Australian Football

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Key Facts

Full name
Kenneth Baxter

Known as
Ken Baxter

Born
20 August 1917

Died
27 April 1959 (aged 41)

Age at first & last AFL game
First game: 20y 260d
Last game: 33y 6d

Height and weight
Height: 183 cm
Weight: 81 kg

Senior clubs
Carlton

Jumper numbers
Carlton: 4, 21

Recruited from
Werribee (1938)

Family links
Bill Baxter (Brother)Bernie Baxter (Brother)

Ken Baxter

ClubLeagueCareer spanGamesGoalsAvgWin %AKIAHBAMKBV
CarltonV/AFL1938-1941, 1945-19501533652.3967%12.406.8011
Total1938-1941, 1945-19501533652.3967%12.406.8011

Pre 1965 stats are for selected matches only

AFL: 4,582nd player to appear, 1,255th most games played, 125th most goals kickedCarlton: 542nd player to appear, 77th most games played, 8th most goals kicked

Cannot someone at Carlton teach Ken Baxter how to kick? If this could be effected, Carlton’s premiership prospects would be enhanced 100 per cent., as the young Werribee player is an outstanding mark and has improved in general play.¹

A capable forward who could take a spectacular grab, Ken Baxter gave consistently effective service to Carlton in a war-interrupted 10-season VFL career during which he amassed 365 goals. He was the Blues' top goal kicker, or joint top goal kicker, every season from 1946 to 1950. Baxter joined Carlton from Werribee, and made his senior league debut in 1938. He missed the whole of the 1942, 1943 and 1944 seasons while on war service, but resumed in time to contribute to the Blues' successful 1945 finals campaign. In the Grand Final defeat of South Melbourne (reviewed here) he lined up at full forward, and contributed a couple of goals to the Blues' tally. Two years later he again experienced premiership success as 19th man for the Carlton team which scored a single point victory over Essendon. Baxter played the last of his 153 games for the Blues in 1950.

Author - John Devaney

Footnotes

1. “Sporting Globe”, 16/8/39, page 10.

Sources

Full Points Footy Publications, Crème de la Crème

Footnotes

* Behinds calculated from the 1965 season on.
+ Score at the end of extra time.