Carlton is an exciting place to be today.

The sponsorship announcements are imminent. Round 1 is around the corner, and the young fellas are having a crack. Carlton, this year are blessed with a crop of kids with talent and promise, but these chosen ones possess something more than raw talent, they have been chosen to play for Carlton because of their great character, level heads, and their experience in leadership roles before coming to Carlton. This is the platform Carlton has built over the last 3 years. This is solid ground, and a solid platform for a great future..

Naturally our current leaders, Kouta and Lappin who are now in their 30's, and in their twilight years, will retire in the short term; then there's Whitnall who the young guys admire as a leader and teacher, but we will come to a point where we will have to fill the leadership void that will be created when they are gone.

Fortunately, the cards fell Carlton's way when we welcomed Nick Stevens to the club. He is our standout leader for the future at only 26 years of age. But who will fill the leadership roles when the elder statesmen retire, to support Nick's quest to Carlton's 17th premiership.

The rule of the jungle suggests that when there is a leadership void amongst humans, due to death, illness or inability to continue, some other human will step up and take on the responsibilities to lead men. These natural born leaders are men of quality who have the respect of their peers, fearless, good role models, bring men together, and lead by example.

Keogh's statement from another thread suggests that "guys like Simpson,Bentick,Waite will assume leadership roles naturally and we wont need a Luke Power.It will happen,but everyone must be patient.Its been a shit 4 years but where getting there slowly.Take a look at Geelong.You can see the leadership development in Ling,Kelly,Bartel etc .That will happen at Carlton but it takes time."

We have a list of young potential leaders. Heaps of them.

Who do you think they are?
What leadership qualities do they have?
What are their leadership credentials?

Blue Skies.

For mine, Fevola would be a good leader, but as for a role model, I think he's really stuffed up too much in the past, and it will take a lot of good on field performances, and a clean record before he is elevated to an official leadership role at Carlton; despite the fact that he has qualities of a natural born leader.

Waite, Thornton, Carazzo, all 23 yo are in line for mine. Not sure if they have captained before, but Simpson, Bentick and Murphy have, and have all the makings of a natural born leader.

Fisher and Walker have leadership credentials and will step up, and Kennedy, well I think we're all sold on him. He may become the Sticks we have so long waited for, and he's only 19 this year.

IMO we are not in desperate need to import leaders, we have them on our list.

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

You're right, but given there is a lack of depth in genuine leaders with experience, is too much being left to too little? Potentially, the future looks bright, indeed, but we need patience and understanding while the kids settle in to the game, and develop their niche and respect around the club and the competition.

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i totally agree!
Waite, Thornton, Carazzo, all 23 yo are in line for mine. Not sure if they have captained before, but Simpson, Bentick and Murphy have, and have all the makings of a natural born leader.
particulary simpson and bentick they seem to have gaind alot of respect from teh older older playing group after their NAB rising star nominations

You hear all this doom and gloom, as it has been but it's almost over...

Nick Stevens will be great for the club and Marc Murphy looks a real genuine future leader.... Since the Port game, there is no real reason why we should be negative... I just cant wait for round 1... to see how the kids are going...

I am very encouraged by the recent development and performances from players such as Simpson, Bentick, Marc Murphy (GUN!), Walker, Jarrad Waite.... add Brett Thornton, Eddie Betts! (Nearly forget about him ) and i'm getting real excited about our future prospects. Oh yeah, there's big wraps on kennedy too...

If these young kids this year that the next step we know they can, with a real lot of potential there we could win 8 or 9 games especially if Pagan brings us back to that fighting mentality we had in 2004...

Still then we may finish around 13th but that still leaves us a top 5 pick and I believe there is a lot of talent in this years draft pool... We will be more than set, i believe, with another year of rebuilding and developing our kids.... We could only be 1 rebuilding year away from being a side challenging for 10+ wins and maybe even finals....

We could surprise some sides this year... I am genuinely excited and all the pessimists, it's time to look at the other side of the coin because there is a lot of promise on that side too... And it's exciting!!!

Bring On Round 1!

