I made the trip to Brisbane to see Carlton last week. While it was not the outcome that we all had hoped for, to be honest, it was kind of expected. With each game, I always go with the mindset of a win, even if I know deep down that they will not. I waited for a week to go by just to see what transpired on social media and the media itself, where most of the narrative was predictable.
Before I elaborate, let me state that Carlton’s crawl into the Finals was not earned, but we got there by default. Could we have made it a fairytale outcome? Sure, but it should be no real surprise that we performed the way we did. Was I upset? Not really; disappointed? Yes, but not upset because I did not think we earned our spot. I then thought about the games last week, this weekend, and the clubs achieving success. We now know the outcome of the matches going into the Preliminary Finals, and they will be rather interesting because right now, as it stands, there is only one Victorian team. Will I stand with that team for a Grand Final win – no. But I do give them kudos for getting there.
There are three clubs in the top 8 who, in my view, have the ability to be contenders for a Premiership and will be for a while. Two of those teams have shown how strong they are, and one is showing it more and more. Let me explain.
Sydney, Geelong, and Hawthorn have had one thing the other clubs have not had: a consistently stable environment on and off the field. They all have an inherent history of a culture in their club that enables them to be successful. They have consistency in their coaching and the environment in which they play. Sydney and Geelong have had the same head coach for over 10 years, and Hawthorn’s Sam Mitchell took over from a coach who had been with the club for over 10 years. These three clubs have developed a culture that is ingrained not only with the players but with those around them.
Clubs such as Brisbane Lions – the coach has been with them since 2016; Port Adelaide – the coach has been with them since 2012; Western Bulldogs – the coach has been with them since 2015. GWS and Carlton’s current senior coaches took over in 2022. While Brisbane Lions have been knocking on the door in the final series, their last Grand Final win was in 2003, with this being their third consecutive Grand Final win. They were runners-up in 2023. Port Adelaide has had the honour of being the club with the most finals presence but has yet to have won one. Their last one was in 2004.
The Western Bulldog’s previous Grand Final win was in 2016, and they have yet to show the AFL world any resemblance of being that 2016 team since then. GWS made it to a Grand Final in 2019 only to get beaten by Richmond by 89 points. Why is all of this relevant? The reason is not one of these clubs has gone through the turmoil and inconsistent cultural landscape that Carlton has. Yet there are those out there who firmly believe that because we are the Carlton FC, the foundations of consistency don’t really apply.
What we have been lacking is the very thing that makes clubs such as Sydney, Geelong, and Hawthorn have in droves—consistency, a positive culture, and the understanding that to get to a Grand Final and to win it takes time, patience, and a determination to exceed both on and off the field. We have not had that mindset for a long time now. Yet, it is something that we are building. Yet there are those who just do not get this.
At the game, I witnessed supporters abuse not only our players but coaches as well. How does this make the team or anyone want to perform or do better? Does this work in your home or work environment? I understand the frustration and the need to vent, but to be so aggressive both at the game and on social media achieves and does nothing positive.
The need that some have that other coaches from other clubs would be better is hypocritical at the least. When those who, on the one hand, in the past, praised the coaches and players are now doing the opposite, again, I ask, what does this achieve? To be labelled “muppets” by some supporters who attack others for supporting our coaches and players is downright disrespectful and, again, achieves and does nothing. To be told that Chris Scott would be a better coach than Michael Voss is hysterical, as these people just don’t seem to understand what he achieved and how long it took him to achieve anything resembling success – a Grand Final win.
If we want to be a dominant club, then we have to learn from the clubs that are consistently dominant. They are solid in their coaching team and may tweak it; they are backing their senior coaches as they believe that consistency in their abilities will furnish the club with a solid foundation of a winning culture, both off and on the field. To keep going down the path of giving a coach three years to turn everything around when we have had 10 years of flip-flopping coaches will never, ever garnish the success that we all crave.
If others just can’t handle that, maybe they should turn in their memberships and support a club that is currently successful, and then when they falter, go support another club. I still wear my Carlton scarf and top and have no hesitation in doing that. I support the team, the club, and its endeavours to become a consistently successful club that is rich in its culture both on and off the field. I understand that it takes time and tweaking along the way. But we have the foundations for success; we just need to understand and respect the process to get there, given where we have been. This need by some to keep changing coaches does not work, never has and never will.
SPORTZ 