This Will Not Be Popular…but I don’t care!


I went out on Sunday, and a stranger who saw me wearing my Carlton scarf (proudly) yelled out, ‘That was embarrassing, wasn’t it?’ I smiled, said, disagreed, and yelled, ‘Go Blues!’ It was not that I was embarrassed. I was disappointed, sure, but not embarrassed.


After the game, I looked at the comments made by ‘supporters.’ I put that word in parentheses because what was written shows me that they are not supporters in any way, shape or form.  The language used and the vitriol aimed at both coaches and players illustrate how fickle they are and why, for them, it is only in the success that they will support. The suggestion that some have made to get rid of the coach, get rid of some players, and replace some with others when you don’t know why they were not selected in the first place is ludicrous!


I understand the frustration and the disappointment, but to suggest that we are a ‘disgrace of a club’, that there are players that should be ‘booted out of the club’ together with some of the coaches, as was mentioned in some of the social media, is hilarious, to say the least, and a lack of complete understanding of where the club is situated right now from where it has been.


This club’s journey cannot and should not be compared to other clubs. Tell me one other club who has gone through five changes in coaches in ten years? Name one other club that crawled through the quagmire of the salary cap issue to try and become a success again, only to chop and change coaches when the timeline did not suit some.  Which other club has gone through this? Not one! Yet some supporters are arrogant enough to believe in the hype that we are Carlton and better than the others in terms of what can and should be achieved in a fixed amount of time; their time.


We have not had consistency, clarity nor a decent culture at the club until Michael Voss stepped in.  He stepped in September 2021 and had a full season as senior coach in 2022. In 2023, we went from being fifteenth to finishing fifth! Nobody thought we could or would, yet we did.  In 2024, we have solidified what Vossy and the team have been working on regarding consistency, connection and strength. It takes time to change and to grow when a team has had so many changes. For the team to become what the coaches believe they can become.  There will be great peaks of success and also deep chasms of failure. In each case, the team and the club learn from what this entails. It will give them more knowledge and understanding to give them the success they strive for.


Why are we so special that because it is Carlton, this growth has to be at a pace set by unrealistic expectations that do not consider where we have come from?  For any club to be consistently successful, it takes time. Yet it seems, for some, time is not something that should be relevant to Carlton’s journey so far. 


We have the talent and capabilities to be a great team, but we are still learning how to achieve that. We are traversing a road that has the capacity to end in success, but there will always be kinks in that path and pitfalls that we don’t see coming that can either make or break us. 


So, it does not bother me one bit that this view will not be popular or acceptable, and I can guarantee that some will think it is laughable. Fine. Go for it. It just shows me that instead of having a debate about views and opinions, you choose to laugh at it without any rationale. It proves that you are the type of supporter I don’t respect and never will.


We all want that ultimate success. We were all disappointed in the past two weeks. But I am not embarrassed, nor will I sink to the level of nasty vitriol directed at the club. I know I am not alone.


Always #GO BLUES!

A Lesson to be Learnt!

The loss against GWS was and is a great lesson to learn.  It is a game that will be viewed by the club in its entirety for all the good and the bad.  Yet for some, it seems that all is doom and gloom at the club just because a team got the better of us in a season where we have been a better team than we were last season and the season before.


Heading into the pointy end of the season, rumours are rife as to who is likely to stay, who is expected to go and who is likely to be pursued by other clubs.  That all of this coupled with the loss, the club is “imploding.” In all these “likelihoods”, there is one element of truth: journalists and commentators have nothing else to write about and do so for their own relevance. But while others, to their detriment, see the negatives, I see the positives.


We are not the same team we have been in the past; we are better. But to get better, you need to have setbacks, times when things don’t work out the way you had hoped. It is in these moments that you need to take stock of where you have been and what you can do for the future to change these setbacks.  Nobody in the world can be and should be doing everything right every single time, as that does not allow reflection on how to improve. It makes people believe they are the best and there is no need to learn from mistakes.  It is these people who will never achieve any semblance of complete success because they are too arrogant to see past their own specialness. It is those who see what went wrong, learn from it and grow from it.


