The 1945 Carlton Football Club season was the Carlton Football Club's 82nd season of competition, and 49th as a member of the Victorian Football League. Carlton fielded teams in the senior and reserves grades of the 1945 VFL season.
Under coach Percy Bentley, Carlton recovered from a middling 3–6 start to win thirteen of its last fourteen games, winning the premiership by defeating in the Grand Final. It was the 7th senior VFL premiership in the club's history.
Club summary
The 1945 VFL season was the 49th season of the VFL competition since its inception in 1897; and, having competed in every season, it was also the 49th season contested by the Carlton Football Club. As it had been since 1897, the club's home ground was Carlton Oval in Princes Park, North Carlton. In addition to its senior team, Carlton fielded a team in the VFL seconds. Its thirds (under-19s) team contested the Northern District Football Association, and development teams East Brunswick, Brunswick City and Prince's Hill contested the Victorian Junior Football League. The club reported 4,623 full 10/6 memberships and 712 5/- memberships (total 5,335), up from 3,936 and 489 (total 4,425) in 1944, but still short of its pre-war record membership of 7,700; but the club saw a profit of only £213, down from £503, owing to the new arrangements for pooling gate receipts across the league.
Senior personnel
Kenneth Luke continued as club president through 1945, a position he had held since the 1938 season. Harry Bell continued as the secretary, a role he had held since 1940.
Percy Bentley continued as coach, a role he had held since crossing from in 1941. Bob Chitty, in his ninth season with the club, was appointed the new captain of the club; he replaced 1944 acting-captain Bob Atkinson, who returned to captain his former VFA side Coburg. Bob Green was appointed vice-captain at the start of the year, then Rod McLean took over after Green was transferred on service.
Squad and player statistics for 1945
The following is the full list of players who were on the Carlton senior and supplementary lists through the 1945 season. Numbers in parentheses represent games played and goals kicked for Carlton during the season.
Playing list changes
The following summarises key player transfers to and from the club between the conclusion of the 1944 season and the conclusion of the 1945 season.
World War II was still ongoing during the season, so the availability of players who were in the military would depend on where they were posted; players who were temporarily gained or lost by the club due to military service are included here. Additionally, the Victorian Football Association returned to competition after three years' recess, and VFA players who had played for Carlton during the war on wartime permits automatically became VFA players; these players needed to be re-cleared to the VFL before resuming with Carlton.
In
Bernie Bignell (returned from service) Jim Clapton (from Coburg) Hal Hanton (from service and Frankston) Adrian Hearn (from ) Ron Hines (returned from service) Jim Jones (returned from service) Cyril Mann (returned from service) Fred Rose (from services and Sea Lake) Arthur Hall (from , after Round 1) Ken Hands (from North Geelong, and cleared from 's zone after Round 3) Frank McGrath (from , after Round 3) Lance Collins (returned from service to Coburg, then cleared back to Carlton after Round 5) Ken Baxter, (returned from service after Round 11) Bert Deacon (returned from service to Preston, then cleared back to Carlton after Round 13)
Out
Bob Atkinson (to Coburg) Frank Anderson (to Preston) Bert Butler (to Bacchus Marsh) Jack Conley (away on service) Ollie Grieve (away on service) Ern Henfry (away on service, then returned to Perth) Jack Howell (away on service) Les McCann (away on service) Ken McLean (away on service) Les Marden (to Coburg) Paul Schmidt (to Devonport) Ted Tuohill (retired) Jack Wrout (retired) Kevin Brown (to , after Round 3) Cyril Mann (to Brunswick, after Round 5) Bob Green (transferred on service after Round 7) Les Gregory (to Preston, after Round 9) Adrian Hearn (to Brunswick, after Round 10)
Other players who were already playing with the Carlton seconds, but who were elevated and made their senior debuts in 1945 were Wal Alexander, Clinton Wines and Don Beauvais. Carlton also notably signed up Jim Davies from Swan Districts, who had won the 1944 Sandover Medal in the under-age WANFL competition; but he was transferred away from Melbourne on service before playing a game and returned to Swan Districts in 1946. He later returned to Carlton in 1949.