In the midst of what seemed like endless troubles in 2006 and also in the years prior to this, I spoke of a strong force for good would soon and quickly come to our club – Well we all know that this has now occurred.

Fathers have played a central role in the drama of our lives. With a clearly defined role as the bread winner, the disciplinarian, the ultimate family authority,

Fathers were traditionally regarded as pillars of strength, which provided the safety net to support and preserve the family unit.

Well, father figures are also very important figures for football clubs as well as for family life.

The culture we have come from is one where our focus as a club shifted from more wholesome values such as unity and a single minded purpose for the good of the club to instead a the pursuit of individual aims and objectives.

We have all seen this being expressed in various ways over the past 5 years.

The result of this is invariably an erosion of the ‘club morality’ that is needed to bind a footy club like Carlton together.

Player quality aside, a loosening of this moral glue is inevitably reflected in on field performances and also a sense that as a club we are lost, we are a long way from ‘turning it around’ and that there is no light at the end on the tunnel.

Many unsuccessful clubs have endured year after year of this - with no respite. I think that we all know the names of those particular clubs...

So to have the new President like Dick Pratt at Carlton, we really dont know how incredibly lucky we are.

He is a good stabilizing father figure on a club that desperately needs this.

His influence will set the moral compass of the club and the players as well.

Our young group of players will now grow with enduring impressions of this strong and stable influence that will pervade the culture of the club – this intangible quality is an unseen but vital ingredient for success…

We all should be so thankful for Dick Pratt – as we will only have him for a short time, but his influence will be lasting.

_________________
My Blue Heaven

I know what you're saying blueman (you're right on the money with your 'moral glue' sentiments) but trust me - I know exactly how fortunate we are to have Dick Pratt heading up the club right now.

I'm not the type of person to publicly hassle celebs or people I admire, but I'm going to be at the first President's lunch against Richmond, and if I get the chance I'm going to shake Pratt's hand and thank him for rolling his sleeves up for our club.

In terms of the "moral glue", the young players we're getting into the club have wonderfully supportive and sensible parents.

I heard someone say the other day "A moral compass may point you in the right direction, but it can't make you go the right way". These parents are giving the moral guidance to the young guys, but just as importantly, instilling the sense into them that they know the right stuff, and are heading the right way.

_________________
And so while others miserably pledge themselves to the pursuit of ambition and brief power, I will be stretched out in the shade, singing.

QFT.

I think we all know how luck we are. Maybe the average supporter in the street might be a bit lacking, but the obsessed in here certainly do not.

_________________
The measure of a life is a measure of love and respect
So hard to earn, so easily burned
In the fullness of time
A garden to nurture and protect

#DopeThenStash

I reflect on what a Carlton with No Dick Pratt (and maybe with someone marginally better than Graeme Smorgon) would be like vs What a Carlton with Dick Pratt is like now.

When you think about our financial position etc - a Carlton without Richard Pratt is not a comfortable line of thought to contemplate.

Sure, we arent out of the woods and we still have problems - but we are just so far ahead of where we were a few short months ago.

Dick Pratt didnt need to do what he did in coming to Carlton - which is why we are so incredibly fortunate to have him. We all should be so very very grateful to this man for the selfless and generous descison he has made.

_________________
My Blue Heaven