Blue Vain wrote:
It's no coincidence that success follows a good culture and strong leaders. I recall attending a sponsors event in the 2000's (maybe 2006?)
The club was on its knees after the salary cap scandal. Sponsors had deserted the club and they were desperate for any support. It was mainly Carlton supporting businesses or football ingrained companies that signed up or those looking for a cheap deal. My business was a relatively small associate sponsor but I recall being asked to attend numerous sponsors functions just so they would have some people in the room.
I recall going to some where there was maybe 10 people there. We were a basket case.
Companies like KS Freighters, Subaru signed up and good Carlton people like MC Labour stepped up and helped bail us out.
Anyway, I attended a sponsors function at Subaru. It was in Port Melbourne from memory. The clubs few sponsors were there, the admin and coaches were running around making everyone feel welcome. I remember the playing group turned up, stood in one corner and made it clearly known that they weren't interested in talking, mixing or associating with anyone other than those in their group. I remember one particular "leader" making clearly audible comments that he couldn't wait to get out of the place.
That's the bullshit hubris that carried over from the Elliott era and as Bondi said, the tail wagged the dog. No one at the club appeared to make an effort to rectify it. The players appeared to view themselves as being above the inconvenience. As a person attending to support the club, I was disgusted. Had I not been a rusted on supporter, I would have told them to jam it the next day. It's no surprise the club was a shitfight in the following years. People like Cazzesman viewed the ineptitude and desperation. Had volunteers like him, Jarusa etc etc etc not stepped up, our situation would have been far more desperate.
Fast forward 18 odd years and look at the difference. It's taken us 20 years of 2 steps forward, 3 steps back to get where we are.
And 2 great leaders of the club who finally have everyone pushing in the same direction. No arrogance. No division. Just a common goal. It sounds easy but it can be a lot harder than we think.
Great post.
I have been banging on that it has taken us 20 years to become a modern club.
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