Stick's appreciation thread

[brazilblue]

The other day I was talking about the greatest AFL game I had ever witnessed.
It was the last game of the 1987 home and away series, against North Melbourne.

What a match, it swung all day and right at the death North Kicked a goal for them to be a few points in front.

I was gutted because Hawthorn had managed to claw back for a win and it would mean we would finish 2nd instead of 1st and not have the first week off (how is was back then). That would put a massive dent in our premiership chances against the Hawks who were travelling really well.

But then straight out of the centre Sticks took a mark, 20 metres out on a tough angle ... for the young Captain, it was a true Captain's moment ... would he pass the test?

WITH FLYING COLOURS!

I still rate that goal by sticks as the goal that won us the premiership.

There are so many things that I love about the big man but I would love to hear other people's stories about him.

We have had many champions bleed blue, we are a family when it comes to that but in our darkest hour, the one son that truly stepped up, that took the bull by the horns and made a lot of what we take granted today possible was the big man.

So please write some posts of some special moment Sticks gave you, the footy may be close but there is always time to talk of one of our greatest sons.

 

[Stamos]

When I was 7 and 8, I had my hair modeled on Sticks'

 

[Blues_FC]

When I was 7 and 8, I had my hair modeled on Sticks'

That's nothing to be proud of!

 

[Faz 2000]

I know we shouldn't talk about 1993, but my recollection of Sticks was he took heroic pack marks and kicked a bag in the Qualifying Final to pip Essendon by 2 pts, and then on that fateful day when everything went wrong in the Granny, Big Sticks Kernahan still slotted 7 in a team that otherwise failed to fire a shot. It's interesting how often his performance is NOT mentioned... 7 goals in a team getting killed in a GF? What a legend. Sure wasn't HIS fault we lost that day.

 

[ThePine]

i don't admit this to often but in my younger years I lived in SA.

I was a Glenelg boy and Stick's 10 goals in the SOA match was one of my favorite highlight reels to watch.

Meet the great man last year and couldn't manage to get a word out.

 

[Stamos]

That's nothing to be proud of!

Hence the ""

 

[thylacine60]

i don't admit this to often but in my younger years I lived in SA.

I was a Glenelg boy and Stick's 10 goals in the SOA match was one of my favorite highlight reels to watch.

Meet the great man last year and couldn't manage to get a word out.

Was he playing on an ageing Doormat that day? I sat behind the 1987 final H & A goal and watched it sail through. Game was at Waverley. There were 2 other close games that day and all results affected our spot on the ladder. A massive day.

 

[brazilblue]

Was he playing on an ageing Doormat that day? I sat behind the 1987 final H & A goal and watched it sail through. Game was at Waverley. There were 2 other close games that day and all results affected our spot on the ladder. A massive day.

I remember one of those games, it was Hawthorne against someone I cannot remember ... the Hawks were down all day so I was not too worried about our result as it would have still meant being minor premier ... Hawks came back and were clear winners by the time Sticks took the mark and kicked the goal.

In my view there has never been a more important Captain's goal!

Would there have been any doubt of Stick's kicking the goal Fevola missed to give the Dawks that game ... grrrrr?

I doubt it!

Also his immortal line we are Carlton F%*k the rest will go down in history as one of the great football quotes!

His rendition of stand by your man ... somehow we must get this erased from everyone's memories ... haha

 

[Wickzki]

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[Wickzki]

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[ThePine]

Was he playing on an ageing Doormat that day? I sat behind the 1987 final H & A goal and watched it sail through. Game was at Waverley. There were 2 other close games that day and all results affected our spot on the ladder. A massive day.

The doormat definitely played that day. Salmon up the other end wasn't too bad either.

[YOUTUBE]8zWOM0EHr68[/YOUTUBE]

 

[Silvagnis]

[YOUTUBE]KOtBx6GYYrg[/YOUTUBE]

Great goal after a terrific defensive effort 5.41 seconds into the video.

Who was that masked man?

"Kernahan, perhaps too far out to score".

BANG.

Sticks' hands were as safe as houses.

[YOUTUBE]QzXEDgfcEo8[/YOUTUBE]

 

[Malifice]

As a player, captain and carlton man - Gun.

Does not get enough love for his performance as President.

 

[SBYM]

His rendition of stand by your man ... somehow we must get this erased from everyone's memories ... haha

**** NO!!! Classic Sticks, and at least all he did was make an arse of himself, doubt you'd see a bloke of his calibre kicking around with a giant dildo.

I'd like to add a moment that Sticks in my mind. I know that this is an appreciation thread, and it's not a highlight, but it shows how Navy Blue he is.

I was right in the pocket in 93 when he kicked the ball out on the full to gift Arsendon a draw. Every peanut in red and black was jumping around like the deadshits they all are, Mum and I were shattered, but I remember having a good look at Sticks right afterwards and I can still remember his face. Looked like the poor bloke had just killed someone. I was only 14 but I reckon that day I started to properly understand what it means to really feel like you've let someone down.

