CHAPTER 2 WARNE SHINES ON NEW OVAL

Tommy Warne signalised the advent to the oval by some really brilliant performances. His Tommie Warne Arrives greatest achievement was a magnificent 402 against Richmond, which was also a tribute to the excellence of the pitch he had provided, which has continued to make the Carlton It was in 1884-85 that the name of Tommy Warne first appeared. He was appointed noteworthy. He made 1011 runs in pennant in that season and his average was 126.37. He also curator in 1895 at a monthly salary of £5. Later it became £1/15/- weekly. During the last year made three other hundreds, and he won the . In October, 1898, Hetherington, at the Triangle, Tommy Warne secured a horse from the owner, who was leading it to the Zoo. 108 not out, and Brooks, 141 not out, helped Warne to compile the record score of 1/396. It became adept in ground duties and continued those duties for many years. Worrall gained a place in the Australian eleven, and Worrall, Warne, Fox, Hastings and Sam Morris returned to the University in 1886-87, but Harry Freeman was found to be a Hetherington played in inter-colonial matches. valuable addition to the team. Freeman made 90 not out against his old team, South , In 1899-1900 Warne was again a busy player, top efforts being 199 against St. Kilda and Jimmy Trinnick played against England and Midwinter against New South Wales. For his club 161 not out against North Melbourne. This season saw Saunders soar to the top of the bowling, Midwinter had the remarkable average of 270, but four of his first innings were not out. In the and he was chosen to play for the Rest of Australia v. Australia, as well as for Victoria. next year, when only 2 defeats were recorded in 13 games, in the Metropolitan Challenge Cup, Jack Worrall succeeded T. Beckley as secretary in 1901-2, and he and Warne almost Freeman made 111 not out against St. Kilda. But a feature was the discovery of Tommy monopolised the scoring that year. They put on 221 for the first against South Hastings, who quickly found his way into top company. A year later Tommy Warne came into Melbourne, and 357 for the first wicket against North Melbourne. Then, against Melbourne, the team via North Melbourne. Paddy Deely came into his own in 1889-90, making 143 not out Warne carried his bat through an innings of 289 and saved his side from almost certain defeat. against St. Kilda, but in the next season Hastings and Bill Hannah transferred to Fitzroy, and His average for the year was 102.5. In addition, he carried his bat through an innings of 64 for Freeman returned to South Melbourne. All returned later, finding the call of the “Three C’s” too Victoria against England. This is regarded as one of his finest performances. He and Worrall strong. A great loss was suffered by the death of Midwinter. scored 1453 runs out of 2669 made by the Club for the season. Worrall had four centuries in his aggregate of 838. These two, with Saunders and Hastings, had one great match against New INDIGNITY FOR CARLTON South Wales. Saunders took 11/130. Worrall made a century, Warne 89 and Hastings was at his best behind the wickets. Saunders gained a place in the touring Australian team. In 1892-93 the clubs in the competition were split into two sections, and Carlton suffered Yet another player made his appearance in the 1902-3 season. He was Harry Graham, one the indignity of being graded in the B division. But some fine juniors were discovered, of the most brilliant batsmen of his era. He, with Warne and Hastings, played for Victoria, and including Mat Ellis, and Tommy Warne began to show his quality by scoring a brilliant 132 not Hastings, with Mat Ellis, established a world record for the last wicket, his share being 108 not out in the final match of the season. Carlton won the premiership and forced a place in the top out. section, only to lose it again in 1894-95. But that season saw Warne in the Victorian team against England, and the team was again promoted. A great accession to the strength of the Graham became captain next year, but early in the season he accepted a position in New Club was the famous John Worrall, who soon proved his value by scoring 417 not out – the Zealand, and was succeeded by Hastings. highest score in Australia and the fourth highest in the world at that time. This was against University, who curiously enough had won the toss, and sent Carlton in. TROTT CAPTAINS CARLTON The score reached a world record 922, but it was eclipsed later by University. Worrall established a club aggregate record of 757 in that year, his average being 108.14. But Warne Another South Melbourne product – Harry Trott, who became a champion – became was also in the picture with 202 against Richmond. Both won their way into the Victorian team. captain in the following year, but at that period Carlton went through a period of stress, both off Tommy Hastings helped with fine wicketkeeping, and H. F. Hetherington was proving a and on the field, and this served to stir the officials into greater efforts. vigorous batsman. In 1905-6 young Jack and Vin Gardiner were springing into the breach that followed Another champion was unearthed in the following season. He was Jack Saunders, who was retirements and removals, and Jim Kennedy, later to become a member of Parliament, also was to prove himself one of the best left-hand bowlers in the world. He came from the same club as recruited. Tom Warne and Jack Saunders continued to show surpassing ability. Warne made top Warne, and it was as a colt in North Melbourne that he first appeared. The next season was the score in each innings against New South Wales – 115 and 56 – and he also had the best bowling last in the old Triangle, and, strangely enough, not one of the seven matches was won. G. figures, but there was great regret when it was found that he had received an appointment in Collins and Worrall each made hundreds and Hastings, Worrall and Warne played for Victoria. America. Fortunately, Warne pined for his native Australia and was back again before the next The final match was against North Melbourne on 30th April, 1898, after 38 years at the season. He and Saunders headed the averages in the next season, as usual, and both played for Triangle. Victoria. Good form was found again in 1907-8, when the only defeat was at the hands of the premiers, East Melbourne. Fred Delves and Fred Fontaine had good performances, and Delves joined Warne and Saunders in the Victorian team.

