In this football club’s long and storied history, certain dates seem less like entries in a calendar and more like the alignment of stars.

Twice in the last century and exactly 60 years apart, two truly great players, each destined to rewrite Carlton’s goalkicking record books, first took to the field.

One hundred years ago this May, in the opening round match of the 1926 VFL season with Hawthorn at Glenferrie Oval, a likely type from Bacchus Marsh named Harry Vallence completed his senior debut.

In an era of muddy pitches and heavy leather, Vallence quickly found his feet. On that Autumn Saturday afternoon against the Mayblooms, the legendary ‘Soapy’ put one over the goal umpire’s hat – the first of a record-breaking 722 - in a stellar 13-season career that would end with the stuff dreams are made of: a Carlton premiership at Collingwood’s expense.

Fast forward 60 years to 1986, as fate would have it against Hawthorn in the opening round only this time at VFL Park, and another newcomer fronted up – this one with the burden of cross-border hype.

Enter Stephen Kernahan, the boy from Glenelg.

For years a Carlton recruitment priority, ‘Sticks’ didn’t just fill the void left by giants; he built a skyscraper. In that two-goal debut at Waverley, he showcased the relentless work rate and peerless leadership that would define his tenure as the club’s longest-serving captain.

By the time he hung up the boots, Kernahan had surpassed Vallence’s 59-year career goalkicking record and taken the mantle as Carlton’s all-time leading goalkicker with 738 goals.

While their eras were eons apart - Vallence in the knickerbocker days of The Great Depression and Kernahan in the neon-soaked 1980s and ’90s - their trajectories were remarkably symmetrical.

Both launched their careers against Hawthorn in Round 1; both are the only footballers to cross the 700 career-goal threshold at their Club; and both are Carlton Team of the Century members and Hall of Fame Legends.

This Thursday night, when the Blues take to the field in Round 1, 2026, the echoes of ‘Soapy’ in 1926 and ‘Sticks’ in ’86 will truly reverberate around the MCG – for these were footballers whose legacies endure when others just come and go.

HARRY VALLENCE (1905-1991)

Carlton Player No.424

Guernsey No.22

204 games, 722 goals 1926-1938

First senior game - Round 1, 1926 vs Hawthorn, Glenferrie Oval (aged 20 years, 331 days)

Last senior game - Grand Final, 1938 vs Collingwood, MCG (aged 33 years, 112 days)

Premiership player 1938

League leading goalkicker 1931 (86 goals)

Club leading goalkicker 1929, 1931-1933, 1935-1938

Carlton Hall of Fame (inducted 1987, elevated to Legend 1997)

Carlton Team of the 20th Century full-forward

Victorian representative x4

Australian Football Hall of Fame (inducted 1996)

STEPHEN KERNAHAN (1963- )

Carlton player No.936

Guernsey No.4

251 games, 738 goals 1986-1997

First senior game - Round 1, 1986 vs Hawthorn, aged 22 years, 211 days

Last senior game - Round 22, 1997 vs Richmond, aged 33 years, 364 days

Premiership Captain 1987, 1995

Captain: 1987-1997

Best and Fairest 1987, 1989, 1992

Club leading goalkicker 1986-1996

Carlton Hall of Fame (inducted 1993, elevated to Legend 1997)

Carlton Team of the Century Captain and centre half-forward

All Australian 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1992, 1994

AFLPA Best Captain 1987, 1994

Australian Football Hall of Fame Inductee 2001