Watching the build up to the Grand Final all week where the game involves one of the big four Victorian clubs, I couldn't help but feel a little bit of anxiety about when we will next be there. I miss the build up that takes place when Carlton play in a Grand Final. From the moment the preliminary final ends, to the nerves you feel sometimes making the week longer,the buzz that goes around Melbourne, the morning of the game, the few minutes before the bounce of the ball, and then the start of the game right through until the end. I feel its been 11 years too long.

Watching Collingwood and all their supporters lap up the week and enjoy themselves with all the festivities has made me a little envious- not of Collingwood, not of their supporters, but of the emotions and excitement they must get following a big club into such a big game. From a supporter point of view it must be draining to go through the week, the night before the game struggling to get some sleep and so on. Not to mention having to go through it two weeks in a row.

It's a hard emotion to describe right now, it's not one of jealousy for those pricks, but it's one envious of the excitement they must have got not only over the last week, but over the last 4 weeks and even over the last 26 weeks. Anyone else feel the same way?

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Premierships: 1869, 1871, 1873, 1874, 1875, 1877, 1887, 1906, 1907, 1908, 1914, 1915, 1938, 1945, 1947, 1968, 1970, 1972, 1979, 1981, 1982, 1987, 1995.

"GIBBS."

For sure. I get really emotional around finals time, wishing it was us......

I cannot wait till we get there again.... It will go off..

Yep, my heart was going one hundred miles an hour watching the game. Just the thought of the possible outcome did it for me I suppose.

I'll give Collingwood credit though, they absolutely immersed themselves and their supporters in the spirit of grand final week. Open training sessions, media, everything they did was inclusive and in the spirit of how a club should carry its supporters along with them.
Compare that with St Kilda and their closed sessions etc. Seriously, if the players dont know how to play now, they never will. For that reason alone, I'd like to see them get rolled. To show clubs that you can still be successful by making the journey as enjoyable for the supporters as the destination.
AFAIC, clubs have a responsibility to the game that goes beyond winning the match. Carltons interest in the GF sprint was indicative of where we're at.

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Looking forward to seeing our potential realised.