In 1909-10 Robert Heatley became President, Jack Melville Secretary and Bert Hocking Essendon made a handy 210, with the consistent Robinson taking 4/50, but Carlton lost Treasurer. The happiest of results followed these appointments. The debt which had been 7/288, with Stewart scoring 134 not out and Cohen 32. gradually developing was manfully faced, and the funds were balanced in the first year. The Rain made the next game a one-day affair. Prahran made 98, Truman taking 6/35. Carlton membership also increased and by the time the Jubilee Year arrived – in 1914 – the Club was in had lost 6/44 at stumps. a powerful position. In that later period Billy Stewart joined the band of illustrious Carltonians, Melbourne proved to be too strong in the next game. Dismissing Carlton for 147 (Green and Herb McLean began as a bowler. 40, Cohen 36), they replied with 9/322, and bowling averages suffered. In the last game Fitzroy lost 7/118 and 1/12 in defeating Carlton, 49. WAR AFFECTS GAME

Naturally the 1914-18 war relegated to the background. No pennant games were played, but other matches were arranged, just to keep the interest going and to provide exercise. They were greatly assisted by the efforts of Tommy Warne, whose wickets were invariably first class. Bill Stewart headed the averages in 1915-16 with an average of 95.85, and also he was champion of the State. He made 207 not out against Northcote, and three other centuries. Bert Cohen’s name figured for the first time in the records, and G. Lanigan, G. Green, George Truman and Mick Cain were bowlers who will be remembered by the older members.

In the next year, when again no pennant was contested, the first eleven went through the season undefeated. Tommy Warne celebrated his 25th year with the Club with an average of 61.5. From a social point of view the season was the most successful for many years, despite the prevailing gloom. Billy Stewart, who contracted illness in the trenches, recovered sufficiently to be chosen to play for an Australian eleven at Lord’s. Cr. Dave Bell became president in 1917-18, and top players in the matches were Tommy Warne (average 50), with young player Bill Sutherland coming out with an average of 43. George Truman continued to shine with the ball, taking 41 wickets with an average of 10.15, and new wicketkeeper, Frank Hyett, was impressive. The season 1918-19 saw Billy Stewart at the top of his form after having returned from service abroad. He scored three hundreds and had other good scores, but Carlton slipped back a little, and did not reach the finals. In the fifth match of the year they went down to South Melbourne, and that was their first defeat for more than two seasons. In the opening game Carlton dismissed North Melbourne for 77, Cain taking 6/29, and they responded with 5/250. Stewart made 118 not out and Bert Cohen 40. Lyle Downs was the hero in the next match, making 123 against East Melbourne, who made 119 and 1/79, George Truman took 5/42, and Frank Robinson 4/31. Carlton’s score was

4/240 (closed).

Cain, 3/64, and Robinson, 4/29, wrecked Collingwood for 185, and Carlton’s response was 7/244. Top scorers were Cohen, with 81, and Harry De Gruchy, 88. Cohen was top scorer with 40 in a score of 127 against South Melbourne, who made 155. Robinson, with 3/27, was best with the ball. Stewart was again the hero in the next game, scoring 135 not out, in a score of 6/308 against St. Kilda. George Green helped with 83 and Cohen with 44. St. Kilda lost 8/197 and made it a draw. Robinson took 3/61. Tommy Warne was back for the next game, and he took 3/19 in helping to dismiss University for 94. Robinson helped with 3/13. Stewart made 82 in Carlton’s 174. In an exciting match against Northcote, Carlton lost by three runs. In their 177 and 4/99 Green made 44 and Downes 37 and, with the ball, Robinson took 4/66 and Collins 3/27.