Australian Football

The Bloodbath Grand Final

1945 VFL Grand Final: Carlton vs. South Melbourne

BACK ROW (L-R): C.McInnes, W.Alexander, D.Williams, K.Hopper, A.Way, J.Jones, J.Clark
THIRD ROW (L-R): V.Brown, K.Baxter, R.Boys, D.Beauvais, K.Hands, J.Baird, B.Deacon, C.Wines
SECOND ROW (L-R): R.Savage, J.Mooring, I.Collins, R.Chitty (captain), R.McLean, A.Sanger, J. Bennett
FRONT ROW (L-R): R.Hines, H.Turner, A.Price, F.Fitzgibbon

Carlton finished the 1945 minor round in 4th spot with 13 wins and 7 losses, and few observers gave them much chance of troubling either South Melbourne (16-4) or Collingwood (15-5) in the finals. A solid but unspectacular 14.10 (94) to 8.20 (68) 1st semi final win over North Melbourne was hardly enough to change anyone's mind, and when Collingwood led the Blues 11.7 (73) to 6.9 (45) at three quarter time of a fiery preliminary final things appeared to be proceeding pretty much as anticipated. When Hustler goaled for the Magpies early in the final term the only remaining uncertainty seemed to centre on the eventual extent of Collingwood's victory, but then came one of those sudden, unexpected shifts of impetus which makes football the world's most exhilarating game. A fierce brawl interrupted play for several minutes and in retrospect can probably be said to have proved decisive in disrupting the Magpies' concentration. Shortly after play resumed Collins, who had been well beaten all day, goaled for Carlton whose players suddenly found hidden reserves of energy and inspiration to lift all over the ground and come steaming home with a further 6.3 to 0.1 over the final quarter of an hour to win by 10 points, 13.12 (90) to 12.8 (80).

The following Saturday Carlton faced South Melbourne at Princes Park as rank underdogs but once again defied the odds to win comfortably by 28 points, 15.13 (103) to 10.15 (75). However, the bare statistics reveal nothing of the drama, excitement and fury of one of the most tumultuous grand finals of them all.

From the start play was scrappy and tough. Kicking with the aid of a moderate breeze in the 1st term Carlton battled their way to a 2.4 to 0.5 quarter time lead which South managed to eradicate within minutes of the re-start. Shortly after this the fights began. Carlton skipper Bob Chitty flattened South champion Ron Clegg (left) and moments later Carlton's Ron McLean did likewise to Jack Danckert.

Arguments began which umpire Spokes attempted to defuse by holding onto the ball until things calmed down. The lull was only temporary, however, as when play resumed there were a succession of violent incidents culminating in Blues' centre half forward Ken Hands being knocked unconscious while the ball was being relayed back to the centre after a Carlton goal. An all in brawl developed which was only stopped by the half time siren.

The atmosphere at the packed ground by this stage was electric with the Carlton majority baying loudly for South Melbourne blood as the comatose Hands was stretchered off the field.

The fact that the Blues went into the long break still 2 points to the good went almost unnoticed. Despite suffering from heavy concussion, however, Hands was forced to return to the fray in the 3rd term because Carlton's 19th man, Charlie McInnes, had already been used.

With rain having fallen during the interval the ground was now heavy and, as often happens in such circumstances, fierce body clashes became more frequent. On a purely footballing front South's pace advantage and their slick short-passing style were both undermined. Carlton quickly extended their lead when Hands, miraculously, took a fine mark and then goaled.

Three more goals to Carlton quickly followed and the game appeared over. Indeed, in terms of determining the destiny of the 1945 VFL premiership pennant it probably was but, increasingly, a majority of the players seemed more interested in 'evening the score' in other respects.

Early in the final term retribution was finally exacted on Chitty and a wholesale melee broke out involving players, trainers, club officials and even ambulance men. Police eventually moved in to break things up and Chitty staggered to a forward pocket from where, as luck would have it, he shortly afterwards kicked a goal. Further heavy body clashes followed as heavy rain fell but in between the fights Carlton continued to kick goals.

During one particularly spiteful brawl in the final term Carlton winger Fred Fitzgibbon became heavily involved - not so unusual you might think except that he had been sitting behind the fence in the club officials' enclosure having been suspended after the preliminary final! At the Tribunal on the Tuesday following the grand final his 3 match suspension was not surprisingly extended to 7, while team mates Chitty and Savage also incurred penalties. A charge against Ken Hands (right) was dismissed.

Of 6 South players reported 4 were given suspensions and 1 received a reprimand. The press had a field day:

Punching, kicking and deliberate assaults made the League grand final at Carlton on Saturday one of the worst in history...... Many people left the ground disgusted with what they saw...... Officials of the two clubs expressed disgust at the unsavoury end of an excellent season. Each blamed the other for starting the brawls.

Then, after the tribunal had passed sentence:

Supporters will not be satisfied with what has been done to clear up the disgraceful scenes in the grand final. the suspensions were not severe enough to be a deterrent.

Carlton's win gave it its 9th senior premiership, and its 7th in the VFL, and there can have been few if any in the history of the game so hard earned and thoroughly controversial. Moreover, with the war in Europe having ended just a few weeks earlier it seemed a peculiarly inappropriate way to celebrate.

Match Summary

BEST
Carlton: Brown, Sanger, Baxter, Chitty, Wines, McLean
South Melbourne: Castles, Smith, Dempsey, King, Grossman, Graham

GOALS
Carlton: Hands, Price 3; Baxter, Mooring 2; Bennett, Chitty, McLean, Savage, Wines
South Melbourne: Castles 3; Linden, Nash, Smith 2; Richards

ATTENDANCE: 62,986 at Princes Oval

For further details and a full match report from the Argus, click here.