Caracella: lap of honour

[Coin_Toss]

2:35:58 PM Thu 10 August, 2006
Clinton Bown
collingwoodfc.com.au

The outstanding career of retired Magpie, Blake Caracella, will be recognised with a lap of honour at Friday night’s match between Collingwood and Essendon.

Caracella’s AFL career spanned three clubs - Essendon, Brisbane, and Collingwood – playing 187 senior matches, kicking 218 goals. Playing in four grand finals, Caracella won premierships in 2000 with the Bombers, and 2003 with the Lions.

The dual premiership player suffered a career-ending injury in round 10 this season, when his former teammate, Brisbane’s Tim Notting, crashed through the versatile forward on the wing. Caracella bravely had his head over the ball, but Notting could not stop his momentum, falling on Caracella, who was stretchered from the field.

Caracella will be paraded in a lap of honour on Friday night at the MCG, where fans from two of his former clubs can reflect on the career of a fine footballer, whose silky-skills and ability to find the goals brought delight to supporters from both clubs.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I for one will be clapping him, how about you?

[Sam the RAMA fan]

It's great that he is doing a lap of honour,
great player and it is such a shame it had to end the way it did.
Wishing you all the very best for the future Caracella! :thumbsu:
I'll be clapping for you also.

And GO BOMBERS tomorrow night! ;)

[Kaitsey]

good timing, with the bombers pies connection

[PieLebo87]

All the best, ends career because of a courageous move, should be proud he goes out because of that.

[Lonie_from_50]

Great stuff. Always good to see a lap of honour, especially saluted by two different supporter groups as you played with both. Will be alot different to the Woewy situation, where it was a little different with him being discarded by both teams, and supporting the first team, yet...for Blake good stuff, and as always, will be clapping. A real inspiration in mind is Blake Caracella. Spent two and a half years developing a skinny body into one that was still small for AFL level, yet finally made his debut thanks to persistance from the mastermind of Sheedy, and has seen out a great career IMO.

[Madd Matt]

Great stuff. Always good to see a lap of honour, especially saluted by two different supporter groups as you played with both. Will be alot different to the Woewy situation, where it was a little different with him being discarded by both teams, and supporting the first team, yet...for Blake good stuff, and as always, will be clapping. A real inspiration in mind is Blake Caracella. Spent two and a half years developing a skinny body into one that was still small for AFL level, yet finally made his debut thanks to persistance from the mastermind of Sheedy, and has seen out a great career IMO.
Yes, because Carrots barracked for Collingwood as a kid! :thumbsu:
Mrs MM (Bummers supporter) and I will be applauding him. She was a very big fan of his, and was quite upset that he had to be let go the way he was. It's a circumstance whereby the fans can't boo the player for "leaving", rather boo the administration for screwing up so much that they had to trade them away!

[MarkT]

It is unfortunate that Caracella’s career has ended and in particular the way it has ended. I wish him luck for the future. I’m sure he is a nice bloke. Let’s not get too emotional about him being a Collingwood player though. He’s given us very little and it’s been a mere stopover for him. He gets a send off and a guy like Betheras gets shafted. I’d be far more inclined to stand up for Sav Rocca’s lap of honour if he gets one than Blake’s. Polite clap only for Blake.

[Madd Matt]

It is unfortunate that Caracella’s career has ended and in particular the way it has ended. I wish him luck for the future. I’m sure he is a nice bloke. Let’s not get too emotional about him being a Collingwood player though. He’s given us very little and it’s been a mere stopover for him. He gets a send off and a guy like Betheras gets shafted. I’d be far more inclined to stand up for Sav Rocca’s lap of honour if he gets one than Blake’s. Polite clap only for Blake.
Mark, I think you'll find it's more about the way/reason he's retiring, than the fact he's a "favourite son" who's played with us for 10 years. He got a shot to play for the team he barracked for, he did reasonably well (and I'm sure would have played a key part in our drive this year as well), and is retiring under drastic circumstances.
I'm with you, though. I'd give Sav a great clap for his contributions. :thumbsu: