When I was growing up in the 1980s, listening to iconic bands like Fleetwood Mac, Air Supply, Chicago, Reo Speedwagon and all the other soft-rock bands that rocked my boat, Carlton was the most powerful football club in the VFL.
Hawthorn had more on-field success – winning four flags to three – but the Blues held more sway and influence, and certainly had a much bigger supporter base than the Hawks.
They played chequebook footy better than most in the heady days of the ’80s, raiding Western Australia and South Australia, and nabbing greats like Stephan Kernahan, Craig Bradley, Ken Hunter, Peter Boustow and Peter Motley, who might have been the best of them all if not for that tragic car accident.
They expected to win or at least contend for flags every year under the bombastic presidency of the outspoken John Elliott.
But times changed, and Carlton refused to conform.
The salary cap came in, along with the national draft, as the AFL became determined to make the competition an even playing field with every team getting a chance of achieving the ultimate.
The league put the building blocks in place to ensure the same clubs – Carlton, Hawthorn, Essendon and Collingwood – didn’t dominate. But you can only lead a horse to water.
Clubs that have spent many years down the bottom, like Melbourne, didn’t take advantage of recruiting, while Carlton just expected that success would continue to flow like the good old days. It hasn’t, and it now seems they have gone to the dictionary and discovered the word ‘rebuild’, which had previously not been allowed to be uttered in the halls of Royal Parade and Princes Park.
It seemed the rebuild would happen last year, when they had a horrible start dropping their first four. But then came two wins in a row and the club got excited that they were back and on the march to having a good season. It obviously didn’t eventuate.
Mick Malthouse has been a successful coach for a long time, and is sett to break the record for the most games coached in Round 5 against Collingwood, but has he got a long rebuild in him? It’s hard to know how many years it will take for the Blues to have regular success again.
Their new president, Mark LoGiudice (whom I sat next to at school many years ago), is a passionate man but faces a difficult job running a club that not only demands but expects success. Just hoping to be competitive is a foreign concept to Carlton, but it might have to be a common theme as their list is one of the worst in the league and after a disappointing 2014, they continued with their quick-fix recruiting policy.
That strategy has had many more misses than hits for them over the years, as evidenced by securing Dale Thomas on free agency from Collingwood after he was coming off a bad injury.
Then there was the addition of Bulldog pair Liam Jones and Jason Tutt. Even though we have only just started the season, Jones has no second effort, which plagued him at the Dogs, and Tutt couldn’t hold down a regular spot at a bottom team and has already been dropped by the Blues.
They were part of two very poor drafts for the Dogs in 2008 and 2009, but the last few years they have got it right, with players from the 2010 to 2013 vintages all integral members of a young side showing good signs so far in 2015.
The Blues could learn from the Dogs. Gee, that wouldn’t have been said often over the years!
Pumping Dougie
Guest
I'd say the karma train is more to do with the salary cap cheating and tanking than the sacking of Ratten. The same train ran through Melbourne for tanking and will haunt Essendon for years (although they're performing impressively for now). The Bombers have a bloody big, spiritual, locomotove heading their way.
MickyC
Guest
Mick will deny we need to rebuild as he knows a 62 year old coach won't be reappointed for a 4 - 6 year rebuild phase.
MickyC
Guest
I agree that Armfield and Ellard played well under Ratten. Gibbs has gone missing so far this year, Yarren who two or three years ago was my favourite 'up and comer', hasn't deserved his spot in the side for almost a year (and this was before his brain fade this weekend) as he just doesn't seem to apply himself. We've managed to waste the best years of the likes of Simpson, Walker, Scotland, Carrazzo, Murphy and likely Judd also. Murphy is a good and at times damaging midfielder but when Judd stood down Simpson should have been made captain. He's a better player and gives and gives. But all this is in the past now and me lamenting about it isn't going to fix it. Yes we should have held firm with Ratten but this wasn't necessary the prevailing thought amongst the Carlton faithful back in 2012. Regardless I don't know any Blues supporter who thought Malthouse was the answer - but the board thought otherwise. Who is chosen as senior coach post this year will be telling on the current boards mindset. It's worth pointing out that you can 'rebuild' without bottoming out. Port Adelaide and Adelaide are two examples of clubs that did more of a 'turn around' than a 'rebuild'.
