Here's something, which to me, resonates with the "what can we learn from today" thread

Earlier this week I attended a work leadership conference held at one of the large rooms at the G. In essence, 120ppl spending a day getting recalibrated with re-launched company mission, vision and values. We have a bit of a connection with the G, it was GF week and and as it turned out there was quite a parallel between sports and business on the day. The session was facilitated by two guys who do this sort of coaching stuff and come out of a rugby background, but more interestingly Cameron Ling was there as well to relate stories from the GFC journey from 1999 onwards. All in all it was quite powerful, so I thought it might be interesting relating some of Lingy's comments.

Geelong had few resources in the late 90's and formulated a plan to rebuild. Apart from the material things like better facilities, one key plank in this plan in relation to players was to adopt a stratgey that included both performance and values when looking at current and future players. They wanted to get good people at the club, not just football superstars. There was a simple 2 x 2 matrix:

Good performer and good values - easy call, you're in
Ave performer and poor values - easy call, you're out
Ave performer and good values - 2nd chance, work at it
Good performer and poor values - re-educate, change then you're in, but if no change, you're out

An example in the the last category was G Ablett jnr where the leadership group sat him down and gave him some home truths about selflessness, commitment to training etc etc. He turned into one of the best AFL players of this era. Another mentioned was G Ablett snr who Lingy said would not have been at Geeelong under their values system. Players like Tom Harley were in the third category.

Their values included selflessness and a commitment to improve (and a couple of others). They had a lot of good selections in the early noughties, but no real superstars.

After a few years, things were improving, but 2006 for example wasn't a great year. Lots of media etc calling for Bomber to quit, etc but they ingored the noise. Even 2007 started poorly, but they stuck to the plan and it turned into a permiership year.

A few years later as we all know they had umpteen All Australians, three premierships and some NS Medallists. I mentioned Tom Harley - he became a great leader and a premiership captain.

Well it was all pretty powerful stuff. Their plan certainly worked and I have to say, Ling was pretty impressive, no doubt would have been a good acquisition to MM's team.

Are we anywhere near there? I guess we could say we are on a journey on a slightly different path. We have good resources and a reasonable list. We now have new coach. Given the evidence of yesterday however, you would have to say that Mick is going to have a big job to instill some better values in this list in order to get to the ultimate level. It takes good values as well as good footballers to win flags. Premierships aren't easy to come by. We must support the club.

Go Blues

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also on twitter @m_j_short

Good post mjs.

For a long time we have had a weak culture........ players coaches and adminitsrators are unaccountable .. as id development and recruiting.

Nothing has been to a real plan.

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Due to recent budget cuts and the rising cost of electricity, gas, and oil....... the Light at the End of the Tunnel has been turned off. We apologize for the inconvenience.

But we had a coach whose only vision for this once mighty club was, "I want to put the swagger back into Carlton'"..........oh, hang on, his other visioin was, "give it to the champ so that he can kick it to Fev"

And our President, whose organisational mantra to his stakeholders was....we're Carlton, F The Rest

God we have become so irrelevant in the last decade or so

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If I want your opinion, I'll give it to you!

Swagger at the Blues = Attitude.

Talk to Mark Maclure and every Carlton player of the past fits in, but values relate to how you prepare yourself for football. Your personal life is your own, just don't turn up late, drugged, drunk or unfit. Our players need to be given belief.

Good performer and good values - easy call, you're in
Ave performer and poor values - easy call, you're out
Ave performer and good values - 2nd chance, work at it
Good performer and poor values - re-educate, change then you're in, but if no change, you're out

How do you get the belief.

1. All players need to attend all finals in Melbourne, most didnt - Learn about what you want to achieve
2. All players need to attend the Club AGM, most dont - Learn who its is for.
3. All players need to do some physical work around the club, paint the seats the walls - Build team work.
4. All players need to watch all Carlton's Grand finals - Win or Loss learn

Players need to become part of club not just highly payed sub contractors

Other than learning from it, I would rather not dwell in the past and what used to happen. I am more interested in what happens from 2:39pm (or thereabouts) today.