I am not saying we should not be upset, but we should not belittle coaches, players and others because they just did not perform in a way that we categorically expect. Every game is a journey into becoming more experienced, more knowledgeable and have a more understanding not only of our own abilities, but that of our opponents.  In order to do this successfully, we have to and must sometimes be disappointed. In this respect, this disappointment can be the catalyst of learning in a way that will make a person and a team stronger and more able to combat onslaughts and barriers to our performance.  This is what Carlton will take from the loss at GWS.
The noise from outside the club flips on the toss of a coin, and it is there to rile supporters up in a way that makes them feel validated in a world where one week, you’re a star; the next, you’ve imploded, only to become a star the next week.


Nic Newman stated in an interview that the team was “not paying too much attention to the outside noise” and that “football is too volatile to predict anything.” He stated that Michael Voss advises the players to “block out the punters and remain present.” This was reiterated in 2023 when Voss said that “touching base with the playing group every week” where the team “has a strong grasp what can and can’t be achieved,” where “needing unity and confidence to put the pieces together.”  This seems to have sunk in well and truly for the club. Newman also stated that this is showing as how well they are performing so far. He said that they are keeping “our focus narrow and look at what’s right in front of us rather than looking too far ahead.”


The club has the pieces to make it a successful club, even if the pieces sometimes get lost or damaged.  The club will pick up these pieces, examine them and make them work again in a way that will benefit each individual no matter where they sit in the game.  It will be a way to learn, grow and understand how to ensure these pieces are not lost or broken in the future.  That is what a successful club does and will do. We are not different.
It’s not just in our sport but in life in general. It’s about taking one step at a time, maintaining our focus on the next game rather than getting lost in what could be possible in the future or what happened in the past.


We, as supporters, should and must do and act the same. Sure, we can dream, but the control of that dream is out of our hands, and all we can do is concentrate on the “now, not the later. ” We must not worry about what could happen in a few months time or those that stay or go. All we can do is support and know that given where the club was a few years ago, the growth and the lessons learned will only benefit each player and the club, no matter who they are, for the future.

Happy birthday Michael Voss.

#GOBLUES!

All photos courtesy of the AFL.

Through The Mist…

An eerie mist hung over the ground. The surroundings were blanketed by a grey curtain tinged with the coolness of the air. The lights on, blaring onto the field. Onlookers scattered or put on weatherproof shields to protect themselves.  On the stark greenness of the ground, a battle was ensuing that some could see was the epitome of being one-sided. The mist grew darker and darker, but the battle of one side would not stop the onslaught. In a battle, some take the stance of singling out certain participants for their fearlessness, determination and swiftness of foot. Their sheer talent that has been growing from the start. Their leadership, tenacity and will to ensure everyone on their side plays the game that they know they are capable of.


Many praise these leaders, these shining beacons of a side. This is not what this blog wants to do. However, in this particular battle that occurred on Sunday afternoon, I want to do just that. Point out and celebrate what I think that a club that has been faltering, understand that while the leaders and the talented drive a team, it is those on the peripheral, on the fringe, that no one really expects or sees as someone who can do more than fill in, when necessary, then go back to being on the outside, waiting to be brought back in again.


For me, on Sunday, there were two players who, over this season, have been the type of players that I love to watch, and I feel a sense of pride in knowing that others in the club saw something that we are seeing now. One never gave up on his dream, while the other felt their dream had faded into a nightmare they wanted so badly to wake up from.


This need to never stop pushing himself to become what he has always wanted to be: an AFL player. But not just an AFL but a much-needed, sought and much-required player that the team cannot do without. I’m talking about Alex Cincotta.


His story is one not laced with a direct pathway into fulfilling his goal to become an elite AFL player, but one that was the result of utter determination and a deep-seated need to do all that they could just to play at an AFL club at the elite level.


We all know that Cincotta had setbacks. A knee reconstruction. Being overlooked in the Draft Period in 2019. Spending time on Geelong’s VFL list but did not get to play a game until later 2021. He had joined Carlton’s program, but then the Pandemic hit the world and shrouded us like a grey mist on a cold, dreary day.  But this would not stop Cincotta from doing everything he could possibly do to just try and get inside the door of being an AFL player.


A carpenter by trade, he camped out at Power Fitness in Geelong and worked to get his body back into shape. He also worked with ex-coach Brendan McCartney of the Bulldogs to enhance his footy IQ. He was then invited to trial for the Carlton twos. There, he would work all day as a carpenter, and when all the senior Carlton players had left, he would hit the gym.


