1944
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1944 Summary
Geelong managed to field a team in 1944 for the first time in 3 years, due to World War II. This removed the problem of having to deal with byes for the VFL and allowed the season to have its traditional 18 home and away rounds. The Cats would struggle, however, winning only one game and losing eight by over 50 points (including three 100 point-plus losses, one of which was to Carlton). Jim Francis was appointed Carlton's captain for the season but didn't play a senior game. He tried to make a comeback in the reserves but broke down and then retired. Bob 'Bomber' Atkinson took over as captain for the rest of 1944.
After a first round loss to South Melbourne, Carlton was one of the teams in good early-season form, winning 7 games in a row between rounds 2 and 8 to be first on the ladder, half a game ahead of Richmond in second place. In the second half of the season the Blues could only split their games, winning 5 of the last 10 matches. This included narrow losses to Footscray in round 11 and again to the Dogs by only 1 point in round 18. This second loss to Footscray occurred in controversial circumstances and would cause Carlton to miss out on a finals appearance by half a game, finishing in fifth behind the Dogs.
In many ways this season was the exact opposite on the previous year. In 1943 we had started poorly, gained form in the second half of the season, and then narrowly squeaked into the finals because Hawthorn had lost in the final round by 1 point.
Ladder
| Pos | Team | Wins | Draws | Losses | Points | For | Against | % |
| 1 | Richmond | 13 | 1 | 4 | 54 | 272.254.1886 | 204.214.1438 | 131.2 |
| 2 | Fitzroy | 13 | 1 | 4 | 54 | 238.250.1678 | 172.248.1280 | 131.1 |
| 3 | Essendon | 12 | 2 | 4 | 52 | 267.285.1887 | 194.244.1408 | 134 |
| 4 | Footscray | 12 | 1 | 5 | 50 | 212.257.1529 | 202.218.1430 | 106.9 |
| 5 | Carlton | 12 | 0 | 6 | 48 | 230.276.1656 | 178.191.1259 | 131.5 |
| 6 | Nth Melbourne | 10 | 0 | 8 | 40 | 227.257.1619 | 235.204.1614 | 100.3 |
| 7 | Sth Melbourne | 9 | 0 | 9 | 36 | 184.254.1358 | 195.232.1402 | 96.9 |
| 8 | Melbourne | 7 | 0 | 11 | 28 | 216.225.1521 | 209.227.1481 | 102.7 |
| 9 | St Kilda | 6 | 2 | 10 | 28 | 189.224.1358 | 207.260.1502 | 90.4 |
| 10 | Collingwood | 7 | 0 | 11 | 28 | 199.258.1452 | 233.231.1629 | 89.1 |
| 11 | Hawthorn | 2 | 1 | 15 | 10 | 180.188.1268 | 266.318.1914 | 66.2 |
| 12 | Geelong | 1 | 0 | 17 | 4 | 170.190.1210 | 289.331.2065 | 58.6 |
People of 1944
Captain: Bob Atkinson / Jim Francis Coach: Percy Bentley Leading Goal-kicker: Jim Mooring - 42 goals Best & Fairest: Bob Chitty Second Best & Fairest: Jim Mooring Jim Park Memorial Cup: Bob Chitty Most Consistent: Arthur Sanger Special Trophy, Most Consistent: Frank Anderson Most Improved: Jim Clark Eddie Miller Trophy, Most Serviceable Player: Rod McLean
Milestones
Debuts: Jack Conley (135 games), Ritchie Green (95 games), Les Gregory (2 games), Ern Henfry (84 games), Bert Lucas (7 games), Les McCann (7 games), Harold McDonald (1 game), Les Marden (2 games), Ernie Spence (4 games), Herb Turner (84 games), Alex Way (32 games) and Doug Williams (121 games)
Carlton v Combined Central Gippsland at Morwell, Sunday October 8th.
Proceeds of 126 pounds raised to aid of the Morwell Hospital. Carlton team from; (20 named) Anderson, Aitkinson, Bennent, Brown, Butler, Clark, Chitty, Fitzgibbon, Gregory, Green, Grieve, McInnes, Mooring, Price, Savage, Sanger, Spence, Turner, Way, Williams. Carlton won; 13.23.101 - 5.11.41 (possibly incorrect may be three quarter time 13.13 - 5.11?) The Morwell Advertiser (Oct 12 p6) said final scores, Carlton 19.14.128 - 12.12.84
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Gallery
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1944 Rd 18 - Blues lose game and finals spot.100 Years of Australian Rules Football. -
1943 to 1944 - Carlton's Season's Review. -
1944 Rd 18 - Footscray beats Carlton after the bell. -
Bob Atkinson & Bert Butler At Training 1944 -
1944 Graham Tudor Rnd 7 v St.Kilda 1944 Graham Tudor Rnd 7 v St.Kilda Image: Trove; Sporting Globe June 17 -
1944 Rnd 1 Bob Atkinson v Sth Melb. 1944 Rnd 1 v South Melbourne Bob Atkinson Age May 08 p4 -
1944 Rnd 4 v Essendon at Princes Park 1944 Rnd 4 v Essendon at Princes Park Trove; Australasian June 03 -
1944 Peter's Ice Cream advert. Bob Atkinson 1944 Peter's Ice Cream advert. Bob Atkinson Sporting Globe June 03 (p3) -
944 RAAF Bristol Beaufighter A8-95 over the M.C.G. 1944 RAAF Bristol Beaufighter A8-95 over the M.C.G. Australian built D.A.P. at Fishermans Bend Melbourne. Note: MCG restored for use. US service personal have vacated the stadium. -
1944 Rd 18 - Carlton vs Footscray. -
1944 Rd 13 - Carlton vs Hawthorn Team Lineups. -
1944 Rd 13 - Carlton vs Hawthorn Team Lists. -
1944 advert Carlton v Gippsland 1944 advert Carlton v Gippsland Trove; Gippsland Advertiser October 02 p4 -
1944 New Carlton Players (12th April). -
1944 New Carlton Players (21st April).
