Opinion The 'Carlton related stuff that doesn't need it's own thread' thread Part 3

[SpiritOfCarlton]

Geez the club did a terrible job of managing expectations in the off-season.

We were always going to go backwards this year. What, did people think Cripps was going to go better than 46 Brownlow votes? That having less depth would make the team better?

Yet it seems the players as much as supporters believed the hype, believed they were just about to win a premiership despite absolutely zero evidence that this was, or had ever been, a premiership contenders.

Round 1 we had no Charlie, a half baked McKay, and underdone Walsh and we lost narrowly to a plucky Richmond team who ran over the top of us late.

From that moment on the club has allowed a sense of catastrophe to hover over everything. And for what? Because we will likely finish 11th? In a year where we have had basically no McKay, barely any Walsh, no Newman, and had to rely far too much on a bunch of kids and rookie list topups. Utterly zero perspective.

But the fans have been toxic, the players lost interest, and now everyone wants out.

Time for someone to show some leadership. Stick with the plan. We threw out veterans last year and it hurt us. By the flipside is we clear big cap space this year with TDK, Docherty, and Williams contracts coming off, we resign Silvagni, tell everyone else to hold their horses, spend on some free agents and mature bodies. Take the three good quality draftees (TDK pick, Dean, Ison). Keep cap space for the future as well. Play the game Collingwood and Sydney and Geelong have played, with patience.

Remember - If you thought this team was a premiership contender in 2025 and you are disappointed with 11th or 12th, then guess what -we can bring back the same core next year with a better supporting cast and try again. If you thought we lacked depth and need more, guess what - we have cap space, draft picks and am off season to rehabilitate and prepare coming up. Both of those paths require perspective and patience.

Just for once I want the club to hold its nerve, not panic, and just make smart, careful moves. But I know - things are never as bad as they seem, unless you are Carlton, in which case it is a million times worse and you have to be in constant crisis, apparently...

Wow, great post. Common sense sadly can be less than common in some places.

 

[swuzzlebubble]

 

[passmark]

Not one ****ing RIP for Ralph on this forum.
What a ****ing shit bunch of supporters.
GAGF.

 

[Stamos]

“Psychological turmoil”: Cornes and King dissect Carlton’s problems

What should the Blues do next?

sen.com.au

 

[mochacinolatte]

You can tell which player put in the work in the off-season (visually). Cerra was obvious, look fit when he got to the club and looked great coming into 2025.

McGovern, we all knew he did not put in the work. (His nickname was Brackets which is reference to the number 11 he wore and stretched out cause he was chubby). No surprise the time he has been here was riddle with soft tissue injuries.

Andrew Russell did amazing work with Curnow with all those injuries.

 

[jj1978]

https://www.news.com.au/sport/afl/unthinkable-carlton-disaster-turns-for-the-worse-as-damning-footage-emerges/news-story/59ef92edb30e501e7361f7ef96521eda

Damning? Really? Since our salcap scandal the AFL has almost forced us to become the least unsociable, nice, polite, team in the history of the game. The minute we get a "bad boy" we have to delist, or trade them for a pack of peanuts at the fear the AFL will come down hard on us again for the sins of a past president. But it's okay if those bad boys get picked up by other clubs, because other clubs can "handle" them.

If we even get a whiff of a player becoming a problem we stifle it now as quick as possible and give them "reprogramming", otherwise delist.

CFC leaders (board level up) have shown zero (to put it as simple as possible) "balls" since the salary cap scandal and this mentallity has filtered down to coaches and players for 20+ years and is now so engrained in our culture it'll take at least a generation to eliminate it.

 

[Bluebag13]

Damning? Really? Since our salcap ....

Lost me here, are we still using this as an excuse?

 

[SkyhorseTamer]

Lost me here, are we still using this as an excuse?

you should probably read it then. Carlton's gone from a big 4 in confidence and pride to a St Kilda in operations and meekness since due to an almost psychopathic want to be 'modern carlton'.

 

[The Return of the Paf]

Damning? Really? Since our salcap scandal the AFL has almost forced us to become the least unsociable, nice, polite, team in the history of the game. The minute we get a "bad boy" we have to delist, or trade them for a pack of peanuts at the fear the AFL will come down hard on us again for the sins of a past president. But it's okay if those bad boys get picked up by other clubs, because other clubs can "handle" them.

If we even get a whiff of a player becoming a problem we stifle it now as quick as possible and give them "reprogramming", otherwise delist.

CFC leaders (board level up) have shown zero (to put it as simple as possible) "balls" since the salary cap scandal and this mentallity has filtered down to coaches and players for 20+ years and is now so engrained in our culture it'll take at least a generation to eliminate it.

You have it a*** way round, we don't simply avoid 'bad boys', we actively recruit 'nice guys' ahead of anyone else. There is a subtle distinction which makes the outcome even worse.

