News Northern Blues - It's official

[The Old Dark Navy's]

Re: Northern Blues

To our friendly interloper who posted and deleted their comment, we'll leave it alone on account of the self edit, but don't think the comment went unnoticed.

 

[mediumsizered]

Re: Northern Blues

To our friendly interloper who posted and deleted their comment, we'll leave it alone on account of the self edit, but don't think the comment went unnoticed.

I was going to post a similar response. A shame he deleted it actually. Would have loved to have smacked him around the ears for posting such rubbish.

 

[The Old Dark Navy's]

Re: Northern Blues

But Ants legend Ray Shaw said the club would no longer exist in the minds of the Preston Bullants’ faithful, saying next year it would simply be the Carlton reserves.

‘‘The history that Preston’s got, 99 per cent has gone,’’ he said.

‘‘Anyone that thinks this is still Preston has rocks in their head.’’

Shaw did not attend Wednesday’s meeting, saying he felt it would have been futile.
But had he gone he said he would have voted in favour of the club merging with Carlton.

‘‘I’m really disappointed, but I can understand. They’ve been a great club for 100 years but unfortunately the financial situation isn’t great,’’ he said.

So Shaw on one hand is trying to make sure that no Preston people still support the club, whilst saying that he would have voted for the change and he can understand it. A foot in each camp there Ray?

Disappointing for some Preston fans obviously, but look at this way, the name change and guernsey change only exist as long as Carlton are involved. Your future is either secured OR you get your name and colours back. It is that control that means you are still Preston Bullants, albeit packaged differently as long as the alliance lasts.

 

[CrowdedHouse]

Re: Northern Blues

So Shaw on one hand is trying to make sure that no Preston people still support the club, whilst saying that he would have voted for the change and he can understand it. A foot in each camp there Ray?

Disappointing for some Preston fans obviously, but look at this way, the name change and guernsey change only exist as long as Carlton are involved. Your future is either secured OR you get your name and colours back. It is that control that means you are still Preston Bullants, albeit packaged differently as long as the alliance lasts.

A question being asked by the VFA(L) supporters is - why did they have to change the name and colours?

It's of zero benefit to 'Preston' and all to Carlton.

Surely if Carlton wanted a presence, but also show respect to the Preston heritage, they could have had a 'sponsors logo' on the back of the jumper?

In all reality Preston is dead.

I should know - I follow Essendon and we've gutted Bendigo as a 'club' (same as Carlton has just done now to Preston) - and no, I don't follow the Bombers at VFL level - proudly stand-alone Port Melbourne

 

[agro]

Re: Northern Blues

This is a generational project that Carlton has to pursue for the next 15 to 20 years.

It has taken Hawthorn 30 years - even their success from the 80s wasnt enough for them to nearly stave off a merger with Melbourne back in 96. It was really only the establishment of their base out at Waverley which has allowed them to leverage support in the Eastern Suburbs - which their VFL affiliate Box Hill Hawks helps them out also (I bet in another 5 years the Box Hill Hawks will become the Eastern Suburbs Hawks as well ).

Western Bulldogs will also see the benefit of their re-naming in the next 10 years or so - David Smorgan must roll his eyes in disbelief when he hears those old nuffies call into SEN and 3AW and say they demand that they be called Footscray agains (and that they have collected 1000 signature petitions ).

North Melbourne is a clear example of what not to do - instead of actually trying to leverage Northen Suburban Melbourne support - they went down the path of "Shinboner Spirit" and tried to generate membership around Errol St . James Brayshaw and Eugene Arroca flowered it up completely. Now they are rattling tins again.

Our chance to utilise the Northern Suburbs of Melbourne as our support base starts with the re-branding of the Northern Bullants as the Northern Blues in the VFL competition - that is only the starting point. You couldnt rebrand it Carlton and succeed - as you would immediately alienate everyone.

Essendon also completely got it wrong by aligning with Bendigo - they should have leveraged their support base in the North West of Melbourne by either establishing a stand alone reserves team or aligned with like Coburg.