I hope he doesn't still think of it and cringe. He's done more for our club than anyone in our history in my opinion; who gives a shit about one kick?

Go Blues

 

[SurreyBlue]

As a player, captain and carlton man - Gun.

Does not get enough love for his performance as President.

Could not have said it better. Love the guy - navy blue through and through.

 

[brazilblue]

What is amazing about him is that even though he wanted to come to Victoria to prove to himself that he was an out and out champion ... much like soccer players want to go to the EPL ... he would not leave Glenelg until they won a premiership. Thats how loyal he is. He just could not do it. Everyone knew he had to leave, it was just natural progression. But if I recollect properly we were trying to get him over for a couple of years and that was the stumbling block. Thank God they won it in 85!

I like in the you tube clip on the last page how he says there was not enough money, or anything Adelaide could have done to get me to come back.

Not that he did not want to, its just that it was too late his loyalty was with the Blues.

I mean c'mon how could you not love the guy! Starting to think he will be remembered as one of the greatest of Carlton men by the time he finishes up as President (Which I personally hope is not for a while).

Also I see such similarities between Sticks and Kruezer ... wonder if Humphrey is following Stick's career path ... Loyalty with the Blues is always rewarded ... we are Carlton **** the rest!

 

[The Big Sticks]

I heard there was a thread dedicated to me.

 

[Dramoth]

Players can be stars before they come to the Blues... but when they arrive at the blues, they discover that they can become legends...

And if they start their careers at the Blues, they stay there until they are just about completely worn out and go elsewhere so that they dont stain their glorious career at the blues or they just retire outright and finish their careers on their terms.

I think that Sticks was using the 'We are Carlton' part of the 06 B&F speech like someone else would say "We're the best" with a lot of bravado in their voice. Except that their statement is obviously wrong... unless they are a Carlton supporter. And then they should be using 'We are Carlton'...

 

[Stig O'Hara]

Best overhead mark have ever seen.

Hands like buckets, .... couldn't kick over a lolly tin.

 

[brazilblue]

Was a big game player as well ... didn't have his colours lowered very often!

 

[mediumsizered]

His passion for the Navy Blue & White can never be questioned.

There would only be a handful (at the most) of individuals, across the entire history of our great club, who have had more influence on the club's fortunes, over such a length of time.

26 years of continuous service to the club. Will be remembered as a Carlton great, both on & off the field.

 

[Silvagnis]

Best overhead mark have ever seen.

Hands like buckets, .... couldn't kick over a lolly tin.

Is Henderson a penetrating kick?

Sticks was a long kick, yet the great man admitted that his kicking deteriorated due to injury. Kernahan had two groin reconstructions in his first two seasons. Judd's probably in the same boat.

 

[Neese]

Day after the Power draw here in Adelaide he was at Glenelg Oval as part of a meet and greet club thing. I was hanging back waiting to say hi and heard him introducing himself to people "hi I'm Stephen Kernahan" surprised me a bit. After the day had finished he gathered his kids and walked off home.

Another one that stood out was him speaking before a match here 2010 I think. Someone asked him a question about the pale blue away guernsey - his reply "I think it's bullshit and we're going to court about it Monday."

Top bloke, hasn't changed at all over the years.

 

[zeeCFC]

Grew up in a Collingwood supporting family and it was watching SOS and Sticks one day that made me join the Blues

Had my first real chat with him last year after a training session in the Carlton Cafe and he was just so down to earth and welcoming. Tried my best to talk to him like I would with anyone else but I would've had the biggest ever grin on my face. Guess he's used to it after hundred and thousands of CFC supporters doing the same

 

[brazilblue]

I have to be honest when he was elected President I was glad that it was just a temporary thing.

Now I do not want him to leave!

I do not know how much credit Sticks can take but with that said the CFC ship has straightened the f*$k out since he has taken the helm.

Yes we cannot take credit away from our patron saint Mr. Pratt god rest his soul but Sticks has been in the job a good couple of years and in that time we have gone from strength to strength.

I would love to know what went down after the Fev incident, whether Sticks wanted him to stay or saw it as a way of finally ridding the team of a negative influence ... obviously Judd was a big voice in Fev's fall from grace as was Swan ... I wonder what side of the fence Stick's lent to ... not trying to put him down but I would hope he was adamant that Fev was shown the door.

What I love about the CFC now is that we are all business, all professional and all team orientated. No more individuals ... all striving for #17 ... Yes Pratt started the ball rolling (wasn't it Sticks who convinced him to come on board?) but lets be honest ... after the great man passed it could have gone backwards but instead it has rolled forward smoothly from strength to strength ... and that credit has to go to Sticks!

He has always been an inspirational leader whether it was as our longest serving captain or now as our President ..... WE LOVE YOU STICKS!