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Corinthians 9:6- 8

I think the talented youth we have is exciting and watching young players develop is half the fun of following the club and I'm sure we will get some leaders out of the younger group of players we have.

Not so sure about Nick Stevens....good footballer but Nick is a hired gun like Craig Bradley was and I'm not sure if they make the best captains....
I know Aaron Hamill is a hired gun for the Saints and one of their leaders but I think Hamill has embraced Stkilda and wont move for the money next time..
I'll be interested to see how Nicks next round of contract discussions go with the club and if he is passionate about the club and wanting to stay regardless of our woes and maybe some better offers from other clubs....if he stays say for less then he could have got I will be the first to applaud him and annoint him as a leader ...

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"When you have the attitude of a champion, you see adversity as your
training partner."
- Conor Gillen

Kernahan?
Barassi?

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Great positive post Bondi, however, I fear that it won't take long for it to be highjacked by the usual suspects

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A society grows great when old men plant trees whose shade they know they shall never sit in.

You hit the nail on the head camelboy. You highlight two important points:

"...there is a lack of depth in genuine leaders with experience..."

"...we need patience and understanding while the kids settle in to the game, and develop their niche and respect around the club and the competition."

1. The need for leaders with experience around the club (in 2006)

2. The kids have potential and they must earn respect ( in 2006 and 2007)

I just want to focus on what the list can produce, to determine where we are going and which gaps we need to plug. You see all the so called negativities are based around arguments related to: Salary payments; Draft Penalties; Elliot; Collins; Finances/Sponsors/Membership; Media; Demetriou; Retreads, and whilst they all are relevant club issues, we seem to get these mixed up with the value certain players on our list bring to our club in 2006. The negatives of the past we cannot undo, but the future of Carlton we all can play a positive part; young and old.

The young kids need experience around them. This is why it's players we have in 2006 in Kouta (32), Lappin (30), French (31), Whitnall (27) are so important to us, and I am grateful they are still there, regardless of their connection to some of the abovementioned negatives. They still play an important role for us, and we seem to lose this in all the negativity; Carlton FC is not a dicksize competition for me. I'll leace the politics to others.

Lets get back on the footy field issues, where the most important talking is done, and where the most positive influence on the negatives can be achieved.

Stevens aside, the next bunch of experienced players come from the 26 yo players: McGrath, Scotland, Saddington, and Prenders, followed by Fevola at 25 and McLaren at 24 years of age. Retreads...call them what you like. In summary, really not much depth in experience; which is Camel's point. All these players have a role to play for us this year, and if they can't...well thats then an end of season discussion. I'll take things week by week. It's a long season, and then it's gone in a flash. Enjoy the moment.

Everyone on the list has an important role to play in 2006, to faclitate , fast track, the development of our kids; our future leaders. Be grateful they are here, because there isn't anyone else that can help our kids more than our very own in 2006. It's all we've got.

It's the experienced guys that will support our youth whilst they "develop their niche and respect" within the club and football community", on their way to becoming our next leaders...and they will be really soon, just as Sambo, Elwood, No1 Blue, Camelboy can see....and remember who chose these young guys at the draft....and I thank them too for their contribution.

Oh yeah...on the Kernahan thing Camel, well Kennedy starts with K, and like everything...gotta start somewhere.

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each and every player on the list should take a lot from the situation we are in........ its there turn to fight for this club and i been told that has been the message by senior players and campo has been used as an example of this. If your weak then leave

Bondi, bondi, bondi

you are a breath of fresh air and an inspriation......and dare I mention a positive thread

go blues - we are on the right track

the quest for the elusive captain.

look, imo, at the moment we expect far to much from our captains due to what we got from a chap called S. Kernahan.

Kouta - isnt a captain's asshole - i love they bloke, but he isnt a captain as such.

Captain's arent something that can be trained into or taught, it happens. Players evolve and grow into becoming a captain all through their junior years.

Do we have the "kids" to develop some quality captains? You bet we do, and without putting further pressure on the kid - there is alot to like about Murphy.

And i dont like putting everything on his sholders either, but just about everything he does, screams future captain to me already.

