The day Dick Pratt said he'd be Carlton president



Great article on the process of Pratt becoming President.

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"The ability to speak doesn't make you intelligent." Qui-Gon Jinn 15-05-2005

"there’s more chance of me becoming the full forward for the [Western Bulldogs] than there is of any change in the Labor Party." Julia Gillard 18-05-2010

Classic!

Just concerned that JE is embellishing the story somewhat. He sounds a bit like he is trying to take some of the credit. I have been listening enough to JE when he holds court at functions (in the smoking area) to know that he has a tendency to brag and not let facts stand in the way of a good story.

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TC suffers from the social media illness - the death of respect and constructive discourse by keyboard.

I have no problem with it.

The fact Jack and Sticks had the courage to go to Pratt with their tails between there legs and ask for help deserves some plaudits.

Good old Jack - Just wait for the regular snipers around here to come on here and bucket the bloke as usual.

Whilst Jack has an interest in Carlton - Carlton will be in good hands

I can here the nashing of teeth at the moment

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If you allow the Government to change the Laws in an emergency
They will create an Emergency to change the Laws

The surprising part of that article is the fact that seemingly no-one at the club ever thought to get Dick Pratt on board in an official capacity before, or ask him for something other than his money.

What Dick did for Carlton in such a short space of time is amazing... but not surprising, from a man who single-handedly built a business empire from nothing. And Visy isn't some bullshit 'built on shifting sand' empire like Alan Bond's... it's real.

A great man. I still can't believe he's gone. It only seems like moments ago he was flying the boys over to Malaysia on Pratt Air.

I was hoping this story wouldn't become about Elliott, but given the way its been written and told by Jack I guess that was inevitable.

I think mikkey makes a good point about how much credit he should take, but you have to give him some for approaching Pratt, on behalf of the club, after he'd been voted out and had the stand re-named.

Like I say though, the story shouldn't be about Jack, and for me the interesting part of the article is this.



For those who were worried Pratt was just going to buy us out of trouble, I think this shows he wanted to ensure that rather than throwing the club a fish and get us out of trouble, he'd get the right people and processes at the club so we would be able to self sustain and get ourselves out of trouble.

All up we've probably received the five mill, but that pales in comparison to the value the club has got him.

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"The ability to speak doesn't make you intelligent." Qui-Gon Jinn 15-05-2005

"there’s more chance of me becoming the full forward for the [Western Bulldogs] than there is of any change in the Labor Party." Julia Gillard 18-05-2010

Whether it was Carlton or supporting the Arts, a common theme in Mr Pratt's dealings have been to set the business/ footy club/production company etc up to the point where it can sustain itself long term rather than coming to him for handouts when money is needed.

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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.

I can only say that since I was lied directly to my face by both JE and Wes in the days up to the take over by "carlton one" I do never again believe what they say.

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TC suffers from the social media illness - the death of respect and constructive discourse by keyboard.

The interesting thing is that this version of the meeting with Pratt differs substantially from the one that was told when Pratt became President.

If you recall, Jack came out and said then that he suggested to Sticks that he go to Pratt. And the story went that Sticks pleaded with him to take the presidency. It was a feel good story at the time - Pratt came back to the club at the behest of one of our greatest former players.

Now, it looks like Sticks was Elliott's sidekick, and neither suggested nor sought Pratt's direct involvement. Pratt didn't need to be begged to take over - he suggested that himself.

That's an interesting contrast. Some might think it suggests that Elliott might not be the most reliable historian.

At the time, I suggested that the version that gave Sticks the credit for bringing Pratt to the presidency might have been spin. But both at the time and now, I don't have a problem with that. All clubs and organisations need such uplifting stories, whether or not they are entirely accurate. As the old saying goes, even if it wasn't true, it should have been.

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#GUILTY

Thats just John Elliot - Loves a good yarn

Hes told that like he was the big hero who rode in on his horse and sticks was the little dumb sidekick - err but but but john he never said how much money we'd get - hehe

The truth will lie somewhere between all the stories we have heard

I enjoyed reading that

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*(grow - fun - gah)

Yeah but whatabout your whataboutism.

That's exactly right.

The basic facts of the story are correct according to what I have been told, it has just been given the Elliot spin by Elliot himself.

There is one very basic fact, only one person decided whether Dick Pratt would be president of the Carlton Football Club.

Dick Pratt.

Did anyone else find it a little distasteful that an obviously self-promotional article is used on the back of another persons death?

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LOL at Sticks: "but he didn't tell us how much money he'd give us."

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"I had to eat"

What, Jack letting the truth get in front of a good story? Never!

Get some "manners" you guys. In fact, Jack's web site has plenty to say about that, too.

Seriously, really enjoyed the article, especially Jack's quip re Dick's pursuit of the best CEO " He said, John, I can't go to Geelong. I provide Frank Costa with too many boxes..... so he got the Collingwood bloke". LOL.

Well, thats exactly my gripe. JE is a selfpromoting egomaniac.

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TC suffers from the social media illness - the death of respect and constructive discourse by keyboard.

Everything Jack says needs to be taken with a grain of salt. I distinctly remember him saying he was willing to sign a stat dec stating that we were under the salary cap.

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"One of my favorite philosophical tenets is that people will agree with you only if they already agree with you. You do not change people's minds." - Frank Zappa

No...they were good mates. The article written by Jack on his website is fantastic. When you lose a mate you want to tell stories about your times together. It's all good.

I see the Jack snipers have arrived on cue


Cant come to terms with the fact that if Jack hadn't approached Dick - none of what has happened in the past two years to turn the club around would have happened


Get over it and be greatful for the pair of them - both truly great Carlton men

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If you allow the Government to change the Laws in an emergency
They will create an Emergency to change the Laws

Hear, hear! Both made terrible decisions, both made great decisions - neither are saints, but their love for the Blues is something that can't be denied.