After the War Another Win Followed
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CHAPTER 3 Carlton were in a good position against Fitzroy when rain halted proceedings. Carlton closed at 3/202, with O’Keeffe scoring 96 not out, Stan Hastings 37 and Sutherland 35. Fitzroy had lost 1/32 when rain stopped play. After the War Another win followed. Carlton scored 173 and 1/47, with Stan Hastings making 70 not out, and they dismissed Northcote for 126, with Syd Hastings taking 4/10 and Truman 3/41. Enthusiasm for the game in 1919-20 was sparked off by the return of the Australian A.I.F. But the next game saw Collingwood on top. They made 156 and 7/147, Syd Hastings team, in which Carl Willis and Allie Lampard were Victorian representatives. But there was taking 6/37. Carlton lost 5/39 and their innings ended for 80, Sutherland being top scorer with regret at the Club at the death of Billy Dedman (whose father was one of the founders) and 28. Charley Bowes. Bill Stewart, Lyle Downes and Horrie Clover were chosen as Club Represen- tatives in teams sent to the country. All three became famous as footballers. Although not as Despite this failure Carlton reached the semi-finals, when Collingwood were again the successful as formerly, the first eleven had six wins and five losses. Lyle Downes had a great opposition, but it proved to be a debacle. Collingwood lost 2/268 on the first day, and went on season, with scores of 109 not out, 67 and 73. Stewart made 99 not out and 50, Clover 85 not to make a colossal score of 591. Test captain Jack Ryder made 267 and Les Keating 197, but out, 58 not out, Bill Sutherland 104 not out and 82 not out, but the great loss was Tommy the fielding could not have been worse. It is estimated that about 12 catches were missed. Warne, who had retired. Naturally, bowlers were punished, with Syd Hastings 5/131, the best. Carlton’s response was 158, with De Gruchy making 44 and Beckerleg 30. Cricket was back to normal in 1920-21 and, for Carlton, the treasurer (F. Blake) was able to report that the Club was free of debt. This was helped by a dividend of £200 from the The next season was most successful, but the Club fell back in 1922-23 in every way V.C.A., following a visit of an English team, as a result of which the V.C.A. made a profit of except financially, as £500 was lent to the Recreation ground committee. Frank O’Keeffe, a £8000. grand player, went to the Old Country, but in his absence Hammy Love was secured from New South Wales as a wicketkeeper. Pennant games were keenly fought, with George Truman having great success with the ball. His figures included 6/15 and 8/33. Lyle Downes had top score with 102. Sam Stranks and In one match for Victoria against Tasmania, Love helped the great Bill Ponsford to Stan Hastings each had several good scores, and Stewart was also successful. establish a record. His best performance for Carlton was when he and Sutherland each scored 84 against the bowling of Matthews and Carlton, top bowlers for North Melbourne. Arnold Seitz (later to become V.C.A. president), Harry De Gruchy and Harry Curtis (later Collingwood CARLTON REACH SEMI-FINALS Football Club player and president) were others to make runs, and the bowling trophy again Frank O’Keeffe’s remarkable play was a feature of the 1921-22 season, and led many went to George Truman, then regarded as the best bowler in the State. His best figures were enthusiasts to ask how New South Wales could afford to allow such a fine player to go to 7/39 against North Melbourne. another State. It was a wet season generally. In the first game Truman took 5/29 and Stewart 3/11 in FOUR CARLTON TEAMS dismissing Hawthorn-East Melbourne for 102. Carlton had lost 2/11 at stumps in a one-day As in former years Carlton had four teams in action in 1923-24 but had a poor season. game. Inclement weather played a great part in the defeats, and the first eleven was in a good position In the next game Prahran made 165 for the loss of 6 wickets. Rain confined play to one in each of five matches washed out by rain. Not one match was won. But Victoria had a great day and Carlton did not bat. season, going through undefeated. Hammy Love and Harold De Gruchy were Carlton players in George Truman and Bill Bowes had a remarkable match against Richmond, taking 6/6 that team, and honorary secretary, Jack Melville, played his part by managing the Victorian and 4/4 respectively on a rain damaged pitch. The innings ended for 15. Carlton’s response was team that played in Sydney. 