The interim - i would have said T-Bird a year ot two ago - but im actually leading towards Stevens now - he shows all the desire, work rate that you want in a captain.

Stevens for the interim until Murphy has a had a few years under his belt, should work around the same time, as Stevens retires, Murphy takes over the role.

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Got to love the stare Down by Setanta on Llyod

Im here... it took a few hours.

If we dont bring in leaders the kids will take much longer to find their way....

It took the doggioes exciting young list a few years but they also had Grant and Johnston and West and so on....

We have ZILCH!

On that.... stevens will be the next captain of the Carlton football club.

Its been settled from what i understand.

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If anyone has a copy, have a look at AB's acceptance speech on GF day 2003 at the MCG when the Cannons won the flag. I think that will tell you that if AB can cement a spot in the middle, then he may just possess the right leadership skills we need to perhaps one day be future leadership material. The tape will give you an insight into what type of kid he is anyway.

I also believe he used the tape as a selling point to Pagan in an attempt to get on to the rookie list. I believe Pagan liked what he saw and the tape was part of the reason why Pagan was talked into placing the kid on the rookie list.

In the interim, I'd like to see Barnaby play a more formal role in the clubs leadership. Another guy (similar to AB) who has had to do it the hard way and appreciates where he is, unlike most others who take it for granted.

Wasn't it meant to happen this year?

Another leader is on the march!

Blues to blood Murphy - Herald Scum.

Didn't realise the side had been picked already.

Synbad, good to hear from you.

It would be nice to have more experienced leaders come to Carlton from other clubs, but if we don't get them, we still have to move forward, albeit a bit slower than we want, to identify existing strenghts that will enable us to address the need for our kids' development as players and leaders.

Have a read of Edward Debono perhaps, he seems to always find a way of overcoming obstacles; through lateral thinking.

You say

It took the doggies exciting list a few years but they also had Grant, Johnston, West...

I say

It will take the young blues a few years because we have Kouta, Lappin, Stevens...

I am not getting into a dicksize comp here, nor missing your main point, but your ZILCH comment needs to be enlightened.

We may be short on leaders as you state, but the consensus amongst the football community is that we have only a few (not zilch), but we do still have an undisputable history as a proud and successful club. Everyone knows that this is synonymous with the Carlton Brand. That's a start. We have got leaders on the field, and I don't know how many more we really need (ie exact number).

We have a plethora of leaders from the 60's, 70's, 80's and 90's still alive and still Carlton, and their input would be invaluable for the young guys....you know...wise words move hearts and minds.

The main point I wish to make is that this band of kids we have today, are potential leaders, have a leadership background, and will make good players; they are not retreads, and they are not made up of the ingedients normally associated with bad characters. They just need some support. I'm glad that you didn't deny this, so you must have some hope for these kids.

These young guys are our future, and yes they have to earn respect. They are already making inroads. When they do earn the respect of the football community, they will be the ones who will attract leaders from other teams, moreso than our negatives will bring to the club.

If we can attract leaders to the club, that want to play for Carlton, that's a bonus. In the meantime watch out for:

The rise and rise of the baby blues.

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

Mentor program ala the Tigers, kgo.

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29 different attributes,
And only 7 that you like;
20 ways to see the world,
Or 20 ways to start a fight.

bondiblue, excellent to hear from you.
Some unblelievably salient points.
After reading what you posted im completely at ease.I now feel extremely confident that we dont need to plan for the future and that our current leaders will all of a sudden have what it takes to lead the babes to the promised land because of our history... i will disregard what happened to Fitzroy Melbourne and Richmond as a freakey shit.. as they had a great history once upon a time too... but theyre not Carlton and that stuff canmt happen to us...
We no longer have to begin planning for the future... everything will automatically fall into place in 3 or 4 years for Walker , Murphy ,Kennedy,Blackwell because on our pay roll today we have Kouta and Lance...

Thank you for setting me straight...

Keep up the good work!!!..

.......and remember.. planning for the future is for losers!!!...

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I concur!

PS - Shhh Synbad, Shhh.

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29 different attributes,
And only 7 that you like;
20 ways to see the world,
Or 20 ways to start a fight.