Seventy years ago this week, on the afternoon of Saturday April 27, 1946 at Princes Park, the Carlton and Melbourne players formed a V for the unfurling of the ’45 Premiership pennant in the year of peace and victory.
It was the second round of the season, the ink on the Japanese surrender papers has not long dried, and the players respectfully stood to attention for the pre-game formalities.
Conspicuous by his absence was Carlton captain Bob Chitty, the legacy of an eight-match suspension incurred for his part in “The Bloodbath”. Deputising for him as captain was Rod McLean (grandfather of Brock) and amongst the players in dark navy were Bert Deacon (later to take out his club’s first Brownlow Medal in the ’47 Premiership year) and Ken Hands, the only surviving member of the 20 who took to the field on that historic afternoon.
The unfurling of the 1945 premiership flag, Princes Park, April 27 1946. (Photo: Carlton Media)
The wife of the then Carlton President Ken Luke unfurled the flag, in the company of a number of dignitaries as was later recorded in the 1946 Carlton Annual Report;
UNFURLING 1945 PREMIERSHIP PENNANT
Saturday, 27th April, 1946, was a gala day at the Carlton ground when Mrs. Ken Luke unfurled the 1945 Premiership Pennant in the presence of a large gathering, and with the two competing teams and umpires forming a Victory “V” before the commencement of the game against Melbourne, and when to celebrate the occasion, our President entertained many distinguished visitors during the half-time interval.
They included General Sir Thomas Blamey; Hon. J. Cain, the Premier; Hon. W. Barry, minister for Housing; Hon. J. Kennedy, a former player; Dr. McClelland, President of the League; hon. L.H. McBrien, Secretary of the League; Melbourne Football Club, Carlton Cricket Club and Carlton Recreation Ground Management Committee Officials, and several former Carlton officials and players.
In welcoming the guests Mr. Luke said that he thought that 1945 was one of the most memorable in the history of Carlton, that the team was one of the greatest that had ever represented the grand old Club, and that their performance was one of the most remarkable in the annals of the game. An opinion which was heartily endorsed by all present.
Regrettably, Carlton fell a goal short of the Redlegs – 9.12 (66) to 10.12 (72) - in what was an ugly encounter in wet and slippery conditions.
The match was also marred by an awful act involving one of the goal umpires also pictured at the pre-match ceremony, as was reported by Percy Taylor in The Argus on the following Monday.
UMPIRE COWARDLY ATTACKED
COMPLAINT LIKELY TO LEAGUE
One of the worst incidents seen on a football field for some time happened at Carlton on Saturday, when a goal umpire was cowardly punched and kicked by a man who jumped the fence. The Umpires’ Association views the incident most seriously, and will demand action.
The assault was entirely unprovoked. The ball had been kicked through by Carlton, but the umpire had blown his whistle and had awarded a free kick to Melbourne.
As he had not given the “all clear”, naturally the umpire had not signalled a score. This apparently annoyed some of the onlookers stationed behind the goal, and one of them jumped the fence, and punched and kicked the umpire C. Rodwell, an experienced official. Rodwell was knocked to his knees, and only the action of a plain-clothes policeman prevented another attack.
Other police came up, but this did not stop the angry crowd from another attempt to strike the umpire.
A woman jumped the fence and seemed to be trying to induce one of the men to leave the ground.
Trainers then rushed to the spot, and, except for the throwing of several beer bottles from the crowd, which missed their mark, the incident ended.
A written report on the incident has been forwarded to the League, by the Umpires’ Appointment Board representative, and the Umpires’ Association proposes to ask the full League to hear the umpire’s story For years they have been asking for additional police protection, and will probably demand action.
