Mrs Caz wrote:
I would LOVE to go to this, unfortunately work commitments make it impossible.
But hopefully some of you beautiful people out there will attend and come back with a report!
I was there MrsCazz.In fact it was the first "Spirit of Carlton" function i have attended.Great day,thoroughly enjoyable.I urge all TCers' to get along to a function if you have the chance and a bit of spare coin.The SOC guys do a great job and raise a bit of hard earnt that is used very well..........now our great mate "Collo" cops more than a little shit from just about everybody.Say what you will about "Collo".I tell you one thing,he knows what he is doing.The function ran beautifully.The catering was superb.And his waiting staff were brilliant and knew there jobs.They carried out there tasks to perfection.Well done Collo and all your merry men(and girls).
Three of our vanquished foe were there and all three spoke.Namely Des Tuddenham,Ross "Twiggy" Dunne,and that complete gentleman Peter McKenna.All made speeches and were highly entertaing.More importantly,very gracious.Great guts for these guys to turn up in the hated enemy camp.We all hate Collingwood,the club,there jumper and everything about them.But as much as we hate there jumper,we dont hate the man wearing it.
The speaker that grabbed me the most was the unlikely Bert Thornley.What a great attitude this guy had.Far from being pee'd off about being dragged,he was just so GRATEFULL to being part of the team,playing his part no matter how small.A man who was just so proud to have the oppurtunaty to play footy in the big smoke and contribute when it was his turn.What a humble human being.We got the big names at the Blues but i find the smaller fry with that great pride so inspiring.Just makes you realize,no matter how small and insignificent you may seem,we all can contribute to the great Carlton family.Bert Thornley,you were magnificent.
The bigs from the day was "Big Nicks" speech.Storm in a teacup and nothing more than a how do you do about nothing.John just happened to mention how crap we have been for fifteen years.Its common knowledge.Just telling us what we already knew.Why the big fuss ?...............its really what happens from now on that counts !............and John feels we are starting to turn the corner...........that what was far more contentious to me.Speaking to a lot of past players and supporters after the event was a bit depressing actually.Although a few felt we were on the right track,a lot felt we were going up and down on the one spot.The lack of confidence seemed to be VERY unCarltonlike.Just feel there is a lot of pressure building up amongst the influential types.Reckon it is time for the Carlton inner sanctum to stop talking and start doing.We have had ample time to iron out all the chinks,no more wishywashy excuses,just get on with it.I reckon we can myself.We have a magnificent onfield leader in Chris Judd,and some super young emerging players in Murphy,Gibbs,KrueZ etc.Hopefully its all gonna click and we are gonna go WHOOSH.
PS....................i was at the 1970 grand final.I remember it was like yesterday.I have told the story many a time,so i shall bore you once again.Jezza took his famous speccie right in front of me.Exhilirating.I thought it was the only thrill i would have for the day.Thought i would dart down to the dunnies just before halftime and beat the rush.Trouble was,half the crowd thought the same and beat me to it.I was busting,so i waited,and waited.Thought we gonna get thrashed so i was in no hurry to get back to my seat anyway.Remember waiting in the queque and hearing these amighty roars.What the hell is going on i asked.Would you believe it was threequarter time before i got back to my seat.I missed all the action.We all know Bert Thornley came off,Teddy Hopkins came on and went beserk and changed the game and i missed the lot.Still the boys kept it up,and we ran over the top of them and won running away.................i was with a geogeous young lady that day.In fact she was the most beautifull girl i had ever layed eyes on.She was a Collingwood supporter,and still is to this day.One week later we were married,and still are to this day.