Champions of Carlton: celebrating the Blues’ greatest players

A new book by Carlton historian and writer Miles Wilks is shining a light on the rich cultural legacy of the Carlton Football Club and its place in the community.

Champions of Carlton, released this month, brings together more than 180 rarely seen images of players spanning the 1930s to the 2000s, offering both long-time fans and new generations a chance to revisit the legends who defined the club.

From premiership heroes of the 1940s and ‘50s to modern icons such as Stephen Kernahan and Anthony Koutoufides, the book captures the deeds of Carlton’s most influential players.

It includes striking and sometimes surprising images: John Nicholls squaring off with a Collingwood supporter, Ron Barassi being lifted to his feet by a teammate after fatigue, and Alex Jesaulenko soaring for a spectacular mark that didn’t happen in the 1970 Grand Final.

For Mr Wilks, who has written for the club since 2001, the project was as much about community as football.

“Carlton’s story isn’t just about wins and losses,” he said. “It’s about the way these players shaped an identity that local people carry with pride. These photographs reflect the emotional connection between the club and its supporters.”

The book underlines how deeply intertwined the Blues are with Carlton’s history. Whether it’s Barassi’s arm aloft with the premiership cup in 1970 or Kernahan’s jubilant reaction to his famous goal in 1987, these moments represent more than sport – they are shared cultural memories for a suburb and its people.

Champions of Carlton is available at Readings Carlton. To celebrate its release, Inner City News readers can win a free copy by writing in and sharing what the Carlton Football Club means to them. •

Caption: Carlton legends Wayne Johnston and Wayne Harmes with the book.