Seriously its like feeding people 5 star cuisine and them thinking they are eating slop.

I wonder how funny you will be feeling when Brett Goodes runs through one of our AFL listed players.

This is not a standalone scenario like the Geelong and Collingwood model. It's a hell of a lot closer, but still a fair way away.

I think this is the point that everyone is missing in all this - and its the fact that the competition that this team is playing in is the VFL and that we are deliberately branding it "Northern Blues" and not Carlton.

I dont know if anyone remembers Carlton and Collingwood's foray in the National Soccer League about 10 years ago - the main reason these entities failed was the fact they were branded Carlton & Collingwood you do that and you instantly alienate any potential new supporters out there who hate Carlton & Collingwood.

It's exactly the problem Port has run into in the AFL - by being branded 'Port' they have alienated the overwhelming majority of Adelaide supporters who despise their SANFL team.
Basically they can only draw from a small percentage of people who already support the SANFL entity. Yet many of those are either only interested in that local comp, or else got on board with the Crows when they first formed and keep their allegiances firmly with them.

I think this is the point that everyone is missing in all this - and its the fact that the competition that this team is playing in is the VFL and that we are deliberately branding it "Northern Blues" and not Carlton.

I dont know if anyone remembers Carlton and Collingwood's foray in the National Soccer League about 10 years ago - the main reason these entities failed was the fact they were branded Carlton & Collingwood you do that and you instantly alienate any potential new supporters out there who hate Carlton & Collingwood.

Rome wasnt built in a day - but in the next 15 to 20 years we need to make sure that any potential business sponsor, kid in the schoolyard sees the "Northern Blues" as the team that they want to follow in the VFL.

The benefits to Carlton will be huge and its beyond any petty and parochial thoughts people may have about having always followed Williamstown and Sandringham.

Essendon* cheated, simple as that

Talking Bullants hasn't been updated.

Sakc Coutts, I mean BlueChukcy.

I think it's a very clever idea. I just think it will have minimal impact in the northern suburbs the way you're hoping it will.

We'll see what impact it has - but if the FOXTEL CUP and the AFL's vision of a Champions League concept grows in importance for the second tier football competition in Australia I am sure it will have significant sponsorship opportunities for Northern Suburbs Corporates.



I remember it fondly. A number of my friends were pissed off that Carlton FC members (such as myself) were offered differing membership options to what they were offered. On a positive note, players such as Marco Bresciano and Vinny Grella speak highly of their time at CSC, and through their connection here, they were very forthcoming in writing letters of support for the Melbourne Heart that were included in the Hearts' bid submssion to FFA.



Does that happen nowadays? Do kids decide to 'follow' a VFL team. Some on here would know better than I. But my initial thinking is that this hasn't happen for more than a decade. I know that Williamstown virtually hand out junior memberships to Primary Schools throughout Hobson's Bay City Council...this is a smart move as kids rarely get something for free these days and they convince their parents and friends to go the footy. The alignment to the Bulldogs is a strong one (read 'very healthy'), and makes sense, but not necessarily in financial terms.

Maybe kids wont align to a VFL team - but if Carlton & Northern Blues do this properly then they should be concentrating a lot of their efforts in Junior Auskick programs around the Northern Subrubs - invitations to clinics to Visy Park etc - Essendon* were doing this very strongly around the North West and it annoyed the crap out of me to see so many Essendon* jumpers at footy training and at Auskick - we are starting from a long way back - like I said it has to be a long term vision.



Petty? Not sure about that. Now you're trivializing one of the great clubs in Australia. The 8th oldest football club in this country.

I am not trivializing anything - if you want to continue to support Williamstown then go right ahead - however if I want to see Carlton players play in the VFL I will support the team that they play for - especially if its playing in a Navy Blue Jumper - and if you check my posting history you will see that I have actually supported Williamstown, in particular over the past few years when I have had a very close family member working there

I have no doubt that there will be some positives out of this move. But when Greg Swann says Carlton wants to maintain its long-term connection with the northern suburbs - I just don't buy into that 100%. The club did some great things in Melbourne's Northern Suburbs with North Melbourne and Fitzroy's input during the 60's and 70's...but our connection to other areas is just as strong. Want to have an impact in the Northern Suburbs in the 21st century? Get another kid like Ahmed Saad. Easier said than done.

Sometimes you have to take people at their word and if Carlton say they want to build a long term connection between the Northern Blues and the Northern Suburbs of Melbourne I am hoping that is true. As I said elsewhere Carlton will grow and promote their AFL brand nationally - and the Northern Blues will promote their VFL brand around the Northern Suburbs of Melbourne -its pretty much a Marketing 101 concept and that is market segmentation and targeting to it.

The real reason the Northern Blues exist? They're classified as an alignment rather than a stand-alone, and because of this licence fees will be significantly less for the next two seasons. In that time, a feasibility study needs to be presented to the Board on what lies in store for us in 2014, when the Carlton VFL side enters the Victorian Football League.

Why just focus on the North, Agro? I understand that it could be beneficial to retain a connection to a particular area, just don't view it the way you do. If you follow an AFL team that isn't Carlton you will not follow this team.

Thanks AGRO. Well presented arguments. Hope it turns out that way...there are plenty who can benefit as a result of the Northern Blues longevity and success.

The Northern Bullants held a Special General Meeting on Wednesday 2nd November for all Life Members and Full Financial Northern Bullants Members to vote on important changes to the Football Club. It was voted and decided by the vast majority that the Club will proceed into the future as the Northern Blues Football Club. This decision will ensure the future security and strength of the Club.

Other changes include modifications to the Club’s Guernsey, which will continue to acknowledge Preston Football Club but will now include recognition of the Carlton Football Club. A Navy Guernsey will be worn at all games played at Visy Park and a Red Guernsey will be worn at Preston City Oval and any games whereby there is a clash with the opposition. This will be subject to VFL advice and approval.

We assure you the Club will retain its history throughout this process by holding a Heritage Round and numerous other Preston related events designed to celebrate our history and the significant role the Club has played in Preston and the northern suburbs.

We will also be refurbishing our upstairs bar for members and past players and creating a history channel which will be shown during operating hours showing highlight of past players, coaches and volunteers. If any past player or member has any old photos or footage that we could copy for our history channel this would help us immensely in honouring our past.

The Club will still be managed by the current Board, however there will now be even greater professional and financial support from the Carlton Football Club.

Our combined plan for the future is to not only maintain a stable Club but create, grow and sustain further opportunities for players and our youth. Our most recent and successful player in Ahmed Saad, who was recently listed to St Kilda, is a great example of our Club giving a young player an opportunity to succeed.

We are also committed to our local businesses, schools and the community. Our future is not just about a Club that plays football, we will be a solid central hub that is a place to seek advice on Football matters and to encourage and generate a healthy attitude towards sport and life. Importantly we will work with the Carlton Football Club through the northern corridor of Melbourne, working with the community.

We are very fortunate to have a core group of volunteers that have stood side by side with us. Our Past Players, Junior Football Club, City of Darebin, Northern Knights and Northern Football League have been mutually supportive over the years. The Board’s focus is ensuring that elite level football with development opportunities remain at Preston City Oval.

Now that this change has been passed by our Members, we will be working through the finer details of the new alignment with Carlton and AFL Victoria over the coming weeks and months and we will keep you informed.

This transition continues to be an exciting and challenging one. We look forward to your continued support and interest in the “Northern Blues” and would welcome any feedback or support you may wish to share with us.



Kind Regards,

Stephen Papal

President