James Kelly of Geelong tackles Chris Judd of Carlton during the AFL Round 09 match between the Carlton Blues and the Geelong Cats at Etihad Stadium, Melbourne. Slattery Images
It’s hard not to get caught up in Carlton’s fortunes this season. When a club known for its rich, powerful and successful history makes such significant progress after its darkest period in some time, you are going to notice it.
When Carlton announced their 2009 membership slogan ‘They Know We’re Coming’, it was labelled as premature and reeking of arrogance.
Okay, so it might have been a little presumptuous, perhaps even inaccurate but that wasn’t the point. It was a statement. The kind of statement only Carlton would make just to let the competition know they are on their way back to reclaim their rightful place as a league heavyweight.
But love them or hate them, a healthy Carlton means a healthy competition.
There is a slow and steady rumbling around town when the Blues are winning. A sound no other club can generate with such confidence and authority.
The thing about Carlton is that when they are a good side, they know they are good and that is what makes them so dangerous. Like no other club in the competition, and yes, even Collingwood, the Blues have a holier than thou attitude that permeates through the wider football community, threatening to terrorise all those who stand in their way.
All successful organisations have it and it’s a quality several other clubs would do well to emulate.
Carlton’s success this year is no fluke. After salary cap breaches back in the late 90s, the Blues were on the brink of collapse. Huge fines, disqualifications from the national draft and under the table payments to countless superstars – thanks to the John Elliot regime – saw the club ridiculed from pillar to post and a laughing stock.
It was, at the time, described as the most elaborate and systematic breach of the salary cap ever seen by a football club. Footy fans rejoiced in Carlton’s demise clinging to the hope that the once mighty Blues would fold under the pressure leaving them to die a slow and painful death.
Let’s be honest, it was a close call.
But little did the AFL and its fans know, was that the penalties bestowed upon Carlton would in time, make them stronger. Throughout what we can now look back on as an inconvenience, Carlton supporters and club insiders still managed to maintain the swagger.
You know that strut that all Blues fans seem to be born with.
The punishments were always going to make Carlton a more potent and unstoppable force. To this day, rival fans voice their discontent as it would seem now that Carlton was rewarded for their cheating ways. The punishments were a double edged sword and it’s staggering that nobody saw the ensuing success coming.
The sanctions that sent the Blues plummeting to the bottom of the ladder resulted in a collection of wooden spoons and hence a raft of number one draft picks.
Opposition fans that delighted in Carlton’s decay remain resentful as the bounty for their behavior is now priceless.
After all, the penalties dished out netted Dick Pratt, Greg Swann, Chris Judd, Marc Murphy, Bryce Gibbs, Matthew Kreuzer and Andrew Walker. Not too bad for a systematic breach of the salary cap.
That’s what makes the Blues rise to the top so utterly absorbing to watch for it has made the club and the fan even stronger and more powerful than they could possibly imagine.
This mighty football club has always had a habit of getting up the noses of, well let’s be honest here, everyone. In times of despair and hopelessness and let’s face it, all clubs go through it, Carlton and their legion of cocky, brash and smart ass fans are able to remain positive simply because they barrack for Carlton.
Something that unless you are a Carlton supporter, will never know what that truly feels like.
And so the story continues. Fans of rival clubs will forever berate, belittle and ridicule Carlton fans for their arrogance in the hope that one day they might just stop looking down their noses at the other AFL competitors – around the time that pigs fly over the MCG or the Dogs win a preliminary final – whichever comes first.
So as we count down to this season’s finals series, one can’t help but wonder whether we might just receive one more delivery as a result of the John Elliot legacy – a Carlton premiership.
I can hear the drums beating already.
WOW
Roar Rookie
The only teams in the top 8 to have lost to Carlton are Sydney twice, and Melbourne (who has only just recently crept up onto the top 8 spot.) Heck, they couldn't even make it past a (then) depleted Bombers. Yes, you can ONLY play who you're up against - but if you want to use that run as a basis for claims such as "The Blues are back" - then I will use that as a basis for claims such as "You're getting ahead of yourself". Simply put - until the Blues actually beat someone of note... their rank on the ladder means nothing above average to me.
Bazza
Guest
We don't claim to know about NRL nor do we want to for one simple reason. It's a stupid game, played by 'no neck' thugs without a brain to share amongst them. The crowd sizes are an embarrassment and none of us give two hoots about it.