A sliding door moment came when Zac Williams was injured, and the club needed a player of similar ilk. They turned to Alex Cincotta who was selected in the 2023 pre-season supplemental draft. In that time, when all his hard work and determination paid off, he did not rest on his laurels and continued with each and every game to put in that same effort and show what he could be capable of. He has proved with each game that he is a vital link in a team that is reaping the rewards of what consistency, determination, connection and an unwavering need to be the best can and does achieve.


Luke Hodge said after he retired that before he got drafted, he was never seen as a player of any significance. He was an overweight cocky person who did not put in much effort. He said it was Alistair Clarkson who saw something more. Who changed a player from obscurity into one now seen as one of the top players of a club that achieved greatness. It is these players that can be the difference between failure and success. It is these players that no one sees as being anything of significance, to be just that and more.


Another player is, of course, Elijah Hollands. Given a second chance by a club that not only believed in him but supported him in a way that made a much-maligned player and person into a key player. Having gone down a path that could have seen him sink into the depths of obscurity or notoriety for all the wrong reasons, he was supported, encouraged and given a chance to become what not only he wanted to become but what others knew he could become.
It is these players that, together with the “stars” of the game, develop a culture in a club that believes in all of its participants. That supports and believes in any player who pulls on the navy blue guernsey.

Alex Cincotta and Elijah Holland’s stories are ones that shows the difference of this Carlton team from previous seasons. It is one that is driven by support from all players directed to all players. It is one where each player feels as if their contribution matters in the eventual outcome. It is this attitude that will make a winning team and a successful one. It is the attitude of the Alex Cincotta’s and the Elijah Holland’s that will make a team that has been fraught with setback after setback, a successful one.


At the end of the game, darkness enveloped the ground, and the grey mist faded into the night. The battle was over and won. It was time to celebrate and move on to the next battle. But this time, this team is doing it together in a way that we have not seen for a long, long, long time. Suffice to say…

#GO BLUES!

P.S This photo has to be one the most amazing photos taken in the game this season!

All photos, courtesy of the AFL.

Determination. Unwavering. Connection!

After the game on Friday night, social media was ablaze on how some commentators labelled Patrick Dangerfield’s tackle on Sam Walsh as one that was a tackle, but where Walsh “milked” the head banging to the ground. My issue with that is that, pure and simple, both arms were pinged, and the player had no way to brace for the fall. Commentators say Dangerfield tried to mitigate any damage, but I can’t see how. He was subsequently given a one-week ban, and we are waiting to see if Geelong will be disputing this.


Then, on Saturday, Steven May from Melbourne was accused of the same thing. But this one was different. It was staged, and May was not flung to the ground in the same way that Walsh was. May was spun around; he had complete control of his standing until Eddie Ford spun him, not aggressively, but carefully. They both fell. May’s head was nowhere near being thumped to the ground, but he then put his head on the ground, clutching it. This was a case of genuine staging and he should receive a fine. If he was clutching his head, then protocol suggests that he should be under concussion rules. But he was not.


Dangerfield’s tackle, on the other hand, was aggressive and instant. His body pushed Walsh to the ground, both arms pinned so he could not brace the fall. There was no time between the tackle and his head on the ground.  It was not the head hitting the ground that Dangerfield got caught out on; it was the result of him grabbing both arms and pushing Walsh to the ground. It’s very different to the May one. 


That being said, the game itself was one in which, in the words of Michael Voss after the match, the team not only knew their roles and their part in the team but were connected because of this very mantra of what role each player undertook. It was not a singular person who took the game under their belt, but the whole team that was connected to play their game, their way, together.


We have not witnessed such a strong connection within the team for a long time. We saw it starting to take shape last season, and now we are reaping the fruits of that labour. We are observing a remarkable growth from some players who only last year, some supporters were suggesting should be traded out. We are witnessing the patience and unwavering determination from a coach who for some last season and even this season, believe that is not the coach for Carlton and should be sacked. (I do have screen shots of those by the way).


The reason I am highlighting this is because these supporters do not and will not comprehend what it takes to make a team play the way they did on Friday. It was not a close game as some thought, but a thrashing. Becoming a team that played the way that Carlton did on Friday night is a journey. It requires an unwavering determination to be a team that connects with each other on the field and off. It necessitates continual training and growth to become a player that produces the results that were shown on Friday night.


