Everyone is invited to help us celebrate the Bendigo Zone in Bendigo on March 20th.

It will be a fun afternoon of memories and stories.

So far more than 20 past players from the area will be attending, we are hoping to get around 200 including supporters to the event so plenty of opportunity for socialising.

Great excuse for a weekend trip to Bendigo during our bye weekend.

----------------

More details:

The luncheon is being held at the All Seasons Resort, Bendigo, 20th March, $50 for firsts, seconds and thirds Carlton past players, with other guests at $85 or $850 for a table of 10.

For bookings contact Shane O’Sullivan on 0412-179797 or email shane.osullivan@carltonfc.com.au



Former Carlton players recruited from country Victoria will be honoured at a lunch in Bendigo next month.

The occasion will celebrate the estimated 60 Bendigo and wider region footballers who played for the Blues at senior, reserves and under-19 levels in the years 1955 to 2016.


It will also honour the hundreds of Carlton supporters in the district from the past few decades, with some of Carlton’s greatest past players to attend.


The lunch, organised by past players’ group Spirit of Carlton, will be held on March 20 and is open to the public.

The list of 60 past country players is headed by AFL and Carlton Hall of Famers John Nicholls (Maryborough), Greg Williams (Golden Square) and four-time premiership player David McKay (Newlyn).

Most were recruited from Bendigo and the wider central Victoria area when Carlton had exclusive rights in the VFL zoning era between 1967 to 1986.

Outside those years, other recruits came from centres including Kyabram, Mildura, Corryong, Donald, Shepparton, Swan Hill, Robinvale, Tongala, and Leitchville.

From Donald came 1962 grand final player Murray Kick, Kyabram pair Peter Aitken and Barry Bryant, Robinvale’s Dick Vandenberg, Mark Amos and Michael James.

Players this century included 200-gamer Andrew Walker from Echuca, and ruckman-forward [PLAYERCARD]Ian Prendergast[/PLAYERCARD] from Kerang.

Southby, a Spirit of Carlton committee member, said the lunch would be a fundraiser for past players in need.

“Key objectives of the Spirit of Carlton include health and welfare support of needy past players, Carlton history management, as well as past player engagement,” he said.

“Carlton has many past players who have significant physical and mental health issues because of playing high-level football.

“The lunch will feature a large group of past Carlton players who played in the firsts, seconds, and thirds and their guests, as well as passionate Bendigo region supporters of Carlton.”

MC will be Stephen Gough, who was Carlton’s general manager and Melbourne Cricket Club chief executive.

“Originally from the Bendigo region Stephen will be able to display his great knowledge of Carlton-Bendigo history and former local players,” Southby said.

“Spirit of Carlton would be most grateful if you could join us on the day to celebrate and reminisce on the achievements and highlights of the players and your experiences of a great AFL footy club.”


The luncheon is being held at the All Seasons Resort, Bendigo, 20th March, $50 for firsts, seconds and thirds Carlton past players, with other guests at $85 or $850 for a table of 10.

For bookings contact Shane O’Sullivan on 0412-179797 or email shane.osullivan@carltonfc.com.au

_________________
The Spirit of Carlton compels you!