Nathan
Guest
Probably true, I just thought that whole ball stopping dead in the puddle thing at nib was pretty neat. Wheeeee, thud, try!
Nathan
Guest
Wow, did you have a bad sense of timing.
BW
Guest
Winning games/premierships comes down to more than just how many top draft picks you get through bottoming out. Look at how many top 5 draft picks the recent premiers have had since 2000… Geelong zero. Collingwood have only had three… Didak (pick 3), Dale Thomas (pick 2), and Pendlebury (pick 5). The Hawks four Hodge (pick 1), Roughhead (2), Franklin (5), X.Ellis (pick 3). The three big draft ‘charity’ cases i’ll never support in a GF: Carlton: Livingston (pick 4), Walker (pick 2), Murphy (pick 1), Kennedy (pick 4), Gibbs (pick 1), Kreuzer (pick 1) Melbourne: Sylvia (pick 3), McLean (pick 5), Morton (pick 4), Watts (pick 1), Scully (pick 1), Trengrove (pick 1) Saints: Riewoldt (pick 1), Koschitzke (pick 2), Ball (pick 2), X.Clarke (pick 5), Goddard (pick 1)
Supagrass
Guest
Or was it a THUD!
amazonfan
Roar Guru
Pagan was a dud? Pagan was one of the best coaches of all time, and the way you treated him shows that he was far too good for the likes of you. I would greatly question your knowledge of football if you honestly believe Pagan was a dud. What a ridiculous thing to say. "But we know it happened at Essendon in 1993 and they got the flag with a little slap on the wrist." They were fined a then record $388,500, ordered to pay a further $250,000 in back tax and was banned from the subsequent pre-season draft, rookie draft and first three rounds of the national draft. How is that a slap on the wrist? And spare us those conspiracy theories. "It was revealed recently Richmond was too, but because they are going so badly nothing was done." Nonsense. There is no evidence Richmond breached the salary cap, and if they had, the AFL would certainly have taken action. "You tell me if you think West Coast over the years has not been up to anything? It was pretty much revealed how they get around the salary cap with property purchases etc.. Same goes with Geelong. If they actually did keep Ablett it would have confirmed a lot of suspicions about them." Is that any different to Judd being promised a role with Visy? Those in glass glasses..... "Does not matter, every club is up to it except Carlton was hung out to dry because they were easy targets and too successful." Poor babies. You think the whole world is out to get you, don't you? You are not the only club to be punished (Melbourne was fined $600,000 and was barred from the first three rounds of the 2000 national draft) and there is no conspiracy against you. It has also been noted that if you had come clean and not tried to deceive the AFL, you might have avoided such a harsh penalty. So you can blame Elliot for your troubles. "Carlton should have challenged the whole thing in the courts and the stupid system would have been smashed. We just rolled over and took it which angers me and many other real Carlton people." Except it isn't a stupid system. If you had challenged, and you were successful, you would be responsible for getting rid of one of the most vital elements of the AFL in regards to ensuring integrity of the competition. But who cares about integrity if it means you benefit? You have demonstrated in previous posts that you don't give a damn about the other clubs as long as Carlton is successful, so why should I be surprised that you would rather see the integrity of the AFL get destroyed than accept that, perhaps, you were in the wrong?!!! The salary cap is of tremendous importance, and that Carlton (like some other clubs) has been punished because of salary cap violations, only goes to show how vital it is that it be enforced. You can complain about Carlton's treatment as much as you want, however the AFL does not answer to Carlton, and you are no more important or special than any other club.
jamesb
Guest
put it this way, i think i know more about AFL, then you guys know about NRL.
Chris
Guest
And POP! goes that balloon.
Uncle Bob
Guest
So, by your rationale during the 1990s Carlton should have always been awarded a high draft pick as a reward?
Bazza
Guest
jamesb..that doesn't even warrant an answer. At least you admit to knowing little.
jamesb
Guest
look i'm not an expert on afl. i follow the swans. carlton are strong again because they were down the bottom of the ladder, therefore getting high draft picks. The swans have been in finals i'd say 11 or 12 times out of the last 15 years with 3 grand finals. heres a question? should a side like the swans be awarded a high draft pick, just for been consistent, rather than award it to a side, who many AFL fans label the blues Carltank?
