Whitnall	18 Justin Murphy
Ruck:	24 Matthew Allan	33 Matthew Hogg	21 Craig Bradley (c)
Interchange:
	2 Greg Williams, 13 Mil Hanna, 25 Sam Smart, 30 Adam White
Coach:	David Parkin

Links

Season 1997 | Pre-Season Night Series Games Menu | 1998 Pre-Season

Gallery

• 
  1997 Night GF - The Teams.The Age.
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  1997 Night GF - What a win tonight would mean.The Age.
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  1997 Night GF - Cats hope to ease pain.The Age.
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  1997 Night GF - Oh.... the pain of it.Geelong Advertiser.
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  1997 Night GF - Blues win second night flag.The Age.
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  1997 Night GF - Cats fail to shake curse.Geelong Advertiser.
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  1997 Night GF - Blues maul Cats (page 2 of 2).Herald-Sun
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  1997 Night GF - Blues maul Cats (page 1 of 2).Herald-Sun.
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  1997 Night GF - Andrew McKay tackles Glenn Kilpatrick.Geelong Advertiser.
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  1997 Night GF - Matty Allan & John Barnes in ruck duel.Pic: The Age.
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  1997 Night GF - Glenn Manton stands over Steven Handley.Pic: The Geelong Advertiser.
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  1997 Night GF - Kouta takes a chest mark.Pic: The Herald-Sun.
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  1997 Night GF - Andrew McKay tackles Glenn Kilpatrick.Pic: The Herald-Sun.
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  1997 Night GF - Inside Football Match Preview.
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  1997 Night GF - The Fireworks.Pic: Inside Football.
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  1997 Night GF - The Blues put the cats out at night (page 2 of 2).Inside Football.
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  1997 Night GF - The Blues put the cats out at night (page 1 of 2).Inside Football.
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  1997 Night GF - Ratten; Blues turn the screws on Cats.Inside Football.
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  1997 Night GF - The triumphant Blues.Pic: Inside Football.
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  1997 Night GF - Camporeale gives off a handball.Pic: Inside Football.
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  1997 Night GF - Ang Christou about to kick the footy.Pic: Inside Football.
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  1997 - Peter Dean tackles Sanderson.Pic: Inside Football.
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  1997 Night GF - Kouta & Barnes contest the footy.Pic: Inside Football.
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  1997 Night GF - The triumphant Blues.Pic: Inside Football.
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  1997 Flag Video.
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  1997 Night GF - Match Preview.
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  1997 Night GF - Playing List.
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  1997 Night GF - Footy Record.
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  1997 Blues pre-season premiers.
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  1997 Night GF - Lance Whitnall.
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  1997 Night GF - Lance Whitnall.