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 Collingwood, 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 sheetanchor, 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-yearold 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
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
and Len Michael could not play regularly, but the return of Alan Jinks from service in New
Guinea after an absence of two years was welcomed.
With only one game to play, Carlton and University, top teams, played a most exciting
game, University winning off the last ball of the day and becoming unofficial premiers. The
batting of Les Blachford, Judd Moore, Bill Williams, Freer and Michael was of a high standard, and Jack and Jim Baird, Freer, Alan Jinks and Neil Tonkin formed an attack that was
never mastered. Jim Baird took no fewer than 44 wickets and Jack 37.
To mark his 50 years of service to the Club, first as a distinguished player and second as a
first rate curator, Tommy Warne was entertained by more than 400 members. He received a
testimonial.
After an association of 50 years, first as a player and later as secretary for 30 years, the
announcement of the death of Jack Melville was received with regret.
KNOCK-OUT GAMES
The financial position in 1943-44, despite the fact that many members on service had been
placed on the honorary member’s list, was highly satisfactory. There was an increase in the
number of financial members and, from a playing standpoint, the increased interest in the game
was most marked.
The decision to complete the series with a series of knock-out games between the eight
leading teams, culminating in a final over two days, proved successful. In the first of this series
against Collingwood, Price was top scorer in the match with 35, and Jim Baird took 6/19.
Melbourne was next opposed, and, when they had been dismissed for 67, Carlton seemed to
have the advantage. But when the score was 6/37 the position was precarious. It was at this
stage that young Bert Numa and Herb Turner came together and mastered the attack. Numa
scored an invaluable 24, and Turner went on to make 76 to help Carlton to a good win.
The final was against Essendon, and attracted 8000 people. Batting all day, Carlton scored
9/315. Price made 135, Numa 48. Rain fell on the second day and an unsatisfactory draw
resulted.
Judd Moore headed the averages and was most consistent. Herb Turner showed distinct
possibilities and was second, while Numa began to live up to his promise as a boy. Fred Freer
took 88 wickets and still holds the bowling record for the greatest number of wickets in pennant
cricket for one season. Jim Baird missed most of the season with a damaged knee.
There was general regret at the death of Tommy Warne. He first played with the Club in
1892, and for 27 years was a most prolific scorer. He made nearly 10,000 runs for Carlton at an
average of 54 and, with slows took hundreds of wickets. In representative cricket he scored
2143 runs in 79 innings for an average of 31, and took 51 wickets at an average cost of 36.
When the present oval was converted from a rubbish tip into a cricket ground in 1898 he took
over. As curator he had no superior, and his knowledge and experience was often placed at the
disposal of clubs throughout the State. His son, Bert, was chosen to take over, and has
maintained the excellence of the wickets.
OUTRIGHT PREMIERSHIP
Season 1944-45 was noteworthy because Carlton secured the first outright premiership for
more than 50 years. They provided exciting cricket to reach the finals, scoring 130 runs in the
last hour to defeat South Melbourne and reach their objective. This followed successive defeats
by Essendon and St. Kilda and gave the players a much-needed tonic.
Essendon, equal premiers with Carlton a year earlier, won the toss on a typical Carlton
wicket prepared by Bert Warne, and, with Jack Baird and Fred Freer in grand form, they were
dismissed for 202. Next day Carlton passed that total for the loss of five wickets, and the score
eventually reached 7/293, with Bill Kinnear making 72, Fred Lalor 59 and Mick Price 57.
Great interest was taken in the final against North Melbourne, takings being £400. On a
wicket slightly affected by rain North won the toss and batted, but had no counter to Alan Jinks,
who had the magnificent figures of 8/26 in a score of 79. There were some anxious moments
before that score was passed, the last Carlton wicket falling at 112. North fought back, but
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.
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
after three games, but Besford remained to render great service, first on the field, and, later as a
secretary – a position he filled until the Centenary Year, when, because of his work for the
Education Department, he had to retire. The return of Bill Kinnear, Charlie Kerville and Jack
Hale also was welcomed.
Bill Kinnear went on to win the batting average. Although he had only four matches, Bert
Numa looked like having his best season when he suffered ill-health. Mick Price was an able
captain, and Herb Turner, Les Blachford and Charlie Kerville all had their successes, and Fred
Lalor, although only a boy, showed the coolness and resource of a veteran. Jack Hale batted
well at times, his best being a forceful 56 against St. Kilda. Freer’s bowling was of a high
standard, and he bowled more than 3000 balls and took 50 wickets. Alan Jinks too had his best
season, with length, spin variation and persistence, the features of his bowling. Mick Price was
made a life member because of his play and that fact that he was a true Club man and a
successful captain.