We need to invest in smart grass roots marketing through schools, attract local corporate support get them all thinking "Navy Blue" - year in year out - might take 5 years might take 10 years, might take longer - until every kid growing up there sees only "Navy Blue" - then which team will they support when it comes time to choose an AFL team.

Its important for us to establish a strong geographic/demographic grass roots support base in Melbourne - and that is clearly the North of Melbourne.

 

[true_blue_69]

Re: Northern Blues

Ok.... as I stated in the thread opener, I was one of the "Bullants" members at this said meeting. Let me stipulate one thing here..... this is NOT a take over by Carlton at all. Yes, carlton have submitted 3 people (from memory) to be on the board but Carlton DO NOT make decisions of the running of the Club..... that is still up to the Bullants People who are in charge at the moment & they work in conjunction with the 3 that have been added to work with current Bullants board members.
The reason for the name change is that
1) Preston Football Club still own the right to the name northern Bullants
2) Part of the agreement to this merger was that because Carlton are throwing a substantial amount of money at the club (it was mentioned 90% more than what they were previously giving to the bullants), the name change occurred cause carlton would like to reach a supporter base in the northern region & the Northern part was kept because of current sponsors to the bullants.

Believe me, without this support from Carlton, the Preston Football club/Northern Bullants would not have survived past 2012.... as currently they are in some serious financial troubles (i know the figures from the meeting but I will not divulge it on here).
The money that Carlton is supplying will pay the Northern Blues seniors players wages for the full year..... and believe me, some of the players are still waiting for payments from last year from what I have been told but cannot confirm this.
This allows the Northern blues football club only to be responsible for playing the reserves side players wages & to pay off any current debt that the club has from money raised from functions & match day etc.

We were advised at this meeting that Box Hill hawks are no more. As of 2012, they are operating as Hawthorn.
Also Bendigo bombers have 2012 to prove that they can be a profitable organisation otherwise they will be no more after that.....

For all of you that aren't happy with this said merger happening, it is the ONLY THING that will keep the Preston Football Club/Northern Bullants club alive.

Just like Sydney & Brisbane, there will be lettering on the back of the new jumper relating to the history of the club.

at this point in time, it is a 5 year term..... after that, if Preston want to, they can say thanks but no thanks & return back to Northern Bullants as they hold the naming rights & This situation will be reviewed in 5 years time.

If you want to have a winge about this situation, then maybe you should have been a financial member & turned up to this said meeting & had your say..... but as the article said in a previous post, only 40 people turned up & that really says a lot for the club

I hope this clears up a few things

edit **** Carlton will be involved with the marketing of the club.... merchandise, jumpers etc...

 

[The Old Dark Navy's]

Re: Northern Blues

A question being asked by the VFA(L) supporters is - why did they have to change the name and colours?

It's of zero benefit to 'Preston' and all to Carlton.

Surely if Carlton wanted a presence, but also show respect to the Preston heritage, they could have had a 'sponsors logo' on the back of the jumper?

In all reality Preston is dead.

I should know - I follow Essendon and we've gutted Bendigo as a 'club' (same as Carlton has just done now to Preston) - and no, I don't follow the Bombers at VFL level - proudly stand-alone Port Melbourne

As Agro has mentioned, it is all about building our brand from the grass roots level up or AFL level down, whichever way you want to look at it.

Northern Bullants were only ever going to maintain diehard locals, and any surge in support came about through Carlton. There is every chance that the Northern Blues will get a further boost through the rebranding and that means long term survival.

Carlton did want their own VFL team and that would have killed off the Ants anyway. This way, Carlton get to further their brand throughout the levels and in turn financially support Preston. Preston still own their brand but Carlton are effectively naming rights sponsors.

It might be sad but Carlton are hardly an evil empire here.

 

[true_blue_69]

Re: Northern Blues

As Agro has mentioned, it is all about building our brand from the grass roots level up or AFL level down, whichever way you want to look at it.

Northern Bullants were only ever going to maintain diehard locals, and any surge in support came about through Carlton. There is every chance that the Northern Blues will get a further boost through the rebranding and that means long term survival.