The players stepped over the line of mediocrity to become more than many thought they were. But it doesn’t stop there. Vossy said during the week that after every game, it is time to move on from that result and to focus on the game ahead. Sure, you can learn from your mistakes and even from your successes. Still, each week, a new team presents a different scenario and a team that is unwavering in its determination to be successful, to be connected, will be the team that comes out winning.


Carlton showed the AFL world the growth and development, the determination and the unwavering connection that has made them a threat to others. Some may not like it. Some may disagree, but at the end of the day, when the final siren goes, it is the result that counts. The ability to kick the goals. The ability to defend when necessary and the ability to not let opponents and the umpires cut the unwavering determination and connection that the club has. Exciting, isn’t it?

#GOBLUES!

A Team Based Win!

I don’t usually write about specific players after a match. The reason is that there are enough voices in that arena, and there is no need for another one.  However, the game against Essendon on Sunday night was, for me, the only thing that I wanted to write about.  The reason is that it proves one thing: I think Carlton is this season (and I have stated before) – they are not the team they were last year; they are better!


The game against Essendon was for both sides, simply a battle. It is a long-established battle between two clubs that, for supporters, dislike each other. That for a while, friends become enemies.  There is an expectation that our “stars” of the game would become the heroes. That they would be the ones that would catapult the team to a win.  But that was not necessarily the case in this game, and that is what this piece is about.


If we look at the statistics of the game, our “stars” produced a great game, but their figures were well below their usual ones.  Sam Walsh 22 disposals, Jacob Weitering 13, Partick Cripps 19, Charlie Curnow 11, Harry McKay 8, and Adam Saad 20.  But what is more impressive is that it was a combination of players, both “stars” and the peripheral players, that played in a team-spirit way that dominated the game and sealed the win.


Without a doubt, Tom De Koning played an outstanding game even if he did not win in the centre clearances. It was his ground ball usage and subsequent clearances that made him one of the top players in the game. I have always believed that a ruckman can be great at the centre clearances, but how they play around the ground determines the actual impact. He was impactful and dynamic in getting the ball to the midfielders, which resulted in a chance to score a goal on many occasions.  Yet, for me, it was not just him but those other players who had an impact that resulted in the win.


It was those such as Elijah Hollands, Zac Williams, and Alex Cincotta who stamped their mark on the game in a way that made the team exciting to watch and see where they could go as we moved further into the season.  It is Lachie Fogarty, Mitch McGovern, George Hewett, Mattie Owies and Corey Durdin.  These players showed that you don’t need to be considered a “star” of the game; you have to be a passionate, determined and focused player willing to be a part of a team and know that you, too, can make a difference.  This was the case on Sunday night.  And for me, the vital aspect of the team that had been missing in the past.


Footy is not a singular sport. It is defined by a team mentality, commitment and support. It is one where each player on the field not only knows their role but knows that the outcome does not rest on a few shoulders but everyone’s.  For me, that is one of the most exciting aspects not only of the game but also of the growth of Carlton FC. 


If we can bring this attitude moving forward to the games after the Bye, we are in an exceptional position to win the ultimate prize.  I will state this again: we are not the team we were last year, but we are better. Far better. We are a team, not a bunch of individuals playing for themselves.  This is damn exciting to watch and be a part of!

#GOBLUES!

All photos courtesy of AFL

Determination = Success!

The true testament of an organisation’s success, including a sporting club, is not just the talent and abilities of those representing it, such as players, coaches and administrators; it is more than that. It is how the person at the helm of such a club, in this case, determines the environment in which those who represent it perform not only on the field but off it.

It is the determination of the very culture of the organisation that will lead to success. It is how the participants react and find their place within the organisation that will see eventual success. The reason that I am stating this is because, on Thursday night, we saw a group come together in a way that illustrates what unity, a positive culture and being there for one another can actually achieve.


I watched the game again, feeling less stressed because I knew the outcome. I watched it more intently than live because it allowed me to see how Carlton took the game on after the third quarter in a way that shows what I have always believed the team to be capable of. I saw players not play for themselves but for the team. I saw players back each other up and support each other when needed. I saw camaraderie, encouragement and a sense of experience and maturity that has, in my view, been building since Round One.


I said at the beginning of the season, through the close wins and devastating losses, that with each game and every mistake, the players will gain more knowledge and understanding of the game than they realise. This knowledge and understanding will come to fruition, and given their intensity during a match, they will reap the rewards. It did on Thursday night.  


