1968 VFL Grand Final: Bryan Quirk reflects on 50th anniversary of Carlton’s drought-breaking flag
As it sat anchored to the foot of the AFL ladder, Carlton celebrated the 50th anniversary of a side that ended a two-decade wait for a premiership flag.
Local Footy
Don't miss out on the headlines from Local Footy. Followed categories will be added to My News.
As the final siren sounded on the 2018 season, Carlton sat anchored to the foot of the ladder.
With just two wins to its name, a young Blues line-up licked the wounds of some hefty defeats and, with another wooden spoon brandished in its face by gleeful opposition supporters, a return to the pointy end of September seems a long way off.
But footy is a cyclical beast and feast generally follows famine.
Half a century ago, the Blues were in a similar position.
It had been more than two decades since the club had saluted on grand final day, something intolerable for those at Princes Park
IT’S 50 YEARS SINCE LEIGH MATTHEWS BURST ONTO THE SCENE
YOUNG GUNS IN LINE FOR AN AFL TICKET
VFL FINALS GET UNDERWAY WITH A GREAT RIVALRY
But, with VFL great Ron Barassi switching from Melbourne in 1965, the Blues set about building a side that would eventually rank among the greatest in the club’s history.
On September 28, 1968 the Blues snapped a 21-year premiership drought when they edged Essendon 7.14 (56) to 8.5 (53).
And, about the same time Carlton was confirmed as the wooden spooner for 2018, the Blues held a 50th anniversary reunion for the side that ended one of the club’s longest spells without a premiership flag.
Blues fans will be hoping that’s an omen.
At this time of year you can usually find Carlton hall of famer Bryan Quirk tramping the mountain trails of Europe.
The Camino de Santiago across the top of Spain, the Camino Portugués along the Atlantic coast of Portugal and the Coast to Coast walk across England. All are serious lung busting, boot scuffing stuff.
“Well, my wife and I were never one for the bus tours,” the 71-year-old laughed.
And, just last week with the reunion complete, the 1968 premiership half-forward was in Croatia setting himself for some more serious tramping.
“We are doing two walks in Germany during late September and early October,” he said. “I have been struggling with a sore hip but still hoping to complete the walks.”
Battling injury but still keen to get the job done, nothing much has changed in 50 years.
“My wife and I went to the 68 premiership reunion lunch at Docklands Stadium, we had a fantastic time reminiscing,” he said.
In 1965, the same year Barassi took the reins at Carlton, the Blues recruited Quirk from Morwell in the then-Latrobe Valley Football League and he made his debut against South Melbourne at the old Lake Oval in Round 3 that year.
He was blessed to have arrived at Princes Park just in time for a golden era at the club and he played alongside some of the greatest players ever to pull on the famous navy blue jumper.
He counted among his teammates Carlton royalty the like of John Nicholls, Alex Jesaulenko, Robert Walls, Sergio Silvagni, Peter ‘Percy’ Jones, Ian Robertson, Garry Crane and Wes Lofts.
“I started in 65 and I was just 18 years old and I was playing with all those guys,” he said with pride. “It was terrific, a great experience, I was so lucky to be involved in that era.”
The three-point thriller against Essendon in 1968, Carlton’s first flag since beating the Bombers by one point in 1947, trumpeted the beginning of an era that saw the Blues reach the grand final five times in six seasons for three premiership flags.
Unfortunately Quirk was to taste, in equal measures, the joys and disappointment a premiership can bring, playing in the 1968 flag win but missing those of 70 and 72 because of injury.
“(In 1968) It was 21 years (since Carlton’s last premiership) and I can remember Barass got the guys in from the 47 premiership,” he recalls. “They’d won by just one point I think and then we won by a few points.
“They came in and talked to us about how much it means to win a premiership.
“Then there was the great one in 1970 when we came back from 40 points down at halftime against Collingwood and won.
“I got injured in the preliminary final, got my shoulder dislocated.”
“In 72 I didn’t have a great year and I was emergency for the grand final. I spent the day sitting behind the goals.”
Quirk was also a member of the Carlton sides that lost to Tom Hafey’s great Richmond outfits of 1969 and 1973.
In the 69 grand final most had him pencilled in as best-afield, the Norm Smith medallist these days, but like all since who have won that medal but lost on grand final day he said he’d swap the accolade for another premiership medallion in a heartbeat.
“A premiership is a very hard thing to win,” Quirk said. “It’s hard to describe, but it’s a bond you share with those guys forever.”
And, just as certain as good days follow bad, that premiership bond will be shared by a new generation of drought breaker in navy blue.
Like 1968, however, it might just take a while.
1968 VFL Grand Final
MCG (September 28, 1968)
Carlton 2.2 6.8 7.9 7.14 (56)
Essendon 2.1 5.1 6.4 8.5 (53)
Goals: (Carlton): Kekovich 4, Crane, Crosswell, Quirk. (Essendon): Blethyn 4, Close, Lake, Noonan, Sproule.
Best: (Carlton) G.Crane, J.Nicholls, I.Robertson, A.Jesaulenko, A.Gallagher, B.Kekovich, S.Silvagni, I.Collins.
Crowd: 116,828
Carlton
Backs: Ian Collins, Wes Lofts, Robert Walls
Half-Backs: Barry Gill, John Goold, Kevin Hall
Centre: Ian Robertson, Brent Crosswell, Garry Crane
Half-Forward: Alex Jesaulenko, Bill Bennett, Bryan Quirk
Forwards: Peter Jones, Brian Kekovich, Dennis Munari
Followers: John Nicholls (capt), Sergio Silvagni, Adrian Gallagher
Reserves: Peter McLean, Neil Chandler
Coach: Ron Barassi
Essendon
Backs: Darryl Gerlach, Geoff Pryor, Neil Evans
Half-Backs: Alec Epis, John Williams, Barry Davis
Centre: Ken Fletcher, John Ellis, Russell Blew
Half-Forwards: Robin Close, Alan Noonan, David Shaw
Forwards: Ted Fordham, Geoff Blethyn, Paul Sproule
Followers: Don McKenzie (captain), Charlie Payne, Geoff Gosper
Reserves: Bruce Lake, Don Gross
Coach: Jack Clarke
Every signing of the WFNL off-season
The WFNL off-season has only just started but some clubs have already well and truly started making moves for 2025. Keep up to date with every signing in our signing tracker.
‘Shook me up’: Ex-AFL player’s concussion toll, uncertain future
Dion Johnstone has changed local teams, but the former Melbourne player is well aware his career is in a delicate position after a concerning number of head knocks.