Carlton did want their own VFL team and that would have killed off the Ants anyway. This way, Carlton get to further their brand throughout the levels and in turn financially support Preston. Preston still own their brand but Carlton are effectively naming rights sponsors.

It might be sad but Carlton are hardly an evil empire here.

BINGO!!! ODN you hit the nail on the head re: Carlton wanting to further their brand out that way.....

 

[Aphrodite]

Re: Northern Blues

Carlton keeps Preston connection

WITH four of the past five premierships going to clubs with stand-alone VFL sides - Geelong and Collingwood - Carlton has moved a step closer to that model.

Carlton chief executive Greg Swann said VFL affiliate the Northern Bullants, now the Northern Blues, would train and play out of Visy Park but keep up to three home games in Preston jumpers at the Bullants' traditional home ground at Kramer St.

"We see it as a real plus in terms of our development and building a winning culture," Swann said. "You look at Geelong and Collingwood's VFL teams and they play the same style as their AFL teams.

Carlton keeps Preston connection

 

[Aphrodite]

Re: Northern Blues

To our friendly interloper who posted and deleted their comment, we'll leave it alone on account of the self edit, but don't think the comment went unnoticed.

I was going to post a similar response. A shame he deleted it actually. Would have loved to have smacked him around the ears for posting such rubbish.

I would have smacked him with something that resembles the colour of the team he supports.

 

[CrowdedHouse]

Re: Northern Blues

The question is, why did Carlton just enter their own reserves side (like Collingwood or Geelong)?

There's a saying - If it looks like a duck, walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, it's probably a duck.

So... if the team colours, jumper design and nickname are Carlton's... why not just call it Carlton?


Also, I come at it from this view.

Though I now follow stand-alone club Port Melbourne, I actually grew-up as a Williamstown supporter (their most hated rival).

What made me turn my back on Williamstown was the Collingwood alignment.

The pies where calling the shots, pies supporters wore Black and White to games (not the Willi Blue and Gold), the theme song was changed to mimic the pies theme song... and worse... in a handful of games, wore the Collingwood jumper.

I refused to support the black and white filth, thus went neutral for several years, until I 'discovered' Port Melbourne.

 

[The Old Dark Navy's]

Re: Northern Blues

The question is, why did Carlton just enter their own reserves side (like Collingwood or Geelong)?

I assume you mean 'why didn't they?'

The AFL have been dissuading the practice and have now put a stop to new entries into the VFL for a few years IIRC.

Here it is:

http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/deadline-looms-for-vfl-team-decisions-20110727-1i0ck.html

With the deadline just days away for Victorian clubs to state their intentions regarding the contentious issue of VFL alignments, The Age understands the AFL has worked to discourage clubs from abandoning their VFL teams and will place a hefty price on the establishment of stand-alone teams.

http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/deadline-looms-for-vfl-team-decisions-20110727-1i0ck.html

Carlton could have walked away, cost themselves more money and killed off Preston, but in the end Preston gets to make the decision to sell off their identity for 5 years to keep themselves afloat, Carlton use some of the money the AFL would have charged them to implement a new team and give it to Preston, and both bodies get something in a mutually beneficial arrangement.

Remember, Preston have 5 years to turn things around, and at the end they can tell Carlton to take a walk if they like and go it alone.

 

[zeeCFC]

Re: Northern Blues

The question is, why did Carlton just enter their own reserves side (like Collingwood or Geelong)?

There's a saying - If it looks like a duck, walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, it's probably a duck.

So... if the team colours, jumper design and nickname are Carlton's... why not just call it Carlton?

Have you bothered to read more than the title of the thread?

 

[Aphrodite]

Re: Northern Blues

Northern Blues

Carlton’s alignment with the Northern Bullants has developed further with the VFL Club confirming a name change to the Northern Blues and the team playing more games at Visy Park in 2012.

In addition to the name change the Northern Blues will wear a navy guernsey for all games played at Visy Park and a red guernsey at Preston City Oval and away games where a clash guernsey is required.

Northern Blues

 

[kingkingston]

Would rather they just be called Carlton