http://carltonfc.com.au/Season2007/News/NewsArticle/tabid/4311/Default.aspx?newsId=40135

It would be great if we could get an extract of what General Cosgrove said to the players.

Nice that he followed his old man and not his uncle in team support.

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“It is a state of mind, a system of belief, a way of seeing the world, a deep faith that, because you are Carlton, you belong to something great.” - Mike Fitzpatrick articulating what Out of the Blue means.

Two inspiring leaders!

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There's so much I could say...

I'm sure Synners would be in agreement with that!

Lance for AA.

Geez Lance has hit the booze now eh

Great bloke and a great leader, the General but I don't recall his ever telling me he was a Carlton supporter, even tho we worked together and I always wore my heart on my sleeve re: Carlton. He was and is a Rugby man through and through and called Aussie Rules, 'Aerial ping-pong'. He probably had a cursory interest in Carlton like some of us have in Melbourne Storm or something. Just so, the boys would have got a lot out of hearing him speak. He is a natural speaker, a man's man, down to earth and funny to boot. I wish I had have been there to hear it.

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Let slip the Blues of war (with apologies to William Shakespeare) (and Sir Francis Bacon, just in case)

I'll back that up, I never worked directly with him but i did work for the same employer!! Met him a few times and had a chat with him in the mess a couple of times. Remember him talking about growing up in Randwick in Sydney and that he was a Union fan mostly. I remember him calling Aussie Rules Aerial Ping Pong etc etc

When he was the commander of 6 Brigade (circa 1992-3) he was presenting the South East Queensland Aussie Rules trophy for the year. He had just finished up as the Director of Infantry and 6 RAR (Infantry) was playing in the GF. 6RAR hadnt lost a game in 6 years. they hired girls in skimpy shorts to run their water for the day, had the whole battalion lined up to watch the game and rumour had it they had a new trophy cabinet made to hold the trophy etc. Cosgrove came down to watch his boys win the cup.

On the other side of the ledger was us, the 1st Signal Regiment. Considered by most to be extremely lucky to make the finals let alone the GF. Only just scraped through the prelim due to the Engineers missing a couple of their best through injury etc.

Anyhoo the scene was set for us to get a right belting and Cosgrove and the rest of the grunts were lining up like vultures for a piece of the carcass. As these things often pan out, for some unimaginable reason everything clicked for us. We were up by 10 goals at half time and we went on to give the grunts a real touch up. I cant remember the score but we belted them.

Cosgrove was maybe a lttle less than sporting in his presentation of the trophy afterwards spending 10 mins talking about how great the 6RAR team had been for so long etc and how well they would bounce back etc and then saying....anyway the Sigs won today so well done!!!!

We took the trophy and somehow, knowing we had spoiled his and the rest of the Infantry's party just made it all the sweeter. Our CO was so stoked we got 2 days off which the whole team spent at the Victory Hotel in Brisbane!! I still have the Guernesy (complete with blood and beer stains) hidden somewhere in the garage in case Mrs 2nd finds it and throws it out!!

Neve knew he was a Carlton supporter!!

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"Who discovered we could get milk from cows, and what did he think he was doing at the time?" Billy Connolly