http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/elliott-snub-oversight-20120528-1zfdb.html

I think only poor journalism prevented this being a bigger story. There is a story there, but you wouldn't know by reading it.

Firstly, I could understand why the club would 'snub' JE from a 1995 Premiership Luncheon. But a 1987 one? Yeah - that's a really bad oversight, no matter what you think of the man. That is if it's an oversight. I tend to agree with the headline. It's a bad snub. Without the likes of John Elliott, we mightn't have gone close to winning a Premiership in 1987. Most believe John Elliott to blow his own trumpet at every opportunity. That's not entirely the case. What he did for the Motley family in 1987 has never really been told - only in bits and pieces by Geof Motley. Needless to say, the Motley family are indebted to John Elliott and a family such as the Motley's wouldn't say that without really meaning it. Maybe the good things JE did for Carlton will come out one day. The bad things have been aired enough.

Secondly, I arrived at the ground at 2.50pm. I know this because I checked in via Foursquare and looked up to see a familiar face in front of me. It was John Elliott. I know Jack through a tennis club in Melbourne that he and Tom were members of in the early-late 90's, though these days he needs reminding of who I am. It was basically a greet, handshake, 'we should thump Melbourne today', before he was met by Richard Dennis, Warren McKenzie and Peter Dean. I waved farewell and climbed the stairs to Level P. Did anyone else know the luncheon was even on? I don't think even John Elliott knew. In my eyes, that doesn't shed a good light on the club. What was good was the reception he got from the boys who greeted him downstairs. He loves that stuff. Whether you like it or not, he is a big part of our clubs great history. The great years..and the not so great years. May he long be a part of it.

From the outside I cant say i ever liked him, but he seems to have maintained the support of a lot of Carlton players and faithful which speaks volumes for him as a person.

I don't think anybody else would raise an eyebrow if he had attended.

The only damage he can cause the club these days is when another quality journo sticks a microphone in his face after a few red's and he say's something outrageous.

I thought he was quite funny on Agony Uncles with his son, some of the stuff he said was completely non PC and Tom just sat there with a " you think this is bad, you should hear what he says in private" grin on his face.

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I hope Essendon* folds.

Poor form. He may have flowered up a few times but he still helped deliver great times also.


Had Damien Barrett done an investigative piece on Doc Sherrin's movements, it may have started with:

"DS arrived just on 2.50pm, having spent lunchtime enjoying toasted sandwiches and a latte in a nearby cafe, while Hutchy and I crouched low in a corner rubbish bin"


Not sure why i posted that.

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"I had to eat"

It depends how Elliott behaves if he attends these re–unions.

Is he still a loose cannon with the media? Trouble is he seems still desperate to get his name in lights.

kennett +

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Bawditawaba

The media wasn't there. Judging by lack of any photographic evidence on website, no one in the Comms team was there either. Perhaps it didn't happen?

Seems an odd oversight when Sticks is a mate and so was Dick Pratt. Problem with John is while he loves CFC he loves pumping up his own tyres more. He just can't acknowledge any mistake the way others from the 90s do. Still I can't imagine why he would be excluded from a private function. He is distant enough from the club to be no longer relevant if he tries to garner publicity. I think tho when we talk about his legacy as president je took over the most powerful and feared club in the land and left us as a debt ridden laughing stock, and two flags in 20 years isn't quite the 6 in 14 we'd won immediately prior to him taking over. The problem was he didn't understand the future and keft us languishing in the past and we have taken years to try and catch up.

I hope this didn't occur. The man bleeds navy blue and this is a disgrace, if true!

Well said Doc. I agree.

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The problem with Socialism is, you eventually run out of other people's money.

..am of the opinion that he should have been invited [95 one too].. ..but wasn't it just a few years ago when he mouth off yet again, that the club 'rescinded' life membership or some such rot and 'cut ties with him'..?.. ....i think he's gonna be left, and stay left,, on the outside..

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..if you can't be good, be good at it..

It is hardly worth the senior football writer of the daily broadsheet writing about.
It's an article of gossip and innuendo.

Oh sorry, I forgot it was caro for a second there.

Storm in a teacup, seriously.

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T E A M

As I said elsewhere - I wonder what her angle would have been if the club DID invite John Elliott to this luncheon.

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"Hence you will not say that Greeks fight like heroes but that heroes fight like Greeks"?

Winston Churchill

Doc I have a slightly different take I saw the carnage that collo et al had to clean up after black jack was in charge

I was there the night of the EGM at Moonee Valley when he was still deluding himself THAT HE COULD BE PRESIDENT and when he realised that he couldnt tried to get his delegate elected
I saw the manoeuvrings to get Pagan as coach to try to shore up his position

Im usually a forgive and forget guy but we nearly had to shut down after his tenure and end our great club and he was one of the main reasons that the AFL hit us so hard after the salary cap breaches where he effectively flouted the rules gave the green light to do it and didnt worry about the consequences - a familar historical trait when it came to businesses associated with Jack

I have no doubt Jack loves Carlton but loves himself a bit more - not sure he has earned the right to go to those functions

I understand your point of view Frank. I think it important to recognise their participation/contribution to 1987 and Jack's was a pretty bloody big one! In a few years it'll be the 20th anniversary of the 1995 flag. I'm pretty sure Adrian Whitehead will still get an invite - he will probably choose not to come, but extending the olive branch should be done. We're all adults. Time to put the past in the past.

Agreed Doc. This was presumably a private function as opposed to a supporter/member event. He should have been invited.
But it also depends who else was invited. If it was just players and the coach then fair enough.
eg Was Collo invited, ?Shane O'Sullivan, Stephen Gough (I am presuming these guys were around in 1987)

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T E A M

Who is Whitehead's beef with?

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"I had to eat"

The club....and some others no longer there. The legal proceedings went for 7 years. He was told in 2004 not to attend a premiership players' ball and is yet to receive life membership - I believe he's the only premiership player to have not received LM. Thing is - in order to sue the club doctor - he had to sue the club. Went all the way to the supreme court. Lots of appeals. Settled out of court in late 2006. Got some workers comp cash too. Pretty sure it all went to pay legal bills. Messy.

Say what you will about Jack but I would love someone with his passion to be president again. Just with a little more discipline....

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Circumstance has no value. It is how one relates to a situation that has value. All true meaning resides in the personal relationship to a phenomenon, what it means to you.

Maybe Collo brought the club to its knees by getting into bed with the AFL to push his own conflicted agenda of getting the Blues to Etihad. Our financial position would not have been as bad if we didn't have to write off our home ground...........Geelong seems to have made it work!

He should be invited to these functions every day of the week.

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Life is made up of 3 things: Pre-Season, Post Season & Footy Season.

That was the worst period in the history of the club. Anyone who was involved in the club at that time knows exactly how dire the situation was. If Jack had held on even for one more month there would no Carlton football club today. The true story of the state of the books at that time will never be revealed and John should have been referred to the appropriate investigative authorities for prosecution. A lot of people blame Collo and his board for nearly destroying the club and selling its soul to go to Eithad. The blame can be wholly and solely laid at the feet of John. He destroyed the club and Collo had to do what was needed to save it. Should he be invited to Premiership functions? Possibly. Should he be invited to any other official functions. No.

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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

I forgot how Princes Park was in the middle of an extremely marginal State AND Federal Electorate? Wait wut?

Go hang out with Surrey Blue.

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The only way for some people to understand is for them to be on the receiving end

Left wing moralists
In self serving denial
They shit me no end