CHARLES LESKI AUCTIONS PTY. LTD.
13 Cato Street, Hawthorn East 3123, Victoria, Australia
Telephone: 61-3-9864-9999
Facsimile:
61-3-9822-2788
Email: contact@leski.com.au
A.B.N.13 081 928 921
Media Release
February
8, 2010
BLOODY REMINDER OF FOOTBALL’S ‘DARK SIDE’
Lovers of Australian Rules Football are quick to promote the elegance, skill and sportsmanship of the game.
But there is also the ‘dark side’, notably the infamous ‘Bloodbath Grand Final’ of 1945 when on and off-field
violence dominated the day.
The game was held two weeks after the formal surrender of Japan bringing war in the Pacific to an end.
Whether this prompted players and supporters of Carlton and South Melbourne to continue hostilities is a
moot point. What is not in dispute is that it remains one of the ugliest encounters in the annals of VFL/AFL,
with 10 players reported for 16 offences (including attempting to strike a field umpire).
There is also the remarkable case of Carlton’s Fred Fitzgibbon who took the field despite a four match
suspension from the Preliminary Final for having king-hit Collingwood forward Len Hustler. He was
removed from the ground by the police and banned for a further four matches.
A lasting reminder of the match that Carlton won is a rare copy of the 1945 Grand Final Football Record
which is being offered for sale.
“This Football Record is a must for the serious collector of football memorabilia,” says Charles Leski. “It is
a reminder that a great game has its brutal side, with the ‘gladiators’ identified for posterity.”
Lot 370 will be offered for sale by Leski Auctions in Melbourne on Tuesday, February 16th at 5.00pm. Pre-
sale estimates from
$400
-
$500.
(NB: The
image is available
at
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Leski Auctions was established in 1973 and is one of Australia’s leading auctioneers of Sporting Memorabilia,
Australiana, Collectibles and World Philately.
Leski Auctions is a recognised leader in the area of early photography, art, wine, cameras, books, autographs,
entertainment memorabilia, medals, coins, stamps, aerophilately, cigarette and trade cards, maps, railway
memorabilia, advertising artwork and posters, and the Olympics, football and cricket..
It was the first auction house in Australia to introduce an on-line, real-time bidding system ‘Live Bid Online’™,
which allows participation from anywhere in the world. It currently runs 22 auctions per year.
Leski Auctions has previously sold many significant collections, including those of Shirley Strickland, Ron Clarke,
Sir Reginald Ansett and former RSL President, Bruce Ruxton. It has sold more ‘baggy green’ caps than any other
auction house in the world, and is one of the largest auctioneers of cricket memorabilia by value and volume.
Leski Auctions recently sold the newly-discovered Phar Lap horse tonic recipe book. It recently achieved a world
record price for a Bradman bat.
Managing Director Charles Leski is a registered valuer for the Cultural Gifts Program through the Department of
Environment, Water, Heritage
and the Arts. He is also the valuer of the displayed items at the National Sports
Museum at the MCG, Melbourne.
The company is located at 13 Cato Street, Hawthorn East 3123 Australia. Tel +61-3-864 9999 and
Issued by:
Charles Leski, Leski Auctions
Michael Krape, Michael Krape Consulting
CHARLES LESKI AUCTIONS PTY. LTD.
13 Cato Street, Hawthorn East 3123, Victoria, Australia
Telephone: 61-3-9864-9999
Facsimile:
61-3-9822-2788
Email: contact@leski.com.au
A.B.N.13 081 928 921
Tel: 61-3-9864 9999
Tel: 0403 135 880
charles@leski.com.au
michaelkrape@krape.com.au
NEWS 