JMW
Guest
That's a pretty ordinary article Dan, not one of your best. With the exception of Fleetwood Mac, your taste in music, as self disclosed, is also appalling. You sat next to Mark, wow, did he keep his hands in his pockets? It is galling that the media can get away with constant references to Malthouse's age, as if it's relevant, let alone arguably contravening age discrimination laws. Eade and Walsh are in their fifties, are they going to be limited to coach only until they reach 60? Think about it Dan, it's nonsense, stupid even. I knew Tom Hafey for over 30 years. He retained a keen understanding for the game right up until his untimely end. Why don't you people quit referring to somebody's age and concentrate instead on their ability. It's staggering that the USA and the UK show greater respect to their elder statesmen.
damo
Guest
I had a whole lot to say but upon reflection of my own comments I deleted them & have only this to add to the 'conversation'- We are now riding the karma train all the way to the depot for sacking Ratten in the most disgraceful manner.
Doc Disnick
Roar Guru
$10.071 million - 2015 $10.36 million - 2016 Clubs must pay minimum 95% of the cap. The AFL PA are close to negotiating a deal where the cap will rise by 10 per cent each year for the first two years from 2017 onwards once the next TV rights deal is sorted. It is also believed the PA is looking to get between 40-50 per cent increase across 5 years, but I don't see how they could possibly get that much. This is also one of the reasons Sydney paid Franklin so much with his contracted being back-end heavy. Exciting times ahead if the AFL can negotiate a 10 year deal as it will put them in a very powerful position financially to buy out Etihad stadium giving clubs like North Melbourne a better stadium deal.
Dave
Guest
Macca I dont understand why you have gone so quite lately?
The Original Buzz
Guest
I think Ellard and Armfield played well under Ratten, then got immediately dropped under Malthouse. Ellard was a bit hot and cold but Armfield was reasonably consistent. The jury is still out on Rowe, he hasn't really performed in the last couple of years but then a lot of the team hasn't. Players don't want to be at Carlton because they don't want to be under an out of touch Coach.
Don Freo
Guest
Does anyone know what the amount of the salary cap is?
Tanami Singh
Guest
In this modern era of free agents you'd think they might try to go back to the good old days of recruiting. I'm sure Visy could supply a stack of brown paper bags.
The Original Buzz
Guest
Aransan, Yes it would be very worth it.
Don Freo
Guest
Do they have any?
sheek
Roar Guru
It's sad to watch once-great clubs disappear out of the finals for a lengthy spell. The great Melbourne teams of 1954-64 (8 GFs,6 Pr's) were before my time, but it must have been a shock for all VFL fans, even if they welcomed it, when the Demons went into free-fall. When I started following the game (the first 25 years,1967-91), Richmond (1967-82, 7/5), Carlton (1968-87, 10/7), Hawthorn (1971-91, 12/8) & Collingwood (1966-1990, 7/1) mostly ruled. Well, you argue the inclusion of the Magpies on consistency, if not premiership output. Norths & Essendon had cameos. Norths played five successive grand finals, 1974-78 for two premierships. Essendon played three straight 1983-85, winning two, plus another win in 65 & a loss in 68. In more recent times the great Brisbane team of 2001-04 hasn't been sighted much in the top order of the comp. You don't like to see clubs down for too long but unfortunately for some clubs it can take several decades for them to rise gain. I guess every sporting club wants to avoid the 88 year wait of MLB club Chicago White Sox, 1917-2005, or 86 year wait of MLB club Boston Red Sox, 1918-2004.
Jack
Guest
The problem is for a rebuild u need to play youth which mick won't do. Just a simple question if you're best older players have u losing by 69 points what is the harm in playing younger players ? His man management defies logic. I am not talking judd I am talking armfield Rowe ellard would not get on any other list in the comp. these lower tier players are the reason we are bottom 4. May as well play 21 yeAf olds
Aransan
Guest
I think Carlton are now being realistic about their list and understand that just sacking the coach won't solve all their problems. They have taken the first steps necessary for medium term success. Would it be worth trading some of their stars who may only have a couple of years left if they can get quality early career players in return or high draft picks?