With great passion, precise research and a determination to uncover what many had not done before – Champions of Carlton by Miles Wilks highlights some of the most exceptional moments and players from the history of the Carlton AFL Club.
From Ken Baxter to Jack “Chooka” Howell and Anthony Koutoufides, Wilks focuses on the many unsung heroes, the work horses and the goalkickers who were, in many cases, overlooked legends throughout their time.
We asked Wilks some questions about his new book, highlighting his research process, passion for the team and more!
How did you come up with the idea for the book?
“I started research the 1970 premiership team under the belief that no writer had fully covered the achievements of Carlton’s team from that year… No one had covered the journey of getting to the Grand Final and what the players went through in the 1970 home and away season.
Then the 1947 premiership team really interested me largely because of the interviews I did with some ex-Carlton players in 2003. Jim Clark, Jim Baird and Ron Hines were the three that I interviewed, and they mentioned Fred Davies was the star player of the 1947 premiership team. He was therefore one player I was determined to have in the book.
So, in conclusion, the book started as a combination of material put together on the 1947 and 1970 premiership players and then branched out from there.”
Do you have any personal connection with the Carlton AFL team?
“My Father started my interest in Carlton by telling me the tale of Ted Hopkins in the 1970 Grand Final back when I was 9 years old. The way he described Hopkins really resonated with me. Where did Hopkins come from? He sounded like a superhero. Was my Dad telling me a fable? Was it possible for a small blond-haired player who was out of place in this mighty team to kick four goals to win the biggest game in history?
For a 9-year-old, this story was mesmerising as Hopkins seems so out of place. It was as is an amateur player rushed in at the last moment and they didn’t even want him in the game until it was a desperate situation at half time and they had no other options. It was better than reading the Hobbit!”
How did you find the process of research and writing the book?
“The researching part I really enjoy a lot. It feels like you are panning for gold or unlocking little gold nuggets of information and then combining those bits and pieces into a cohesive unit. The writing part and the promotional part is a bit more ‘hard yakka’ for me.”
How did you select the included players and information?
“Players who were undervalued were a key focus in the book. Players such as Fred Davies, Jack Howell & Brent Crosswell can be considered undervalued players. Jack Howell wasn’t undervalued in the 1940s... just look at the number of times he represented Victoria.... no, he is undervalued in terms of his legacy not being fully recognised today.
Then others that were selected to feature in the book were star players such as Alex Jesaulenko, Wayne Johnston and Wayne Harmes. It was important that for these chapters that I ensured something new was mentioned about them. I didn’t want it to be a rehash of what has been put in previous books. People have read about Wayne Harmes’ outstanding exploits in the 1979 Grand Final in at least 5-10 books, yet his duel with Bartlett in the 1982 Grand Final has rarely been mentioned. For me, that duel was one for the ages.”
What is your favourite part about the book?
“I like the Jack Howell, Fred Davies and Brent Crosswell chapters the most in terms of there being a lot of new information in these chapters. For me, ‘Carlton, The 100 Greatest’ book from Russell Holmesby and Jim Main is the go-to source for information on Carlton players. The rule was if the material I had accrued wasn’t in that book then it was a good start.
Brent Crosswell is a great man who I have admired, and his standing in the game should be elevated. Hopefully the interviews with him (as included in the book) play a role in elevating his status as one of the greatest players of the 1960s-70s era. At present, I think he isn’t considered by most in the media in the upper echelon alongside Malcolm Blight, Alex Jesaulenko, Francis Bourke and the like, yet should stand alongside those legends of the game. Watch the 1970 and 1975 Grand Finals if you have any doubts.
All three of these players (mentioned above) were undervalued, so that is why they are my favourite chapters. Then again, the Wayne Harmes & Wayne Johnston chapters are decent. They were very talented players, so it was great to write about their role in the 1982 finals in particular.
So, in conclusion, I liked all those chapters, plus the Alex Jesaulenko’s and the Ron Barassi ones.”
How does it feel to be a published author? Do you have any other ideas or works in the pipeline?
“Really, I consider myself as more of a researcher… The research is what fuelled me.
Will I write another book? No, probably not. There just isn’t the support in the AFL ecosystem to write about football. The financial costs, hindrances and bureaucracies that deter you from writing on this topic are too significant.”
Players included in the book: Ken Baxter, Fred Davies, Jack Howell, John Nicholls, Ron Barassi, Alex Jesaulenko, Brent Crosswell, Wayne Harmes, Wayne Johnston, Stephen Silvagni, Stephen Kernahan and Anthony Koutoufides.
“At its core, Champions of Carlton provides a visual reminder of the deeds of the greatest players to have worn the navy blue, an acknowledgement of those who strived to make the club that bit greater during their time.”
Purchase your copy of this visual delight at your local bookshop or online at woodslanepress.com.au