 

[Bluebag13]

you should probably read it then. Carlton's gone from a big 4 in confidence and pride to a St Kilda in operations and meekness since due to an almost psychopathic want to be 'modern carlton'.

Im not disagreeing with that part, just dont think its got anything to do with the salary cap issue. Reckon its an easy excuse.

 

[The Old Dark Navy's]

You have it a*** way round, we don't simply avoid 'bad boys', we actively recruit 'nice guys' ahead of anyone else. There is a subtle distinction which makes the outcome even worse.

We had an actual good character policy in place for recruiting. Elijah might have slipped through that net, but we may not have been aware of his issue before agreeing to sign him. I think we have taken things way too far. I agree with not recruiting players who are actually a-holes, but we seem to have extended that to being aggressive, or arrogant on field.

I'm actually thrilled that Cowan has leg tattoos and is physically aggressive. He stands out like a beacon.

 

[Blue since 72]

Link?

There's a you tube vid titled "Carlton's flag dream is a fantasy".

My take on the vid was we're basically a soulless club with too many overpaid average players, a board who may or may not stick it's nose where it shouldn't (they don't know they're just talking) and a bunch of players who wont "get up" for milestone games like Doc's last. Vid was done prior to the Hawks game and they suggested only Cripps would get up for the game.

Nothing new really.

 

[BluesByNature]

There's a you tube vid titled "Carlton's flag dream is a fantasy".

My take on the vid was we're basically a soulless club with too many overpaid average players, a board who may or may not stick it's nose where it shouldn't (they don't know they're just talking) and a bunch of players who wont "get up" for milestone games like Doc's last. Vid was done prior to the Hawks game and they suggested only Cripps would get up for the game.

Nothing new really.

Interesting to see how the other clubs see us.

 

[The Return of the Paf]

We had an actual good character policy in place for recruiting. Elijah might have slipped through that net, but we may not have been aware of his issue before agreeing to sign him. I think we have taken things way too far. I agree with not recruiting players who are actually a-holes, but we seem to have extended that to being aggressive, or arrogant on field.

I'm actually thrilled that Cowan has leg tattoos and is physically aggressive. He stands out like a beacon.

Yep, when we are considering players to draft/recruit, those who are hard to read one way or the other, or who may be considered a bit 'aloof' may not even pass the test.

Putting my tinfoil hat on for a second, I also think there are other issues like trying to circumvent the 'what ifs' at all costs, unless there's a 'feel good' story attached.

 

[agro]

Time to put these back in storage - again………

 

[Gointocarlton]

There's a you tube vid titled "Carlton's flag dream is a fantasy".

My take on the vid was we're basically a soulless club with too many overpaid average players, a board who may or may not stick it's nose where it shouldn't (they don't know they're just talking) and a bunch of players who wont "get up" for milestone games like Doc's last. Vid was done prior to the Hawks game and they suggested only Cripps would get up for the game.

Nothing new really.

Spot on then

 

[Gointocarlton]

Interesting to see how the other clubs see us.

Do you not have mates that barrack for other clubs? My no Carlton mates have been calling us frauds, salary cap cheats, overrated, overpaid hacks, One man side, you name it, Ive heard it about us from other supporters.

 

[RPCB]

Do you not have mates that barrack for other clubs? My no Carlton mates have been calling us frauds, salary cap cheats, overrated, overpaid hacks, One man side, you name it, Ive heard it about us from other supporters.

The “salary cap cheats” one is literally the only inaccurate thing opposition supporters call us. That was 23 years ago, so it’s irrelevant to today.

 

[Gointocarlton]

The “salary cap cheats” one is literally the only inaccurate thing opposition supporters call us. That was 23 years ago, so it’s irrelevant to today.

Sorry why? We cheated the cap did we not? What does when it happened have to do with it? All supporters of all clubs live in the past and bring that past up when it suits them. I do the same with them dont worry about that.

 

[RPCB]

Sorry why? We cheated the cap did we not? What does when it happened have to do with it? All supporters of all clubs live in the past and bring that past up when it suits them. I do the same with them dont worry about that.

I am a professional at living in the past.

 

[gab213]

I am a professional at living in the past.

Me too, but I've omitted 2002 from my memory bank.

 

[SkyhorseTamer]

Kill off the pokies and couple the financial success of the footy club more tightly with the success of the footy department. Then we might stop being St Kilda 2.0

 

[Garters]

Me too, but I've omitted 2002 from my memory bank.

What happened in 2002? I only started barracking for the Blues in 2003. Took me a while to get over Fitzroy folding and finding a new team. Onwards and upwards though has always been my motto.

 

[Stamos]

What happened in 2002? I only started barracking for the Blues in 2003. Took me a while to get over Fitzroy folding and finding a new team. Onwards and upwards though has always been my motto.

1st ever wooden spoon followed by the salary cap draft penalties

 

[TheThunderboltKid]

I think you'd want to have had a good year yourself if you're saying stuff like that.