JuddFevGoal
Team Captain
I've been very critical, and I believe with with justification, of Essendon's behaviour over their 2012 supplements program and their inconsistent and arrogant denial of responsibility throughout this year. The last thing our game needs is clubs failing in their duty of care in being unable to account for substances injected into young footy players, and that is before what is increasingly starting to look like a drug cheating/doping issue on top of the existing governance case (see Nick McKenzie's article in The Age this weekend).
However, the tone and various reactions inside and outside of the Essendon community have started me thinking about Carlton, our culture, what we have traditionally been and what we have become today.
A lot has been said of Carlton's 'arrogance', and that term has come to exclusively refer to the period prior to our 2002 sanctions for salary cap breaches. Remember the days of 'Pig's Arse', the days of Diesel, SOS, Mad Dog, and a supporter base that arrogantly despised its enemies and demanded only the toughest and best effort from those privileged enough to don the jumper?
The post - 2002 Carlton is a different Carlton. Ian Collins immediately brought in a culture of compliance with the AFL. Take the sanctions on the chin, don't question - take responsibility. All noble gestures and sentiments that, to a degree, I am proud of; particularly when I see the spin-laden, lack of care for players and their families coming from Windy Hill this year, and indeed a lack of care for the culture of the entire game.
But what in all of this have we lost? Were we 'tamed' by the AFL? Did we go to the Telstra Dome, like good corporate citizens, as we were told?; a deal that even Sticks hints at with regret. In the last decade, have we ever peeped up in the media about issues that the club doesn't agree with in the football community? It seems to me that (barring a slight return in this direction under Richard Pratt), Malthouse is the only one who has got the heart beating again in his media dealings with regard to taking some pride in our positions, popular or not. Yes, he can be a cantankerous and amusing old bugger. But when he was asked after our loss on Saturday night by an off camera journalist if he regretted suggesting that the AFL go hard on Essendon if they are found to have brought the game into disrepute - he threw everything at that ridiculous question - 'When did you join the Priesthood?' Yes a deliberately obtuse and combative response, but the fact remains, why, just because Essendon pinched a game off an undermanned (and yes lacklustre) Carlton, should any of us suddenly concede less penalties for their outrageous treatment of their own players and the game in general? The question was beyond stupid.
Like good corporate citizens too, following the pack in the mid 2000's, we invested heavily in obedient 'professional' players, mostly midfielders who were the flavour of the month, strong on flashy skills and low on grunt and arrogance. Now we wish for a Hodge, or like much of the list at Freo, a group that puts grunt, effort and determination ahead of waiting for a chance to show slick skills.
I was angry at Carlton on Saturday night. There was more than just a game at stake, more even than making the 8. There was a moral victory to be won here. The old Carlton would've denied Hird his glory moment; his 20 minutes of spin so he could crap on endlessly about himself about how joyous everyone is at Windy Hill (devastated mum's calling Triple M aside).
Sometimes, I wish for that arrogance back, and yes, some of that arrogant culture that is driving Essendon (although I would never wish it to be as misguided as they are). Arrogance drives a supporter base to have pride, and maybe after ten years of being tamed, it's time finally for us to regain our status and foster a culture that can, by it's nature, demand higher levels of commitment, toughness, and yes, fear from our players - fear that they are not meeting the demands of a proud football club and a passionate supporter base.
There is no time like the present for the proud, old dark Blues.
Essendon is our nearest competitor for most premierships ever. They have done more damage to themselves in the last 24 months than even their worst enemy could plot for them. It's time for us to remember the many incredible players, both living and absent, made us at least the equal most successful club in our game.
In conversation with Mike Sheehan, Greg Williams was asked what it was like to coach a hero of the game like Chris Judd. What could you possibly say to him, Sheehan asked. "I just said he's not as good a ball handler as he thinks he is."
I want some of that back.
However, the tone and various reactions inside and outside of the Essendon community have started me thinking about Carlton, our culture, what we have traditionally been and what we have become today.
A lot has been said of Carlton's 'arrogance', and that term has come to exclusively refer to the period prior to our 2002 sanctions for salary cap breaches. Remember the days of 'Pig's Arse', the days of Diesel, SOS, Mad Dog, and a supporter base that arrogantly despised its enemies and demanded only the toughest and best effort from those privileged enough to don the jumper?
The post - 2002 Carlton is a different Carlton. Ian Collins immediately brought in a culture of compliance with the AFL. Take the sanctions on the chin, don't question - take responsibility. All noble gestures and sentiments that, to a degree, I am proud of; particularly when I see the spin-laden, lack of care for players and their families coming from Windy Hill this year, and indeed a lack of care for the culture of the entire game.
But what in all of this have we lost? Were we 'tamed' by the AFL? Did we go to the Telstra Dome, like good corporate citizens, as we were told?; a deal that even Sticks hints at with regret. In the last decade, have we ever peeped up in the media about issues that the club doesn't agree with in the football community? It seems to me that (barring a slight return in this direction under Richard Pratt), Malthouse is the only one who has got the heart beating again in his media dealings with regard to taking some pride in our positions, popular or not. Yes, he can be a cantankerous and amusing old bugger. But when he was asked after our loss on Saturday night by an off camera journalist if he regretted suggesting that the AFL go hard on Essendon if they are found to have brought the game into disrepute - he threw everything at that ridiculous question - 'When did you join the Priesthood?' Yes a deliberately obtuse and combative response, but the fact remains, why, just because Essendon pinched a game off an undermanned (and yes lacklustre) Carlton, should any of us suddenly concede less penalties for their outrageous treatment of their own players and the game in general? The question was beyond stupid.
Like good corporate citizens too, following the pack in the mid 2000's, we invested heavily in obedient 'professional' players, mostly midfielders who were the flavour of the month, strong on flashy skills and low on grunt and arrogance. Now we wish for a Hodge, or like much of the list at Freo, a group that puts grunt, effort and determination ahead of waiting for a chance to show slick skills.
I was angry at Carlton on Saturday night. There was more than just a game at stake, more even than making the 8. There was a moral victory to be won here. The old Carlton would've denied Hird his glory moment; his 20 minutes of spin so he could crap on endlessly about himself about how joyous everyone is at Windy Hill (devastated mum's calling Triple M aside).
Sometimes, I wish for that arrogance back, and yes, some of that arrogant culture that is driving Essendon (although I would never wish it to be as misguided as they are). Arrogance drives a supporter base to have pride, and maybe after ten years of being tamed, it's time finally for us to regain our status and foster a culture that can, by it's nature, demand higher levels of commitment, toughness, and yes, fear from our players - fear that they are not meeting the demands of a proud football club and a passionate supporter base.
There is no time like the present for the proud, old dark Blues.
Essendon is our nearest competitor for most premierships ever. They have done more damage to themselves in the last 24 months than even their worst enemy could plot for them. It's time for us to remember the many incredible players, both living and absent, made us at least the equal most successful club in our game.
In conversation with Mike Sheehan, Greg Williams was asked what it was like to coach a hero of the game like Chris Judd. What could you possibly say to him, Sheehan asked. "I just said he's not as good a ball handler as he thinks he is."
I want some of that back.