For most others, there was the belief that Carlton would lose against Port Adelaide, given the history and the fact that for them, they just could not see it any other way. Now, I know that I do not tip against the team, no matter what; I just can’t do it. But to win against PA, they would have to take their game to another level. If they are determined to do better than last season, they need not just to win against PA but to win by a lot.


The fact that the game was on a knife’s edge during the first half showed they were not ready to give up. In the second half, they played in a way that not only would they not give up, but they would fight for every ball, mark, tackle, and shot at a goal. They did this in a way that proves what I have always believed: Carlton is not the team they were last year; they are better. 


Sometimes, in sports, you must see the depths of despair before you can understand and act to ensure that it does not happen again. They did this on Thursday night. Moving forward, Carlton comes up against a very in-formed Essendon. If they take the same mentality against PA to the upcoming game, it will reap the rewards they have been fighting, playing and striving for.


I do believe in the club, the direction it is taking, and the culture that it is growing amongst the players, the coaches, and the administrators.  Now it is time for all, not just some, supporters to grasp that.  We must see that the team is better than last season. The coach at the club’s helm understands what it will take and how to achieve that ultimate success. I see it, and it came to the fore on Thursday night.

#GOBLUES!

All images courtesy of AFL.com

This Has To Stop!

Right now, in our society, we are surrounded by hate. It is not just hatred directed at other cultures and religions; it is also hatred directed towards those in our game—the AFL. I witnessed this during the game against Gold Coast.  

Now I understand that in the game on Saturday afternoon, the umpiring was, to put it mildly, deplorable.  It was inconsistent. It was skewered one way. It was downright bordering on cheating. However, putting that aside, it showed a maturity amongst the Carlton players not to let that dissuade them from their ultimate goal – to win. I have always been a firm believer that no matter what is thrown at a team, it is how they respond to the obstacles that will serve them in the long term, the final siren being one of celebration, not of what could have been. The team showed a level of maturity that has been lacking for a while at the club, and for this, I applaud their ability to rise up and win, despite the terrible umpiring.

I will not go into specific instances, as we all know, including coaches, commentators and social media, that this game, in particular, was very poorly umpired.  What the solution is, I have an idea: make umpires full-time and not part-time employed.  Make them accountable should the need arise.

I understand, and so should others, that umpiring the game is a human position whereby adjudication is open to interpretation, sometimes correctly, sometimes not.  This is not the issue. The issue is that it is inconsistent and sometimes favours one side during a game over another. A team will have legitimate issues if it plays against two teams – the opposition and the umpires. Yet, how a team rises above that will eventually determine how a team finishes at the last siren, even though it should not get to that point.  

Now, the reason I have said that we are surrounded by hate is that I was sitting in a member’s area, and the vitriol and language used by one particular supporter who is a member was directed not only towards the umpires but also towards our players. It was abhorrent and totally uncalled for. Yet it seems that in our society right now, hate has become the buzzword and action that some believe they have the right to verbalise and shout out. 

I understand that we get frustrated towards the umpires, but that does not mean we need to sink to a level that this supporter was going down to. It does not give this supporter the right to shout out what they did to an umpire who was directly in front of us.  I got up and yelled at the umpire, but I said, ‘There are two teams on the field,’ and ‘Do your job.’ But this other member belittled, degraded and called him names that will not be written here. The interesting thing was that when a Carlton player performed in a way that was contrary to the umpire’s decision, he just sat there, scowling and did not celebrate as everyone else did.

This supporter then directed a diatribe of horrible language towards one of our players. The said player was directly in front of us and could hear every word.  I know that there have been others who call themselves ‘supporters’ who have also behaved this way, and then when they jump off in their support, they are quick to jump back on again when it suits them. I do not and will never understand the hatred directed towards a player who is playing for our club, or for any club, for that matter. I do not and will never accept this type of behaviour. Luckily, someone told the supporter to show some respect. The supporter became slightly more silent, but the damage had been done. 

The point of this article is that there is so much hatred around in our world, and it is spilling over into the game that we love so much. It’s not that the person is a passionate supporter because when we won, they just sat there, sullen and looking angry. 