Bazza
Guest
Fair call.
brendan
Guest
That is not a fact Bazza it is an opinion.Carlton has made the finals the last two years so success can only be measured at years end .Carlton have three no one draft picks (kruezer,Gibbs and Murphy) Stkilda have Koschitze and Goddard with Riewoldt a no 2 .Carlton recruited Judd Stkilda Gardiner so both sides have about the same no of high draft picks.On balance Carlton should be a good side (incidentially COONEY is the Doggies only no1 so maybe they achieved about right) so to pat them on the back now in my opinion is an insult to the players and the club.Yes Carlton have been statistically the best side in the history of Victorian football (i know i would love to be able to say to Collingwood supporters you haven't beaten us in a gf since 1910) but that is in the past and now this side has to be measured on finals sucess.Incidentially if Carlton do play Collingwood in the Gf i will cheer the blueboys because that GF stat makes me laugh.
Bazza
Guest
The fact remains, comparing Carlton to StKilda and the Bulldogs is like apples to oranges. Success for those clubs is just making finals. That's their problem.
brendan
Guest
Judd said the same as me wait till we win before you talk us up .Your not back thirteen rounds into a season the clear fact is you have not won a final for ten odd years(Judd also said this) so maybe your once mighty clubs definition of success is on par with the expectations of Stkilda and Bulldogs.Your arrogant winning culture is long gone .On any level the team that has declined the most in the Afl(1990 to now) is Carlton.I think my comments are pertinent and you like many blueboys of your vintage live in the past.
Bazza
Guest
The difference between Carlton and the Saints and Dogs is that they have a culture and history of success. The Saints and Dogs have the opposite. Plus, incase you had given it any thought as it appears, is that the article isn't talking them up, it's merely stating they are back. Sitting third on the ladder is testament to that. As for the draft picks, Carlton win games after early picks in the draft. St.Kilda couldn't do that with 20 number one picks....again it's called culture. The last three times Carlton have played the Cats, they have won 2 and lost the other by 2 points, they have also beaten Hawthorn the last two times as well. They may not beat the Pies this year but it won't be long. If you are going to comment, say something worthwhile.
Uncle Bob
Guest
Look, no doubt there was a little bit of funny buggers going on. But we know it happened at Essendon in 1993 and they got the flag with a little slap on the wrist. The reason there was because their man was running the league in Ronny Evans, the Spotless head honcho. It was revealed recently Richmond was too, but because they are going so badly nothing was done. You tell me if you think West Coast over the years has not been up to anything? It was pretty much revealed how they get around the salary cap with property purchases etc.. Same goes with Geelong. If they actually did keep Ablett it would have confirmed a lot of suspicions about them. Does not matter, every club is up to it except Carlton was hung out to dry because they were easy targets and too successful. Carlton should have challenged the whole thing in the courts and the stupid system would have been smashed. We just rolled over and took it which angers me and many other real Carlton people. The other error Carlton made in the troubled times was just sticking to the regular draft system. They should have looked beyond the regular underage competitions and went for mature agers like Podsiadly, Duigan etc.. They had that Sautner guy at the Bullants and did not promote him because of the age thing. The Pagan regime was a bunch of morons. Pagan obviously needed the likes of Carey to make him the coach. He was a dud.
brendan
Guest
Yes Uncle Bob Carlton can draw a crowd but so what.The hangover of cheque book football from the old vfl days was what stuffed Carlton.There is no conspiracy against Carlton and if u dont win a flag with Judd it will only show that your great club has not learned a lesson from the past.Yes you have won the most flags but in the last generation (25 YEARS) you have won one so i respectfelly suggest you leave your arrogance in your youth where it was justified and cross your fingers in hope like most supporters do in the modern game.
amazonfan
Roar Guru
They were punished because of their extreme violations of the salary cap. You can't say that if it was 'if it was an interstate club like the Swans, Eagles or the Lions. They would never have been punished. It was because they were Carlton they were', when non-victorian clubs haven't executed the salary cap breaches that Carlton did. That said, Brisbane was fined because they were late handing in paperwork, so this argument is nonsense. As far as I'm concerned Carlton deserved what they got, although you are right about one thing. The only way you can win a premiership this season is to steal it.