Just as Test cricket had Bradman’s 1948 Invincibles, Victorian District Cricket had the Carlton team of 1968-69.

With Barney Jones as captain-coach and English international Barry Knight a star overseas signing, the side swept through the season undefeated, capping its dominant campaign by defeating Melbourne in the grand final.

A young John Scholes made 132 out of 269.

Stan Poppleton was proud to be among those brilliant Blues.

Poppleton, who has died suddenly at the age of 79, was a worthy contributor to Carlton causes after joining the club from Brunswick in 1960 as a 13-year-old Dowling Shield hopeful.

A fast bowler, he figured in the 1961-62 and 1962-63 title-winning Dowling teams and went on to the senior sides.

During an era of success for the Blues, he won three First XI bowling awards and took 183 wickets at an average of 18.54.

In the grand final won by the Carlton “Invincibles’’, he took 3-38 off 8.6 overs, removing key Melbourne batsman Jeff Moss and lifting his season aggregate to 26 wickets.

He also had a stint at Waverley in 1978-79, playing 15 matches, and crossed to Fitzroy-Doncaster with his great mate Scholes, serving as an experienced hand for the lower XIs.

Poppleton had grown up with Scholes, Col Kinnear and Adrian Gallagher, and they all went to Carlton and played to First XI premiership standard.

They also remained lifelong friends.

“We all grew up within half a kilometre of each other,’’ Kinnear said on Tuesday.

“When we were 10 years of age we played cricket and footy at a little oval we called ‘The Green’, which was outside the Brunswick football ground. We did that every night. We went to school together at University High School. We were best mates all the way through our lives.’’

Last month, Poppleton, Kinnear and Gallagher (all Carlton Cricket Club life members) caught up at a coffee shop in Maling Rd, Canterbury, as they always did.

“Stan would organise it for every three weeks,’’ Kinnear said.

“We’d reminisce, talk sport, cricket and footy, and then we’d get back to talking about Carlton Cricket Club.’’

He said Poppleton was a fine fast bowler and could have played higher cricket.

“Very talented. He could swing the ball, inswing it, outswing it, do a little bit off the track,’’ Kinnear said.

“’Stacky’ (Keith Stackpole) always said he would have been a very good player in English conditions. He was a great competitor.’’

After leaving the District scene, Poppleton coached and played suburban cricket at clubs including Springvale South, Doveton and Endeavour Hills.

But wherever he went he still called Carlton home and he followed the fortunes of all its XIs.

With the Blues enjoying great success in the past decade under coach Evan Gulbis, he was a regular at finals matches. But he took care to encourage youngsters in the lower grades, knowing they were the future.

Poppleton also took delight in watching his grandsons play Premier Cricket, Jack Beer at Carlton and Sam Beer at Prahran.

He served on Carlton committees and looked forward to the annual hal-of-fame day. His friends think this year’s event, on August 28, won’t be the same without him.

“He was the kindest, most caring bloke,’’ Carlton president Mark Morris said.

“If anyone was crook, whether it be a player or life member, Stan was always the first one of the phone asking if they were OK or needed anything.’’

Morris said Poppleton’s death was an “incredibly sad day’’ for Carlton.

“He had a deep knowledge of the club’s history and loved sharing stories, making sure current Carlton people understood and appreciated the past.’’

Stan Poppleton is survived by his wife, Jenny, and children Martine and Matt and their families.