Ian Aitkin

Position: Half-Back

Age now: 50

In his debut season, quick defender Ian Aitkin made his presence known around the league, winning AFLPA Rookie of the Year in the process. In the offseason after the 1987 Grand Final victory, the Blues traveled to London for an exhibition game against North Melbourne. What was intentionally a showcase for the game turned very ugly very quickly, accumulating in a brawl after Aitkin was king hit by North Melbourne's Alastair Clarkson. Clarkson was suspended for four games for the incident.

Aitkin stayed at the Blues until the 1992 season, from there he spent a year at St Kilda before retiring. After retirement, Aitkin coached bayside clubs Cowes, and Barwon heads (possibly due to his love of surfing). After those stints, he held the position of head coach in the Amateurs with Kew and was one of the best coaches in the system. After winning his third flag with Kew in 2015, Aitkin was appointed Development Head Coach for the Northern Blues, a position which he still holds.

David Rhys-Jones with the Norm Smith Medal

David Rhys-Jones

Position: Centre Half-Back

Age now: 55

Rhys-Jones was known for two things throughout his playing days: His versatility on the football field, being able to play any position with ease; and his frequent trips to the tribunal. Forty-two trips to be exact. Regardless of the situation, Rhys-Jones constantly found himself in the thick of the action. The much maligned Rhys-Jones was judged best on the ground in the 1987 Grand Final, with his jaw-dropping shutdown job on Hawks star, Dermott Brereton. Rhys-Jones kept the Hawthorn forward to two handballs all game, whilst he punished Brereton going the other way. His disciplined play sacrifice finally won over Carlton fans.

After his retirement in 1992, Rhys-Jones played and coached at North Launceston, Frankston, and Heidelberg. Rhys-Joes is now a football media personality, with numerous TV and radio appearances.

Tom Alvin

Position: Half-Back

Age now: 55

Known for his flowing locks of hair and his run from the backline, Alvin was a superstar in the Carlton backline. Alvin played ten seasons for the Blues and was a top ten finisher in the club Best and Fairest eight times. Alvin was a long-time servant to the Victorian state of origin side, representing the 'Big V' on six occasions. After his retirement in 1994, Alvin stayed in the game briefly, captain-coaching Sandringham in the Victorian Football Association. In 1999 he was inducted into the Carlton Hall of Fame.

Shane Robertson

Position: Wing

Age now: 53

Robertson was nicknamed 'Yo-yo' around the club due to being consistently moving from the seniors to the reserves. However, with Robert Walls as coach, Robertson found himself in the firsts a lot more. In the Grand Final, he was matched up on Brownlow Medalist Robert DiPierdomenico. He was admittedly "toweled up" by Dipper in the first half, although he fought back as the game progressed.

After leaving the club in 1991, Robertson played and coached at Daylesford, Castlemaine, Northern Bullants, Hepburn, Seymore, and finally back to Castlemaine where he left the club at the end of the 2016 season.

Craig Bradley

Craig Bradley

Position: Centre

Age now: 53

Craig Bradley was already a superstar of the game in South Australia when the Blues brought him to Victoria before the 1986 season. The recruitment of Bradley along with Stephen Kernahan and Peter Motley instantly boosted the Carlton football club. The 1987 season was Bradley's second in the Navy Blue, and in those two years he established himself as an elite midfielder in the VFL. His endurance and skill were the envy of every opponent.

Bradley continued to be a standout midfielder for a club record 375 games. Bradley retired from the game in 2002 and was still one of the Blues' best when he exited. By the time he finished, Bradley's list of accolades included; the previously mentioned games record, club captain, three-time Best and Fairest, a State of Origin representative, International Rules representative, five-time All Australian, Carlton Team of the Century player, AFL Hall of Fame inductee, and Carlton Legend. Never a man for the spotlight, Bradley has kept out of the public eye since retirement. Although he did have a stint as an assistant coach for the Blues in 2007. 

David Glascott

Position: Wing

Age now: 56

They say you can never judge a book by its cover; David Glascott had the face and build of a teenage boy, but gee he played a man's game. In the 1987 Grand Final, he had the role of tagging John Platten and had the better of the Brownlow medalist. Playing 173 games over a 10-year career, Glascott retired from the game in 1991. In the following years after retirement, he coached Perth in the WAFL before returning to Victoria. Since his return, the three-time premiership player has been inducted into the Carlton Hall of Fame, along with the Carlton Ring of Honour in 2017.