1907

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Summary

The Carlton Football Club entered season 1907 aiming to join Fitzroy and Collingwood as the only teams since the inception of the VFL a decade earlier to have won consecutive Premierships. Beginning the 11th season of the competition, the list of flag-winners was short and exclusive; Fitzroy had won four, Essendon and Collingwood two each, and Melbourne and Carlton one.

But in their coach Jack Worrall, the Blues had an advantage that the other clubs were slow to emulate. Worrall’s eye for talent and his incessant recruiting had assembled a galaxy of stars at Princes Park; a list of such talent and depth that it would deliver an unprecedented three Premierships in succession between 1906 and 1908, and get agonisingly close to snatching a fourth in 1909. In setting out to defend their title, the Blues started slowly and two of their four losses over the season occurred in the first five rounds. However, wins when they were most needed became a habit, and the club reached the Grand Final by comfortably accounting for St Kilda in a one-sided Semi Final. The full story of this great day is told in this Blueseum exclusive article here, utilising some of the press reports of the day.

Carlton’s Grand Final clash against the season’s big improvers; South Melbourne, was a classic – despite both sides missing key players. In a thrilling, hard-fought contest from the outset, Worrall’s Blues led by 15 points at three quarter time, and held off a barnstorming finish by the Bloods to win by just 5 points.

At last, Carlton had arrived as a football power, on a par with Fitzroy, Essendon and Collingwood. The intriguing question was, could the boys from Princes Park set a new standard for the competition by snatching a third flag in 1908?

At the 1907 AGM in March the 1906 season expenditure was revealed;

(The Referee)

April 13

VS CARLTON JUNIORS at Princes Park.

Kelly (West Australia), Ruddock (Richmond), Festell (Essendon), Carlton team; (26 named) Beck, Gillespie, Gillespie, Gotz, Hammond, Hammond, Harris, Jinks, McGregor, Kennedy, Kelly, Little, Snell, Topping, Flynn, Elliott, Grace, Johnston/e, Caine, Ruddock, Edgar, Jinks, Ingleman, Clark, Bruce, Gotz, Festell, Payne, Richardson, Smith Carlton team; (18 named) Hammond, Kelly, Flynn, Elliott, Grace, Johnston, Caine, Ruddock, Edgar, Jinks, Ingleman, Clark, Bruce, Gotz, Festell, Payne, Richardson, Smith Carlton Juniors (20 named) Williams, Grant, Paton, Mitchell, Bell, McGregor, Snell, Beck, Lang, Gillespie, Gillespie, Smith, Smith, Stephens, Gardiner, Walker, McLean, Custain/Curtain?, Dore, Sethers. Umpire; J. Smith

Carl; 4.0 10.2 11.4

Cjnr; 1.2 1.3 4.7

Scores to three quarter time only.

April 20

CARLTON (SASH) vs UNIVERSITY at Princes Park

Carlton will select a 15 man team from; (25 named) Beck, Bruce, Caine, Clark, Elliott, Felstead, Felstead, Flynn, Gillespie, Gillespie, Gotz, Grace, Hammond, Hammond, Harris, Ingleman, Jinks, Kelly, Kennedy, Lang, McGregor, Payne, Snell, Topping, Williams. Plus, some prominent juniors. Players selected were; (18 named in The Herald) Lang, Topping, Williams, Caine, Grace, Snell, Ingleman, McGregor, Fiestel, Beck, Payne, Hammond, Clark, Gillespie, Ruddock, Flynn, Jinks, Elliott. The similarity of the teams' jumpers was somewhat confusing for both players and spectators. This problem was solved by the Carlton team donning a white sash at quarter time. Umpire; Connor Carlton won by 45 points Carl; 2.3 8.5 9.8 11.12.78 Uni; 2.3 2.4 3.7 4.9.33 Goals; Topping 5, Lang 2, Elliott, Caine, Grace, Flynn.