Lingy continually stressed "selflessness". It's not about the screamers or the four bounce run down the wing. It's about all the little things that are done for the TEAM. Values aren't just about how you live your life outside the club. They are also about the things that guide you in your behaviour on the training track, in re-hab, preparing for games and on the field. All with a common purpose of working together for the TEAM. Personal reward doesn't matter, it's team success that matters.

Yes, understanding the Club is also important, most all pretty much have a lot of history, and some with very proud history, Blues included. More than one or two players yesterday expressed an unqualified love for the club and the player group. That sort of feeling is what a Club needs to be successful, as premierships are very very hard to come by otherwise. As was said, clubs don't need sub-contractors!

Is our player group and coaching staff working as one towards a common goal, with every player willing to do what it takes to improve and ultimately succeed as a TEAM? Previous comments about dwelling in the past notwithstanding, I think you would have to say not over the last period of time. No doubt they are all trying in their own way, but I don't see a common and purposeful commitment. We are not in the same boat and rowing in the same direction (and other suitable cliches). That needs to change and I hope Mick can help facilitate this sort of change.

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also on twitter @m_j_short

Thanks for sharing that mjs.

My biggest expectation for Malthouse is that he makes a big improvement to our players' attitude. We've been exposed mentally too many times in the past few years and that has to change before we can fight for a flag.

It's been interesting to hear Malthouse say that culture at footy clubs is often transient and can change, but it comes from the players, admin and fans,

We need to shape up too!

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THEY LIKE TO SEND UP!!!!!!!!

Until each team plays each other the same number of times, the AFL, as a fair dinkum competition, cannot be taken seriously.

He (Mr Swann) said the honour and pride associated with the club's traditional navy blue jumper was priceless.

Great thread!

Thanks MJS.


Maybe TalkingCarlton could do with some of the same medicine.

I'm bored of all the repetitive whinges:
RATTS WILL FAIL, CARLTON WILL FAIL, BUT (in case they don't fail) I WOULD LOVE TO BE PROVED WRONG ...... SEE TOLD YOU SO

and now this has seamlessly morphed into:
MICK WILL FAIL, CARLTON WILL FAIL, BUT (in case they don't fail) I WOULD LOVE TO BE PROVED WRONG

TC is a reflection of our board and admin over the last 12 years.
We need a bit of unity and gut busting work

And yet he pots Scotland. Go figure.

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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.

^^ +1

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also on twitter @m_j_short

We have been rubbish since the internet really kicked off. Too many opinions. Never everyone pulling in the same direction. People always looking over their shoulder spooked to make a plan and try and see it through.

The culture of the fans has to change too you would think.

I'm changing, too. I no longer place the blame for Carlton's horrendous recruiting squarely on the recruiting manager.

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Just because I'm offended, doesn't mean I'm wrong.

Sad, but true..

The supporters have been the strongest part of the footy club ever since we've been shit

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#DonTheStash

Sad, but true

Was that the same last time we were shit?

By supporters I really mean just myself & Carlton God. The rest have been shit

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#DonTheStash

I only managed to attend one game this year living overseas with my AFL membership ... round 23. It was a shit ugly spectacle from 2 teams who turned up with no apparent desire (except from a few lesser rated workhorses with the right attitude) to play committed football, and the result was they delivered shit football. e.g Walker/Milne bullshit all game to name the most obvious ugly performers. Hardly noticed a whimper from the "stars" of either team except Judd, who unfortunately limped off after overcommitting.

My observation of the Blues all year is that there was a shit attitude and shit discipline. The public perception from TV telecasts was that glaring on-field lack of discipline went unremarked by the coaching group. Have no idea about whether there was any behind the scenes action taken regarding poor discipline.

The one thing I have confidence in is that there will be some kind of team discipline under Malthouse.

Not sure about whole of club culture, but get the impression it is weak. If it was stronger we would probably have a better President.

I do know that "F^&k the Rest" is not the club culture we need to be successful.

Same old story.
One guy cant fix it.
MM will help but many have to change.

Sad, but true - oh!

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Just because I'm offended, doesn't mean I'm wrong.