1951
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1951 Summary
Following on from a lack-lustre season in 1950, Carlton approached 1951 with much the same list of ageing stars – including a number of veterans of the 1945 and ’47 Premiership teams. As he was always prone to do, coach Percy Bentley kept faith with those who had served the club so well in the past, but it must be said that in hindsight, some of the Blues of 1951 were retained for one season too long. As a consequence, there were to be regular injuries and very little improvement.
The year began on a sensational note when debut full-forward Keith Warburton; “an acrobat in football boots,” kicked seven goals in a big win over Hawthorn in round 1. Three consecutive losses then dropped the team to eighth, before a brilliant victory over the undefeated Fitzroy at Brunswick St revived Carlton’s hopes.
However, a shock defeat by lowly Melbourne in round 6 sparked a mid-season slump, and condemned the Blues to the lower third of the ladder for the rest of the year. There were some memorable highlights – an 11-goal demolition of North Melbourne at Arden St in round 10, and a very unlucky draw with Fitzroy in round 16 stood out - before the season wound up amid controversy and rancour, when Essendon full-forward John Coleman and Carlton defender Harry Caspar famously clashed in round 18, and Coleman was suspended from the finals.
Overall, the season fell well short of expectations, although there were more than a few consolations. Three excellent players in Warburton, Doug Beasy and Bill Milroy were among those who started their careers with the Navy Blues in 1951, and both lower grade teams won their respective Premierships. Under coach ‘Mickey’ Price, the seconds won Carlton’s fourth Reserve Grade Premiership, while the Under-19 team claimed their third flag in four years. Coached by Arthur Sanger, the thirds beat Collingwood by four points in the Grand Final played at Victoria Park.
Ladder
| Pos | Team | Wins | Draws | Losses | Points | For | Against | % |
| 1 | Geelong | 14 | 0 | 4 | 56 | 210.225.1485 | 154.173.1097 | 135.4 |
| 2 | Collingwood | 14 | 0 | 4 | 56 | 209.245.1499 | 167.191.1193 | 125.6 |
| 3 | Essendon | 13 | 0 | 5 | 52 | 220.210.1530 | 176.206.1262 | 121.2 |
| 4 | Footscray | 12 | 0 | 6 | 48 | 182.224.1316 | 158.217.1165 | 113 |
| 5 | Fitzroy | 10 | 2 | 6 | 44 | 194.209.1373 | 181.219.1305 | 105.2 |
| 6 | Richmond | 10 | 0 | 8 | 40 | 222.219.1551 | 183.229.1327 | 116.9 |
| 7 | Carlton | 8 | 1 | 9 | 34 | 184.237.1341 | 176.197.1253 | 107 |
| 8 | Sth Melbourne | 8 | 1 | 9 | 34 | 196.223.1399 | 216.209.1505 | 93 |
| 9 | Nth Melbourne | 7 | 0 | 11 | 28 | 172.192.1224 | 195.263.1433 | 85.4 |
| 10 | St Kilda | 5 | 0 | 13 | 20 | 185.201.1311 | 223.257.1595 | 82.2 |
| 11 | Hawthorn | 4 | 0 | 14 | 16 | 153.218.1136 | 215.225.1515 | 75 |
| 12 | Melbourne | 1 | 0 | 17 | 4 | 170.210.1230 | 253.227.1745 | 70.5 |
People of 1951
Coach: Percy Bentley Captain: Ern Henfry Vice Captain: Ken Hands Leading goal scorer: Keith Warburton - 48 goals
Milestones
Debuts: George Stafford, Bill Milroy, Tom Jones, Johnny Blake, Harvey Dunn jnr, Adam Inglis, Doug Beasy, Keith Warburton
Lower Levels
Reserves: Carlton would win the Reserves Premiership in this year.
vs Bendigo Monday June 11
Carlton played Bendigo at the upper Reserve Bendigo Carlton won by 20 points Carl; - - 5.4 10.6 11.14 Ben; - - 3.2 8.4 8.6 Goals; Warburton 3, Dunn 2, Maloney 2, Baxter, Sullivan, Mills, Calder Best; J. Clark (BOG), Mills, Warbuton, Huntington, Henfry, Kerr.
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Gallery
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1951 - Coleman suspended after clash with Harry Caspar.100 Years of Australian Rules Football. -
1951 Rd 10 - Keith Warbuton marks the footy.100 Years of Australian Rules Football. -
1951 B & F Winner: Jim Clark. -
1951 - Parker to play with Blues (30/10/51). -
1951 Keith Warburton 1951 Keith Warburton Trove, SLV; Sporting Globe May 26 -
1951 Rnd 10 Keith Warburton 1951 Rnd 10 Keith Warburton v North Melbourne Trove, SLV; Sporting Globe July 04 -
1951 Arthur Hodgson 1951 Arthur Hodgson Trove, SLV; Sporting Globe May 16 -
1951 Rnd 10 v North Melbourne Keith Warburton 1951 Rnd 10 Keith Warburton v North Melbourne Trove; Argus July 02 -
1951 Rnd 10 v North Melbourne Keith Warburton 1951 Keith Warburton v North Melbourne Rnd 10 Age July 02 -
1951 Rnd 10 v North Melbourne1951 Rnd 10 v North Melbourne Trove, SLV; Sporting Globe June 30 -
1951 Rnd 10 v North Melbourne (pic adjusted) 1951 Rnd 10 v NM (adjusted) Trove, SLV; Sporting Globe June 30 -
1951 Rnd 10 V North Melb. Keith Warburton 1951 Rnd 10 v North Melbourne Age July 02 -
1951 Rnd 2 Bruce Comben v Footscray 1951 Rnd 2 Bruce Comben vs Footscray Trove; Age April 30 p14 -
1951 Don Calder 1951 Don Calder Trove; Herald April 21 (p7) -
1951 Proposed new Carlton club song 1951 Proposed new Carlton club song Trove; Herald April 06 (p10) -
1951 Rd 18 - Harry Casper & John Coleman square off. -
1951 - Jim Davies. -
1951 - Future Blue; Nth's Bill Milroy. -
1951 Rd 10 - Carlton vs Nth Melbourne. -
1951 - Future Blue Keith Warburton (Kornies Swap Card - Back). -
1951 - Future Blue Keith Warburton (Kornies Swap Card - Front). -
1951 Rd 12 Jim Clark Best For The Blues.