April 22 Monday, Eight Hour Day Holiday

BLUES vs WHITES at Princes Park

The Bendigo club which played Essendon on Saturday agreed to play Carlton on the Monday holiday. However, on the day only three Bendigo players turned up, so a scratch match was organised between teams selected by J. Flynn and F. Elliott.

Interstate Football

Shortly after winning their second Premiership, the Blues travelled to South Australia to play their champions Norwood in the first Club Championship of Australia to be held for 14 years. The Redlegs did what few other teams could do, and defeated the Blues 13.12 (90) to 8.10 (58).

FORDHAM'S FOOTBALLS

"The Armstrong Cycle and Motor Agency have accepted the agency for Mr. H. Fordham's Australian footballs, which have now been adopted by the Goldfields Association for the present season. Armstrongs, with Fordham's goods, are suppling to the clubs that which they have for many season's felt the want of, namely, a first-class football of good shape and make. The Carlton Football Club, Victoria, have used Fordham's balls exclusively for the past three years, and are very loud in their praise of their durability and the way they keep their shape during play." Trove: Morgans Courier (Mount Morgan WA) April 24 (p3) 1907. The Sporting Globe in 1940 mentions Fordham's Footballs (368 Sydney Road Brunswick) for 14 years the exclusive ball of the VFA.

Ladder

Pos	Team	Wins	Draws	Losses	Points	For	Against	%
1	Carlton	13	0	4	52	138.232.1060	92.129.681	155.7
2	Sth Melbourne	11	0	6	44	127.153.915	100.173.773	118.4
3	St Kilda	9	0	8	36	120.215.935	110.136.796	117.5
4	Collingwood	9	0	8	36	134.166.970	118.171.879	110.4
5	Fitzroy	7	0	10	28	118.156.864	138.183.1011	85.5
6	Geelong	7	0	10	28	120.124.844	131.203.989	85.3
7	Melbourne	7	0	10	28	107.158.800	134.183.987	81.1
8	Essendon	5	0	12	20	103.156.774	144.182.1046	74

Premiership Flag

People of 1907

Coach: Jack Worrall Captain: Jim Flynn Vice Captain: Norman Clark Leading Goal-kicker: Frank Caine - 32 goals

Milestones

Debuts: Bert Wheeler, Horrie Pearce, Harvey Kelly, Dave Gillespie, Vin Gardiner, Frank H Williams, Bill Hickey

Incorrect names on the photo. "Burns" is George Bruce and "Beth" is Les Beck 25 players and 13 officials. 30 players took part in during the '07 season. 5 from playing list missing; Dave Gillespie, Bill Hickey, Horrie Pearce, Archie Snell, and Bert Wheeler Other people; Jack Worrall in the back row of officials far left. Possibly John 'Jack' Melville far right. John Urquhart CFC President, middle, between Marchbanks and Caine. Could be Harry Oxlade (VP) standing behind Alby Ingleman far right

If anyone can help out naming the others please contact blueseum

Carlton to Secede and Vacate Princes Park?

"There is rumour current according to "The Argus" that the Carlton and South Melbourne football clubs contemplate leaving the League and joining the Association in consequence of the treatment meted out to them by the League in disqualifying certain players. There must be some foundation for the rumor, as it appears that the president of the Association (Mr. Aikman, MLC) has been approached in order to ascertain upon what terms the Carlton Football Club would be admitted to the Association. It is also rumored that the Carlton Club, in consequence of the strained relations subsisting between it and the Carlton Oval Committee have an eye on the Park Street reserve with the object of playing there as soon as the Brunswick Club shifts it's quarters to the new recreation ground in Victoria Street. Of course, it would be a godsend to Brunswick and the local council if the Carlton team were to play on the Park Street reserve." The Coburg Leader, August 31, 1907 (p1) South Melbourne was the other team rumored to secede. A spokesman said it was very unlikely because if two teams dropped out there would be two others ready to jump in. (Empire (Fremantle) September 14 p3 1907)

