CHAPTER 5 First Game for Freer Performances of the first eleven in the next season were disappointing, but it was a young side. Appearance of Fred Freer, later to play for Australia, was a highlight. He took 4/55 in a Richmond score of 300. This match was lost, Mick Price being the top scorer with 44 not out. F. Smith made a century against Colts in the next game. Jack Hale and Jack Baird were best bowlers in the next game, in which North Melbourne ran out winners. In a low-scoring game at University, Tom Trembath (5/29) and Jinks (3/30) helped Carlton to win. Sent in by Prahran at Carlton in the next game, Carlton lost 2/340 (Parkinson 175 n.o., Empey 91, F. Smith 51 n.o.). Parkinson (40) and Smith (62) were top scorers against Colling- wood, which team won, despite Hale’s 5/52. Former player, Sievers, took 6/46 for Fitzroy, which won by 49 runs. Against Northcote, Empey made 117, Price 106 not out, Hale 51 and Smith 46, then Hale took 7/65 to give Carlton a good win. In the last game, against Melbourne, Trembath took 5/67. The fourth eleven, captained by Ted Gayther, won the premiership, and the other teams were well up. Officials were sorry to hear of the death of former champions in Jack Worrell and Tom Hastings, a State wicketkeeper who was father of Stan and Syd. Tom Trembath won the Club championship, Frank Smith the batting average and Jack Hale the bowling. The 1938-39 season was fairly satisfactory, although the continued ill-health of sheet- anchor, Bill Kinnear, was a drawback. The transfer of Charlie Kerville from Essendon and the marked improvement of Mick Price more than compensated for this setback, and they proved a fine opening pair. They headed the batting averages for the season. Freer had a splendid season with the ball and was top bowler, winning the Club championship. Jack Baird also bowled well, his 5/49 in the opening match proving his worth. Baird and Freer took 9 wickets between them against Prahran, and Trembath, with 56, helped most in the victory. Price (114) and Kerville (71), helped Carlton to score well against University. With Trembath injured, the captaincy went to Empey in the next game, and his bright 50 helped in a good win over Collingwood, Freer taking 6/86. Kerville and Freer each passed 50 against Fitzroy and, with Freer taking 5/24, this game also was won. Chasing a Hawthorn-East Melbourne score of 270, the batsmen responded splendidly for a score of 6/343, Kerville 76, Price 77, Parkinson 53, Smith 57, Rigg 53 (not out). Price made 125 against Northcote. Rain affected a few matches during the season. In one, that against Richmond, Freer took 7/13. In the report, special mention was made of the “Warne” wickets, recognised for their worth throughout the State. After 30 years of continuous service as secretary, Jack Melville retired. He was at that stage the oldest member of the Club and was held in great respect and esteem. He played for the Club for 10 years. “TRACKER” NUMA SECRETARY The 1939-40 season saw the appearance of Bert (“Tracker”) Numa as secretary. The season was not as successful as was hoped. A feature was the return to good health of Bill Kinnear, and his sound batting was valuable. Jack Hale showed considerable improvement and won the Club championship, after a close struggle with Alan Jinks. Kerville, Price and Fred Jinks also batted well, and Jack Baird and Alan Jinks were best bowlers. In addition to winning the Club championship, Hale won the bowling average. Kinnear won the batting average and two other special trophies, and Price also won a special prize for his batting. Interest in cricket was considerably overshadowed in the next season by the war but, in deference to the expressed wish of the Government, sport was not curtailed, except that the V.C.A. decided to abandon the premiership which met with general approval. The allotment of points served to keep the players and supporters interested, and matches were keenly fought. The Colts’ team disbanded and, to fill in the bye, matches were played against sub-district clubs – a successful innovation. Harry Parkinson had his most successful season and was the batting mainstay. He scored one glorious century and missed another 100 by only one run in his last match before departing with the R.A.A.F. Charlie Kerville also joined the Services. Mick Price proves an popular and capable captain. The Club lost a valuable member when David Bell died. He was for many years President of the Club and for the last 15 years was a Vice-President. The transfer to Bendigo of former Club and Test captain, Bill Woodfull, was another blow, because he had been an outstanding