My 6yo son has taken an intense interest in AFL this year. Wears his number 5 Carlton Guernsey whenever possible, reads the paper with me, attends a few games and just soaks up whatever he can about Carlton and AFL in general.

He watched our final with me and was very disappointed when we lost. Unfortunately after that he decided to ‘adopt’ the Filth for the remainder of the finals, and took an intense liking in Dane Swan. Needless to say I was thrilled when Juddy ‘took Charlie home’, and for a week or two it seemed to sway him right back to the Navy Blue.

His passion while barracking for the Filth during the GF replay was far too over the top for my liking, and yesterday he muttered the unthinkable “Dad, I’m going to barrack for the Magpies next year”. A stern lecture from me about loyalty and not just backing winners, and a reminder that he a) won’t have a footy jumper to wear and b) won’t get to attend any of his teams games, seemed to jolt him back to reality. Fortunately he took little interest in today’s Hun and the 16 page filth liftout quickly found its way into the bin.

Cricket season can’t come quickly enough.

So what to do? Let him swap? Not an option IMO. I don’t think he’s old enough to fend for himself out on the streets at night. Try to brainwash him more? Perhaps a visit to the Carlton shop is in order. What a pity we don’t have a great Hall of Fame to visit like the Bummers (or do we?).

Help me please, it’s a defining moment of his young life.

Brilliant feedback this...most of it . Thanks.

Good signs this morning. He saw a photo of Wallker in the Hun under a Trade Week banner and asked what it was all about. I said it’s the week where clubs can swap players. He asked “who are we getting”. I said “Who is who getting?”. He replied “Carlton”.

I’ll keep working on him though, a systematic brainwashing over summer that will include replays of the StK and Geelong games, maybe even the 99 prelim (he hates the scum) and the 95 GF. A Junior Blue membership early next year, a visit to the family day and training where he can hopefully grab a photo with a player. If all that fails, a good old fashioned flogging.

Good luck with keeping the son barracking for the blues. My daughter back in 95 was an avid Carlton supporter (only 6 at the time). Not sure when it occured, (hubby is a Collingwood member) but she turned. Last Saturday i had to sit and watch her barracking for the filfth and watching replays and even buying the dvd of the gf. Not only do i have a Collingwood supporter husband and daughter but my son also barracks for them.
At least one daughter is on board and hates Collingwood with a passion, thats my girl. One out of 3 is not really good enough and it makes me wonder if we had not gone through such a terrible decade we may have a few more young supporters.

This sounds serious indeed.
Look kezza...we do have intervention squads available for cases like this.
Just say the word...

4 words: "Santa doesn't like traitors"

Brilliant feedback this...most of it . Thanks.

Good signs this morning. He saw a photo of Wallker in the Hun under a Trade Week banner and asked what it was all about. I said it’s the week where clubs can swap players. He asked “who are we getting”. I said “Who is who getting?”. He replied “Carlton”.

I’ll keep working on him though, a systematic brainwashing over summer that will include replays of the StK and Geelong games, maybe even the 99 prelim (he hates the scum) and the 95 GF. A Junior Blue membership early next year, a visit to the family day and training where he can hopefully grab a photo with a player. If all that fails, a good old fashioned flogging.