Umpires

By "Reform " - The Referee, Sydney June 05 (p9) "Although football is booming this year, the quality of the game generally as a spectacle is inferior to the form displayed up to a corresponding period last season. The game is too crowded by comparison, and the result is what I should imagine would happen if the "scrum" is overdone in Rugby. The fine open play that appeals to the populace is less evident. Many causes are ascribed to this falling-off, but I was chatting with the captain of one of our leading teams, and I am confident that he hit upon the right explanation. He puts the deterioration of the game entirely down to the inefficient and inconsistent umpiring. There is no doubt that the present referees are miles behind such men as Jno. Crapp, who is now a name to conjure with in W.A. as a football umpire, and the late Jack Trait. The field umpires, as they are termed, receive 30/- per match, and they earn it. Owing mainly to the intense club rivalry existing, and perhaps to their incompetence, Saturday after Saturday on most of the grounds there is an unruly and hostile demonstration against the umpire after the game, especially when the locals have "gone under," a posse of police being necessary on such occasions to escort the trembling official to his dressing-room. And at the expense of gallantry, I must confess that the hoodlums and cowards who make these despicable attacks are not confined to the male sex. In a match recently played on a leading ground, the umpire, after its termination, was leaving the arena, when a woman is alleged to have unceremoniously "biffed" him on the nose in a way that would have been credible to Bill Squires. Of course, I refer to the punch only. The police and players formed a ring round the devoted man, when a half-brick hurtled through the air, missed the umpire by half an inch, and rebounded from the gallant and imposing chest of a policeman. The crowd waited to wreak vengeance on the unfortunate man, and tactics had to be resorted to in an order to get him safely away. The various ground managements strain every nerve to prevent these occurrences, but the only effective way to check them would be to arrest a few of the offenders. It is really astonishing to behold the state of excitement (sic) that overcomes apparently respectable men and women when their popular local fancy goes under."

Comparison - The British and the Australian Game

A British writer viewed the match between Fitzroy and South Melbourne at Brunswick Street. From The Herald May 06 1907. http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article242578386

Round: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 Semi Final | The Grand Final Championship of Australia Playing List | Debuts Big Stories: Minor Premiers | Premierships | Our Grand Final Report 1906 | 1908