The point is that sure we are passionate about the game and our club, but in the scheme of what is going on in our lives, it is just a game. Sure, we want to see success, but it cannot come by sinking to a level that is downright derogatory, insulting and disrespectful.  We cannot allow supporters to belittle, insult and say comments that are either racist or denigrate people. We cannot allow this level of hatred to infiltrate our game. It is bad enough it is in so many aspects of our society.  We have to be just like the team, rise above the walls that get put up around us during a game, and win in a way that shows that we are better than what gets thrown at us.  

#GOBLUES!

All photos courtesy of the AFL

Disappointed – yes. Expected – yes!

About five years ago, I looked at the club, where it was heading, and what it had in terms of its talent with the players we had.  I wrote down where I thought the club would be at season’s end. So far, I have not missed.  I will not dissect players’ performances, as I have said before; that is something others do. This is a different view and perspective on the team.  

Recently, a post about AFL coaches was posted on social media.  To my mind, one of the best coaches in the past ten years has been John Longmire.  He became the coach of Sydney in 2010. He has been at the helm of the club since then, and in that period, the club won a Premiership in 2012.  The club has missed being in the top 8 twice, 2019 and 2020.  So, in 13 years, his consistent leadership has put the Swans in a position to vie for a Premiership and has only won it once. 

Carlton has had since 2010; if we are to take a comparison that aligns with Sydney, is on its fifth, yes, the fifth coach.  We have not had consistency across the board when it comes to the direction of where the club wants to go and how to get there. Yet there is an expectation that given the talent we have, and we have exceptional talent, the club, now in its fifth coach over 13 years, will achieve a way of playing that Sydney has taken 13 years to perfect.  

Sure, we have injuries, but it should not mean that this should be the excuse for losing. The depth of any playing group has to be one where no matter who is out, they can fill the spot, maybe not in the same way, but it can be filled. However, perfecting a pattern of players and their abilities and what they can bring to a team requires not only talent and fitness but consistency in training and coaching. Where each player understands what will be expected of them and, given time and maturity, will deliver on those expectations.

How can any club achieve what we all want Carlton to accomplish if there has yet to be consistency in the end goal regarding its coaching team? Just look at how many coaches we have had over 13 years.  If a coach such as Longmire wins only one Premiership in 13 years, what do you expect Carlton to achieve when Vossy has only been in charge since 2022? 

I understand that the game was disappointing, but let’s be realistic here; we are just not yet ready.  We are making exceptional strides in getting there, but it is going to take time. I know that some will say we’ve waited for so long, and the time is now. Rubbish! If we had had consistency in our coaching team, then sure, that is a legitimate statement. But we have not.  

Today, I went out for a walk with my Carlton top and hat on. I was unafraid to show that I am a loyal and true club supporter. To lambast the club based on Friday night’s performance against what I consider a real contender for the Premiership is very narrow-minded, in my mind. We must stop this expectation that the club is better than the others in terms of its growth, because we have not had consistent coaching and therefore, a consistent game-plan, for a long time. We have it now, but it will take a little more time, and we need to be a little bit more patient. We need the consistency of what a consistency and belief in our coaches can and do bring. We will get there.

#GOBLUES!

Take the 4 points!

Four points is four points, and no matter what transpired during the match, we got the four points in the end.

Social media and commentators have gone “off their chops” about how Carlton managed to scrape through. How Stephen May protested that the ball was touched, so because he protested, it must be so. Given that the Score Review held up the game for a while, the actual score was allowed to be a goal, and that did not sit well with not only May but also commentators who have stated that because he protested so much, and he doesn’t do this often, it must be touched. That is quite laughable, really, because how many other players say they touched the ball, and then a goal was allowed? Are they any more credible than May, or is it just because it’s a Melbourne player?

Then some say a Carlton player was given a free kick because they “staged” their head hitting the ground. A tackle was done; now explain this to me: how is a player supposed to stop their head from hitting the ground given the tackle it was? He had one hand on the ball, the other has pinned. Showing a bias during commentary proves to me, at least, why I have little or no respect for said commentators who cannot leave their bias at the door. Who favours one team continually. The game had issues all over the place in terms of illogical umpire decisions. Yet these are not discussed by commentators. So, besides that, let’s take apart the game and see it for what it is. For me, the game proves that we are not the team we have been in the past. Here’s why.

In the past, we have been a club that has languished near the bottom; Melbourne has not.  In 2020, Melbourne finished 9th, we 11th. In 2021, Melbourne finished 1st, we 13th. 2022, Melbourne finished 2nd, we 9th. In 2023, Melbourne finished 4th, we 5th.  Before 2020, we were a consistent club that was on the bottom of the bottom. Yet while Melbourne did finish 17th in 2019, we finished 16th, but that was one minor hiccup. 

