It has been a long road back from the horror that was Black Friday. A day of infamy that so very nearly killed our famous and beloved club. A day that would have consigned all but one or two others to a slowly forgotten history. It has been a long, hard road back. But step by bloodied step we have. Slowly but surely we have built our strength until we now stand ready for the campaign that will deliver a premiership

We are on the cusp of a new era. An era that promises much. We have the players. We have the support staff. We have the facilities. In less than ten years we have risen anew from the ruins of a once great club that stood above all others. We are a new Carlton. A better, stronger more resilient Carlton.

No one person can claim credit. It has been the result of thousands of people not losing faith. Of not giving up. Of not accepting second best. Quiet determination, unity of spirit and resolve has stood us in good stead.

It is good to be Carlton now. Not that it ever was not so. There is a certain joy in seeing the old Carltonian spirit being revived, honoured and cherished by the modern players. This spirit, this honour has been instigated and modelled by a man who embodies all that is Carlton. I know that this man will always put the club ahead of his own interests and needs. He will willing sacrifice himself for the cause. No one can ask for more. The players sense, know and respond to this. This is the only true path to success.

I look forward to this new era with anticipation, knowing that possibly the greatest chapter in our history is about to be written. And I will get to witness it.

It has been said that I love Carlton more than my own flesh and blood. That is not so. I love my son with all of my heart and soul. Carlton however runs a very close second.

I am, you are, we are Carlton!

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A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty" -Winston Churchill

L.M 35-06

Very well said!!

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Bawditawaba

I agree with everything you say, but Dick Pratt comes to mind.
He believed and made others believe.

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"I'll tell you what I didn't do;
I never injected anyone."
AD 3/3/14

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James Hird and Essendon* FC - #FOREVERDRUGCHEATS

Amen Brother!!!!!!

Black friday and the leed up to it still gives me nightmares.

Andrew Demitriou still probably has nightmares regarding my e-mails after that kangaroo court.

Him and I can both rest a little easier these days

Now get me a decent forward and another inside mid.

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"The Ox is Slow but the Earth is Patient" and don't forget it!

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We are on our way back...

Your words resonate with the majority of Carlton people!

This club means so much to so many!

I'm looking forward to my children enjoying some great success similar to the success I enjoyed growing up in the 80's & early 90's!

I love Carlton!

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'The Carlton people are spirited & I'm the same as them, they have life in them, they have humor, they're arrogant, they're cocky & they're proud. And that's what I want my team to be.'

I'm EXCITED!

Quite right BM, and very well said.

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"Two roads diverged in a wood,
and I,
I took the one less travelled by,
and that has made all the difference."

Robert Frost

Love the passion! Big 2012 comin up Blues!!!!!

Post of the year.

EFA

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"He was found guilty in June 2008 of assault with intent to cause bodily harm, an offence which carries a maximum penalty of 20 years jail."
And people are making his return to footy somewhat of a fairytale?

I reckon we're making better decisions on and off the field.
It's hard to put my finger exactly on what I mean, but it seems to have been awhile since
I've jumped up and down shouting "DON'T DO THAT!!".

I reckon it started with moving Fev on, (I think that was after we paid overs for Brock?).
Since then I've generally been pretty happy with how they've managed the playing list;
who's got a game and who hasn't. The only blew I reckon was not giving Fish his 100th
and I got the feeling that they realised that with hindsight and made sure Hoops got his 200th.

Keep it up Blues.

Be interesting to see what happens contract-wise with O'Halpin and Thorton. One year each
is my hope, but I've got a bit of confidence that Carlton will make a good decision, whatever
that may be. I wouldn't have said that three years ago.

Nice one BM.

If 2012 season started tomorrow it wuld not be soon enough.
Just so excited for the new season.
More joy, more spectacular moments..more losing our voices...
Happiness is being a Carlton supporter at this moment in time.

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That’s not a political statement — it’s a harsh reality, and we must act,” she said. “He is a clear and present danger to the things that keep us strong and free. I support impeachment.”

New era.................................... looooooooooooooooooooong summer

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“I would rather have questions that can't be answered than answers that can't be questioned.” ― Richard Feynman

Agree with BigKev, it all started with moving Fevola on. That signalled the end of a dark era for the club in my opinion. As good as he was during the bleakest times in our history, the greatest Carlton teams and eras have been built on a real team ethos and culture of club first. Reading Anthony Koutoufides' autobiography recently, it was interesting to read the contrasts from an inside perspective of the club's glory days of the mid 1990s to the last four seasons of his career.

Dramatic turn around in the space of under a decade from powerhouse to near extinction, and it has been a dramatic turn around from near extinction to on the cusp of being a powerhouse once more. Cleaning out clowns like Ian Collins and bringing in Richard Pratt has played a major part in our turn around...from the accounts of Kouta's book, it seems Collins wasn't the easiest person to get along with, nor find enthusiasm to take to the footy field each week. While it was obvious to all that the club was nearly broke and the players inevitably had to take a paycut, there was still a lack of respect from Collins' end, even though Kouta agreed to play on for minimal to what he used to get. It's people like this who make a football club, and get them through the tough times. We've now got the personnel off the field that the players want to play for, and there is a mutual respect. This goes a long way to ensuring premiership success, and while those off the field may dismiss their roles giving credit to the players, a flag takes a whole club to win.

As others have said, it is a very exciting time to be supporting this great footy club. During the dark years, I remember reading the latter on the membership letter, year in, year out, knowing full well it would be another lean season and it would take time. Used to rock up to the footy in those times ideally and wishfully hoping to win, but realistically hoping the team would keep the losing margin down. Now, I rock up to the footy more often than not contemplating how much we will win by, and soon enough, will be arriving at the ground fully expecting to win no matter who we play. Makes me all the more excited for the following season, and for the next few to come. There are definitely some exciting times ahead in the near future, and they will be enjoyed all the more given those of us who experienced the unfamiliarity of the dark years.

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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."

BM - That's why Number 17 is going to taste so sweet for so many people........

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31-3-2015 - R.I.P AFL, corrupted lying pricks
12-5-2015 - Go WADA
18-8-2015 - Suffer Hird* u lying flower
12-1-2016 - CAS goes bang, happy new year.. Drugcheats forever..

Puleeese!
I love the sentiment but forgive me if I wipe the dribble off your keyboard.

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Let slip the Blues of war (with apologies to William Shakespeare) (and Sir Francis Bacon, just in case)

Thats why I am BM and you're BS.

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A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty" -Winston Churchill

L.M 35-06

While I will never forget black Friday, it is a comfort to know that following 2011 and after a decade of what can only be described as a deeply traumatic period, Carlton is now placed a mirror image of where it was in 2001 (finished 5th in that year as well).

Following Rattens re-signing, I think that there are 2 flags to come with this group.

The second of these will be with a new young coach.

I suggest that the discomfort of what looks to be a probable Collingwood flag will be offset somewhat by a brownlow to Judd.

Collingwood fancy themselves to win their 16th and then another - But instead Carlton should skip clear to 18 flags in coming years.

Save for tokenistic finals appearances - Essendon* will not be a serious premiership threat for many years.

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My Blue Heaven