Gallery

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  1907 Grand Final Vs South Melbourne
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  1907 - The premiership flag from 1906 is unfurled.
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  Archie Snell\'s 1907 Cap
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  Blues Vs South Melbourne In The 1907 Grand Final
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  1907 - Future Blue Viv Valentine (Latrobe Premiership Player).
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  1907 - Latrobe Champion Viv Valentine.
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  1907 raising 1906 Preiership flag
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  1907 Carlton V Sth Melbourne Clr
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  Carlton Vs Collingwood 1907
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  Carlton Vs South Melbourne In The 1907 VFL Grand Final
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  1907 Mick Grace semi v St.Kilda"1907 Mick Grace semi v St.Kilda Punch Sept 19
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  1907 semi v St.Kilda"1907 semi v St.Kilda Punch Sept 19
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  1907 semi final v St.Kilda"1907 semi final v St.Kilda Punch Sept 19
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  1907 v St. Kilda semi final"1907 v St.Kilda semi final Punch Sept 19
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  1907 Carlton Team v St.Kilda semi final"1907 Carlton Team v St.Kilda semi final Punch Sept 19
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  1907 vs Collingwood"1907 v Collingwood Princes Park Punch August 08 p14
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  1907 vs Collingwood"1907 v Collingwood Princes Park Punch August 08 p14
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  1907 vs Collingwood"1907 v Collingwood Princes park Punch August 08 p14
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  1907 vs Collingwood"1907 v Collingwood Princes Park Punch August 08 p14
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  1907 v Collingwood"1907 v Collingwood Princes Park Punch August 08 p14
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  1907 Frank Caine cartoon"1907 Frank Caine cartoon Punch Sept 19 p13
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  1907 George S."1907 George S. ""Mallee"" Johnson cartoon Punch Sept 19 p13
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  1907 Semi final captains Wells and Clark"1907 Captains Jack Wells (St. Kilda/Carl) and Norman Clark (Carl) cartoon Punch Sept 19 p13
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  1907 Carlton barracker"1907 Carlton barracker cartoon Punch Sept 19 p13
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  1907 Rnd 3 v Melb MCG"1907 Rnd 3 v Melb MCG Trove; Punch May 16 p14
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  1907 Rnd 3 v Melbourne MCG"1907 Rnd 3 v Melbourne MCG Trove; Punch May 16 p14
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  1907 Rnd 3 v Melb. MCG"1907 Rnd 3 v Melbourne MCG Trove; Punch May 16 p14
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  1907 Rnd 3 vs Melbourne MCG"1907 Rnd 3 vs Melbourne MCG Trove; Punch May 16 p14
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  1907 Rnd 3 Crowd v Melbourne MCG"1907 Rnd 3 Crowd v Melbourne MCG Trove; Punch May 16 p14
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  1907 Round 1 hoisting the 1906 premiership flag v St.Kilda1907 Hoisting the 1906 VFL premiership flag Round 1 1907 v St.Kilda April 27
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  1907 Masthead for The Herald football section."1907 Masthead for The Herald football section. August 17 p4
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  1907 Premiers team photo"1907 Premiers team photo SLV: Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News (Melb) September 26, (p5)"
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  1907 Rnd 16 v Ess P.Pk team photo"1907 Rnd 16 v Ess P.Pk team photo Image: SLV, Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News (Melb) August 29 (p14)
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  1907 Rnd 5 v South Melb. Dave Gillespie breaks his collar bone."1907 Rnd 5 v South Melbourne Dave Gillespie breaks his collar bone. Image: SLV, Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News (Melb)
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  1907 Rnd 16 v Ess pressbox and scoreboard location"1907 Rnd 16 v Ess showing pressbox and scoreboard location Image: SLV, Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News August 29 (p14) From larger team photo see Blueseum Seasons 1907 Rnd 16
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  1907 Rnd 5 v S.Melb at Princes Park"1907 Rnd 5 v S.Melb at Princes Park Image: SLV, Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News (Melb) May 30
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  1907 GF v SM Mick Grace"1907 GF v SM Mick Grace Image: SLV, Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News (Melb) September 30
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  1907 GF v SM. Norm Clark"1907 GF v South Melbourne Norm Clark Image: SLV, Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News (Melb) September 30
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  1907 Semi Final v St.Kilda"1907 Semi Final v St.Kilda Image: SLV, Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News (Melb)
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  1907 Round 1 v St.Kilda PP"1907 Round 1 v St.Kilda PP Image: SLV, Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News May 02 p11
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  1907 Rnd 1 v StKilda at Princes Park"1907 Rnd 1 v StKilda at Princes Park SLV: Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News May 08
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  1907 Rnd 4 v Fitzroy at Princes Park"1907 Rnd 4 v Fitzroy at Princes Park SLV: Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News May 22
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  1907 Rnd 5 v South Melb at Princes Park"1907 Rnd 5 v South Melbourne at Princes Park SLV: Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News June 07
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  1907 Carlton team"1907 Carlton team Trove; Sporting Globe July 25 1936 "Burn" is George Bruce and ""Beth"" is Les Beck"
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  1907 John Urquhart CFC president"1907 John Urquhart CFC president From team photo Sporting Globe July 25 1936
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  1907 Rnd 5 V SM Ump Smith PP Punch May 30 P7 Capture
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  1907 Rnd 5 V SM ISDN June 07 Capture
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  1907rd12b
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  1907rd12a
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  1907rd12
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  1907 Rnd 4 V Fitz PP Punch May 23 Capture
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  1907 Rnd 4 V Fitz PP Punch May 23 P14 Capture
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  1907 Rnd 1 V StK WT May 04 P10 Capture
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  1907 Carlton Vs Norwood.