Simon Goodwin has been the senior coach for Melbourne since 2016, and Michael Voss has been the senior coach since the end of 2021. Vossy was appointed senior coach after what had been a tumultuous period for the club in terms of stability in its senior coach. While Melbourne has had stability in where it finishes, even winning one Premiership, besides 2019, the club has been knocking on the top eight door for a number of years, Carlton has not. It has only been in the past two years (not including 2024) that the club has been either in the top 8, or knocking at the door. Yet commentators and some supporters think that a club’s success, given the players they have, is simple and easy. That they have the knowledge to ensure that a solid lead from the start would be enough to secure a win. To do that, it takes time to learn, persistence, and a shock to come close to losing to know what to do down the track for the rest of the season. 

We have been contending for the past two years and will continue to contend, given the players we have and who we could possibly acquire in the future. But for any team to step out of the turmoil that plagued Carlton in the past, consistency in its coaching group and administrators and a sense of this consistency in how to go about securing wins will ensure eventual success. 

As mentioned earlier, this blog is not about singling out players from any match, although on Thursday night, some truly stepped up. It’s about a team that was once at the bottom, but is now steadily and diligently making strides towards that ultimate win. Thursday night’s victory against Melbourne was a testament to this progress. 

On my way home, I overheard someone saying that if Carlton supporters believe this was a win to be proud of, then we are disillusioned. I couldn’t disagree more. I am far from disillusioned about the team and our current position. We have a lot to learn and grow in season 2024, and this will only make us a stronger team after the Bye. We are in a better position now than we have been in the past. So I will gladly take the four points and smile at the win,  because I know where we have been and where we are headed. 

#GOBLUES!

Let’s Take A Deep Breath!

First, let me say that I was disappointed with the loss on Friday night, yet I am not gutted, angry, furious, etc., as some are. The only thing I am disappointed in is the reaction some fans are spouting on social media, when the fact is that we have lost two games against top sides. But let’s step backwards for a moment.  

This blog focuses not on players, coaches, etc., but on the game as a whole. It is how I see it. If some want to have a view about players or coaches, there are plenty of other blogs, views etc., that deal with that. 

We have lost two games (I’m not including the Adelaide game), where the opponents were both Premiership teams from 2022 and 2023.  We didn’t get thrashed, we lost, and at times, it was a loss that was our doing. However, we are in Round 8, and based on what transpired last season, what matters is not how well you do now but how well you do after the Bye Round. 

Make no mistake, solidifying a team in the top 8, anywhere before the Bye Round, is enormous and can make the difference to the run towards the Finals.  Yet, with each brick wall the team comes up against, there will be a chance to knock that down slowly. And I think that this season, that is precisely what we are doing. Coming out full gung-ho from the start for a team that for the past has been languishing at the bottom does not enable that team to slowly grow, become better and stronger, where in the long-term of a season, this will enable players and teams to be stronger, more resilient and develop a stamina that will take them into the Finals.  This is what the club must focus on.

Right now, as the ladder stands, we are sitting at the bottom of the Top 8. For some, that is catastrophic. For me, this is not. Given the season’s length and where the club sits right now in terms of what it wants to achieve, our season is not looking that bad. Sure, there is room for improvement, especially in our backline, but again, growth, maturity and learning from errors will make the team stronger and better.

We are not the team we were years ago when pressurised games resulted in thrashings. Sure, we need to focus on some aspects of the game, but we are getting there, and with each and every game, win or lose, the club will make strides toward eventual success. It might not happen at a speed that we want, but it will happen.

This season’s competition is closer than it has been for a while, making for a better game. After the Bye Round, it will separate the ones that are capable and the ones that are not. Carlton has shown, as displayed in season 2023, that you should not count them out now or do so at your peril. Because in the lyrics of the song St. Elmo’s Fire, ‘But maybe sometime if you feel the pain, You’ll find you’re all alone, everything has changed, Play the game, you know you can’t quit until it’s won, Soldier on, only you can do what must be done.’ I do not think that the club is going to quit until the success that it seeks is achieved. We have hit a roadblock, a snag, a detour, call it what you may, but in the end, we will be back on the right track. This I believe!

#GOBLUES!