8/137, Stewart making 34 not out. In a second innings Richmond made 127, O’Keeffe taking Members were shocked to hear of the death of Frank O’Keeffe. He had played in Sydney 6/43 and Bowes 3/36. under M. A. Noble, but came to Victoria and played for Carlton. In the 1922-23 season he had a It was O’Keeffe’s turn for an all-round performance in the next game, with 127 not out pennant average of more than 70, and for Victoria had scores of 87 and 79 in one match against against Essendon in a score of 2/252 (closed). Stan Hastings made 41 not out. In Essendon’s New South Wales, 177 and 144 for the Rest of Australia against Australia, and 180 against 124 O’Keeffe took 6/53 and Truman 3/41. South Australia. Later he went to England and was on the way to qualifying to play with Another good score was registered against University, O’Keeffe making 63 in a score of Lancashire when he died. 6/236. University made 94 and 7/89, Truman taking 5/26 and O’Keeffe 3/55. Syd Hastings easily won the batting average – 56.22 for 394 runs, with 142 his top score. Another rain-affected game saw Carlton out for 179, Stewart’s 51 being top, and Bill Sutherland made more runs – 402 – and his top score was also 142. No one else passed Melbourne’s response 0/18. 100, probably due to so much rain. Carlton came out with a win in a high scoring game against North Melbourne, whose 236, with Truman taking 4/60, was topped by Carlton with 8/247. Bill Sutherland made 94 and Arnold Seitz 35. AUSTRALIAN CAPTAINS IN THE MAKING The performances of the Club captain, Bill Woodfull, placed him at the head of the list in Victorian cricket and one of the leading batsmen in the world. He had an average of 85.4 in 13 In the 1924-25 season we read the name W. M. Woodfull, later to be famous as captain of first class innings, and had four centuries against the English team, including one innings of 275 the Australian eleven. He captained the team, but his services were called on for his State, for not out. He could play in only four innings for his Club, his average being 51, beginning with which he played in 10 innings for 494 runs and an average of 61.75. On top of that he played in 120 against Fitzroy in the opening game of the season. New Zealand, having the remarkable average of 310, with 150 not out his top score. In 13 first Bert Farrow, Jack Woodfull, and Tom Hawkins had fine bowling figures early in the class innings he made 890 runs with 211 not out his top score, and his average 148. For his club season. Frank Warne was early in form with 62, 101 and 70. Billy Sutherland made 103 against he made a brilliant 118 against Collingwood, being assisted greatly by 76 from Arnold Seitz, St. Kilda and 56 against South Melbourne and 70 against Essendon. Anton (“Occa”) Hansen, a who was later to become V.C.A. and our own Club President. In early games Syd Hastings had fine wicketkeeper, made a valuable 60 against North Melbourne. Syd Hastings had a brilliant some fine performances, following 5/55 against Melbourne with 6/36 and 56 against Northcote. 94 against Essendon and again won the batting average. Bert Grant had some fine batting and bowling performances, and Howard Houston, now Club Treasurer, figured with 4/20 against Prahran. In the next season Bill Woodfull, chosen to play in England, was given a dinner by Club members, and received several presents. For years, the Club fielded four teams, but the demand for practice was so keen that another wicket had to be provided. The team was not successful in the pennant, but the good fielding was ever-present. Top batsman was Arnold Seitz and best bowler Jack Woodfull, brother of the Australian captain. Special prizes were awarded to Bill Woodfull, Dick Collins (for fielding) and Bill Bowes (for fine bowling, especially 9/97 against Essendon). ANOTHER WARNE ARRIVES Feature of the 1926-27 season was the emergence of Frank Warne, son of Tommy, as a class player. He won the batting average and lost the bowling average only by a small margin. He had such scores as 37 not out in his debut, 94 against Fitzroy, 132 not out against Prahran, and 51 against University. Billy Sutherland made a fine 70 not out in that game and 99 not out later.