Round 7, 1996

Carlton 3.6 24 8.11 59 12.13 85 18.17 125 Fitzroy 1.3 9 2.4 16 5.9 39 8.14 62	Venue: Optus Oval	Date: Saturday 11-May-1996
Result: Carlton won by 63 pts	Reports: Nil	Crowd: 16,795
Goalkickers: R.Welsh 5, B.Pearce 3, F.Brown 3, C.Bradley 2, A.Koutoufides 2, B.Heaver 1, G.Manton 1, M.Allan 1.
Best: F.Brown, B.Ratten, M.Clape, C.Bradley, A.Hickmott, R.Welsh, A.Christou.
Umpires: Sawers, Mitchell, McKenzie	Injuries: Spalding (knee)

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Game Review

This was a re-enactment game of the first ever round of the VFL, played in the same style Guernseys, to celebrate the centenary season of VFL/AFL. Ironically it would also be the final time these two sides would meet, the Lions merging with Brisbane the following season. At that stage rumours of an impending merger were making it difficult for their young players to maintain their focus.

The reigning premiers went into this game against the winless, bottom placed Fitzroy as raging favourites, the result considered almost a foregone conclusion. Carlton's class advantage would result in a fitting result, although the young Lions would match them in endeavour.

Rohan Welsh (5 goals) and Brad Pearce (3) would shine up forward, while Fraser Brown would also run forward to kick 3. Brett Ratten dominated the midfield with a 36 possession, best on ground performance.

Carlton would unfortunately have yet another addition to its ever growing injury list, with Earl Spalding suffering a significant knee injury and having to be carried from the ground on a stretcher. That was expected to sideline him for the next 6 weeks.

Team

B:	34 Ron De Iulio	1 Stephen Silvagni	22 Glenn Manton
HB:	9 Adrian Hickmott	14 Michael Sexton	39 Ang Christou
C:	18 Justin Murphy	21 Craig Bradley (a/c)	43 Anthony Koutoufides
HF:	6 Matt Clape	11 Earl Spalding	23 Dean Rice
F:	19 Brad Pearce	3 Rohan Welsh	17 Brent Heaver
Ruck:	44 Justin Madden	20 Fraser Brown	7 Brett Ratten
Interchange:	24 Matthew Allan	33 Matthew Hogg	32 Adrian Whitehead
Coach:	David Parkin

Milestones

50 Carlton Games: Brent Heaver
Interesting fact: This was the last ever game between Carlton and Fitzroy.

Gallery

• 
  1996 Rd 7 - Adrian Hickmott.
• 
  1996 Rd 7 - An injured Earl Spalding.
• 
  1996 Rd 7 - Anthony Koutoufides.
• 
  1996 Rd 7 - Brett Ratten: Blue of the week.
• 
  1996 Rd 7 - David Parkin.
• 
  1996 Rd 7 - Dean Rice.
• 
  1996 Rd 7 - Form Guide Vs Fitzroy.Pic: Inside Football.
• 
  1996 Rd 7 - Fraser Brown.
• 
  1996 Rd 7 - Heaver: When Opportunity Knocks.Pic: Inside Football.
• 
  1996 Rd 7 - Match Preview Vs Fitzroy.Pic: Inside Football.
• 
  1996 Rd 7 - Match Stats Vs Fitzroy.Pic: Inside Football.
• 
  1996 Rd 7 - Matty Allan.
• 
  1996 Rd 7 - Rohan Welsh.
• 
  1996 Rd 7 - Rohan Welsh.

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Round 6 | Round 8