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