After being selected with pick one in the NAB AFL Draft last Thursday night, young gun Sam Walsh was, in his own words, ‘stoked’ to be joining a club like Carlton.
While this was a reoccurring line used by all the young men drafted on Thursday night and Friday afternoon regardless of the club that picked them, it’s interesting to ponder exactly what Walsh means when he says, ‘a club like Carlton’.
As most football fans are aware, Carlton have been one of (perhaps the) most successful teams of the first 160 years of Australian rules football, and as such are considered to be one of the blue bloods of the league (no pun intended).
But despite being around seemingly since the first oddly shaped Sherrins were kicked around the inner-city grass fields of old Melbourne town, the current reputation of the old dark navy Blues is very different.
To anybody born in the last quarter of a century, raised eyebrows and snickering have been the default reactions to anyone proclaiming their pleasure of joining the most disappointing football team of the modern era.
Despite their recent history of on-field incompetence, there is still a mystique that perpetrates around clubs like Carlton, as well as the other members of the AFL’s ‘big four’, Collingwood, Essendon and Richmond.
It’s a phenomenon that is not easily articulated or understood, and it is something that is even more elusive for start-up franchises to comprehend and emulate.
There’s an aura around certain clubs that stays attached for decades and generations, and it’s likely the key reason these teams remain in the prime time slots each weekend, irrespective of their current ladder position – although Carlton’s dream fixture in 2018 can probably be put down to an oversight by the AFL that they later tried to justify rather than rectify.
Sam Walsh poses for a photograph during the AFL Draft Combine at Marvel Stadium on October 4, 2018 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Media/Getty Images)
Every professional sports league has them.
The English Premier League has Liverpool and Manchester United. The NBA has the LA Lakers and the Boston Celtics. Major League Baseball has the New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox, and the NFL has the Dallas Cowboys and the Pittsburgh Steelers (among others).
All these teams/franchises have the same mystique, the same allure that makes them so attractive to young players entering their respective sports that can often override seasons and decades of poor performances.
Compare this, unfairly may it be, to teams that don’t possess such a supernatural quality.
Like the Gold Coast Suns.
Being drafted to the Suns is a lucrative opportunity for young footballers to live out their dream of playing in the big time. And as nice as the idea of living in Surfers Paradise is, that’s about all they have to offer at the moment.
Though we may find it humorous when players look and sound chuffed to be drafted by a club like Carlton, being drafted by a club like the Gold Coast is even more worthy of torment from heartless football fans.
When having this chat with a friend recently, it was hypothesised that perhaps the Suns will need another 50 years to create an identity in the league comparable to that of some of the big four. But imagine what another 50 years would do to the already enormously prestigious reputations of clubs like Collingwood and Carlton.
It’s of course a massive advantage these foundation clubs will always have over current and potential expansion clubs.
And you know what? Though we may chuckle when players are drafted to perennial underachievers, I’m with new Blues midfielder Sam Walsh.
I’d also be stoked to join a club like Carlton.
big four sticks
Guest
Have got something against punctuation?
EaglesMan
Roar Rookie
Yes, but surely not 5 wooden spoons in 15 years. That comes down to very poor recruitment and list management
Paul D
Roar Guru
Geelong fans on a Friday night.
Slane
Guest
Has anybody ever left Geelong for Melbourne and wanted to come back?
Bangkokpussey
Roar Rookie
I feel for the players named in the top 5 of the draft. It must be like getting the poisoned chalice.
Bangkokpussey
Roar Rookie
We will need the salary cap space anyway, for Sam when he returns to Geelong after his initial contract expires.
Bangkokpussey
Roar Rookie
When Tim Kelly leaves we'll need the salary space for Sam when he returns to where he belongs the year after.
Lroy
Guest
''this club is rubbish but Ill make the best of it.'' ha ha , that's probably exactly what he was thinking ;-)
Adam
Guest
I don't think I would be happy being drafted by Carlton unless they improve and play a lot better then last season.
Rob
Guest
Works both ways though - if I had a son that was drafted to Essendon or Collingwood in particular it would make family events like Christmas very lonely ones for him as he wouldn't be welcome...
Col from Brissie
Roar Guru
Probably happier at Carlton than Tim Kelly is at Geelong.
Bangkokpussey
Roar Rookie
So Sam Walsh from Geelong Falcons was Stoked to be picked up by one of the worst clubs in the competition. Really? What did you expect him to say? This club is rubbish but I'll make the best of it. Don't you think he would have preferred say Geelong where he has been playing? Failing that Collingwood, Richmond, Hawthorn or maybe Essendon who should be way above Carlton and a contender by the end of next season. Carlton is hardly a destination club. Sam Walsh wasn't even born last time they won a premiership.
Col from Brissie
Roar Guru
Sorry, forgot they voluntary forfeited their 2 first picks in hope of getting some leniency from the AFL.
Adam
Guest
The crows also forfeited their top 2 picks of the 2012 draft.
Col from Brissie
Roar Guru
Timbo, just to correct you in regards to the penalties. Carlton were found guilty of salary cap breaches and fined $930k as well as losing the first 2 picks of the 2002 draft and their 2nd and 3rd round picks as well. They also lost their first 2 picks in the 2003 draft. Adelaide were found guilty of salary cap breach and draft tampering and fined $300k and lost their first 2 picks of the 2013 draft. Obviously the penalties handed to Carlton were a lot more severe and for a club that just won its first wooden spoon the penalties had a greater effect than Adelaides. Not wanting to get into an argument because you are right about Carlton’s management back then but just giving you the correct facts about the penalties.
Timbo's rules
Guest
Wtf ru talking about. The Crows got the same penalty for a minor infingement and still managed to make a grand final. When you stop making excuses for really crap management, then you might start winning.
J.T. Delacroix
Guest
Yes, of course. Just one other thing though; what the hell are you raving on about?
Chris Riddle
Guest
The AFL are very aware what they did to Carlton very aware how harsh the penalty was that they delivered and a recent statement made by the AFL that the punishment given was too harsh and never again will a club be penalised like they penalised Carlton. We are strong resilient successful and very rich a lesser club would of folded I'm sure, Essendon after the terrible drug saga were penalised less than us.... Hard to believe hey. Go Carlton #LOVEMYCLUB
Al
Guest
Carlton still has one of the biggest supporter bases in the AFL. Worn down by years of under achievement many no longer buy memberships but a casual glance down Punt Rd to the Richmond juggernaut shows exactly what can happen if Bolton and SOS can right the leaky blues ship. Have no doubts, a winning Carlton will have rusted on Blues fans crawling out of bolt holes up and down Lygon St and much further afield. And, looking at their recent recruiting, to borrow from a famous shampoo commercial, it won’t heppen overnight but it will heppen!
Aransan
Roar Rookie
A teams aura can be developed more rapidly in the modern television era, future success will have a tremendous effect on the Suns and good luck to them.