personality and he had given nearly 20 years of service to the Club. He was made a life member. Another loss was Jack Hale, who broke a leg while playing football. Parkinson with 480 runs, and 48.0 average, won the prize for batting. Jim Baird, promoted from the seconds, won the bowling with 25 wickets, averaging 17.68. This was the first year of a fine bowler who later played for Victoria. Trembath and Freer were close behind him. DIFFICULT SEASON Next season was probably the most difficult in the history of the Club, the entry of Japan into the war considerably increasing the gravity of the position. Many junior clubs and associations had to cease operations. The cancellation of fixtures by the V.C.A. was urged, but the decision to carry on was generally endorsed. Carlton, with Price again captain, finished in fourth position, after losing three of the first four games. Bill Kinnear made two centuries and Freer and Len Michael one each, and Jim Baird had a “hat trick”. These were highlights, but there were many other good individual efforts. The season saw the first appearance of Gordon Carlton as a spin bowler, and Bert Numa, a 16-year- old son of the secretary, who was to be one of the best Carlton players over the years. This year also saw Tommy Warne in his 50th year with the Club. His skill in the preparation of wickets was unimpaired, despite the enlistment of his son Bert. Kinnear won the batting average with 54.77 (aggregate 493), from Les Blachford, 43.90 (aggregate 439). Gordon Carlton won the bowling with 16.15 from 13 wickets. Jim Baird took 33 to be second and Jack Baird 32 to be third. Despite four years of war, cricket continued in 1942-43, when, to lessen the troubles of selectors, the V.C.A. decided to play one-day games. The season was enjoyable and interest OUTRIGHT PREMIERSHIP was maintained to the end. There were three elevens in the field, and a social team also was formed. Price was again captain, with Jack Baird his deputy. Kinnear retired owing to ill-health Season 1944-45 was noteworthy because Carlton secured the first outright premiership for and Len Michael could not play regularly, but the return of Alan Jinks from service in New more than 50 years. They provided exciting cricket to reach the finals, scoring 130 runs in the Guinea after an absence of two years was welcomed. last hour to defeat South Melbourne and reach their objective. This followed successive defeats With only one game to play, Carlton and University, top teams, played a most exciting by Essendon and St. Kilda and gave the players a much-needed tonic. game, University winning off the last ball of the day and becoming unofficial premiers. The Essendon, equal premiers with Carlton a year earlier, won the toss on a typical Carlton batting of Les Blachford, Judd Moore, Bill Williams, Freer and Michael was of a high stan- wicket prepared by Bert Warne, and, with Jack Baird and Fred Freer in grand form, they were dard, and Jack and Jim Baird, Freer, Alan Jinks and Neil Tonkin formed an attack that was dismissed for 202. Next day Carlton passed that total for the loss of five wickets, and the score never mastered. Jim Baird took no fewer than 44 wickets and Jack 37. eventually reached 7/293, with Bill Kinnear making 72, Fred Lalor 59 and Mick Price 57. To mark his 50 years of service to the Club, first as a distinguished player and second as a Great interest was taken in the final against North Melbourne, takings being £400. On a first rate curator, Tommy Warne was entertained by more than 400 members. He received a wicket slightly affected by rain North won the toss and batted, but had no counter to Alan Jinks, testimonial. who had the magnificent figures of 8/26 in a score of 79. There were some anxious moments After an association of 50 years, first as a player and later as secretary for 30 years, the before that score was passed, the last Carlton wicket falling at 112. North fought back, but announcement of the death of Jack Melville was received with regret. Baird and Freer again bowled well, and Carlton were left with 109 runs to make in 120 minutes for outright victory. This task was completed for the loss of three wickets. KNOCK-OUT GAMES Feature of the early part of the season was the acquisition of N.S.W. fast bowler Victor Trumper, and Ted Besford as wicketkeeper, from Fitzroy. Trumper was posted to another State The financial position in 1943-44, despite the fact that many members on service had been after three games, but Besford remained to render great service, first on the field, and, later as a placed on the honorary member’s list, was highly satisfactory.