Be glad you barrack for the blues

oledarknavyblue · **Joined:** Sun Oct 09, 2005 10:36 pm **Posts:** 79

This is my first post so forgive me if the excitement of joining the gang after reading this stuff for months makes me come on a bit strong.

Here goes

For years I stood behind the goals at Princes park and always I was glad I was there. Not because we won all the time, we didn't, but we always tried and one thing I became slowly aware of is that the team is not just 18 players on the field or 22 players and coaches or even players coaches admin and board, but the supporters as well.

I remember games where Harmesy would go into the centre with us 5 goals down at half time and turn the game. Johnno...winning games by himself almost etc etc . Fantastic stuff but when one thinks about it although it is great to remember it that way it was never really one player alone.

What really won those games was BELIEF.
Thats it in one word.

The supporters had a belief that Jezza or Doullie or Big Nick or Marcus Maclure or Sticks or SOS or Ratten or whoever would lift. (Note I say would...not could). The players catch that belief...that expectation...that will to win... from the crowd. They caught it again in the Wizard cup and we won one of only two flags attainable in any year. What happened next was a quick erosion of that new but fragile belief more than it was lack of ability. There is heaps of talent in this current Carlton side but talent is not much use when you are unsure about yourself either individually or collectively. I think that is why Pagan refuse to berate his players this season and rightly so. Watch them go with another year under their belts , some new blood and if we the supporters (who as I have said are a part of the team rather than some interested observers) can give it to them.... renewed BELIEF.

But don't wait till we have won a few games next year to start believing start now.

Of course I am not suggesting that if we all believe we will magically win next years and our 17th premiership ( wouldn't it be sweet) but BELIEF the key ingredient in convincing a talented bunch that they can and should and deserve to, will begin the process.

BlueTerritory · **Posted:** Sun Oct 09, 2005 11:47 pm

oledarknavyblue wrote:

This is my first post so forgive me if the excitement of joining the gang after reading this stuff for months makes me come on a bit strong.

Here goes

For years I stood behind the goals at Princes park and always I was glad I was there. Not because we won all the time, we didn't, but we always tried and one thing I became slowly aware of is that the team is not just 18 players on the field or 22 players and coaches or even players coaches admin and board, but the supporters as well.

I remember games where Harmesy would go into the centre with us 5 goals down at half time and turn the game. Johnno...winning games by himself almost etc etc . Fantastic stuff but when one thinks about it although it is great to remember it that way it was never really one player alone.

What really won those games was BELIEF.
Thats it in one word.

The supporters had a belief that Jezza or Doullie or Big Nick or Marcus Maclure or Sticks or SOS or Ratten or whoever would lift. (Note I say would...not could). The players catch that belief...that expectation...that will to win... from the crowd. They caught it again in the Wizard cup and we won one of only two flags attainable in any year. What happened next was a quick erosion of that new but fragile belief more than it was lack of ability. There is heaps of talent in this current Carlton side but talent is not much use when you are unsure about yourself either individually or collectively. I think that is why Pagan refuse to berate his players this season and rightly so. Watch them go with another year under their belts , some new blood and if we the supporters (who as I have said are a part of the team rather than some interested observers) can give it to them.... renewed BELIEF.

But don't wait till we have won a few games next year to start believing start now.

Of course I am not suggesting that if we all believe we will magically win next years and our 17th premiership ( wouldn't it be sweet) but BELIEF the key ingredient in convincing a talented bunch that they can and should and deserve to, will begin the process.

Well said oledarknavyblue! Great first post.

Jarusa · **Joined:** Sat Feb 26, 2005 9:00 am **Posts:** 23123

great post!

Totally agree.

One of the many reasons Carlton has such a successful history has been the 'vibe' the supporters give out on match day. It is almost a collective conscience type of thing, the players are effected by it, it may only be a tiny effect, but an effect nonetheless. Those who have been to enough games can tell that the different team's supporters give off different 'vibes' on match day. A lot of the stereotypes about different clubs supporters came about for good reason.

camel · **Posted:** Mon Oct 10, 2005 8:19 am

Welcome aboard oledarknavyblue, nice post.

I think most of us are in for the long haul, but it might take a while for us all to share your belief. Kudos for being so positive though. This is certainly the time of year to be positive and hopefully the drafting of Murphy et al will provide a nice little nudge along the way to us all believing that we are on the right track.

dannyboy · **Posted:** Mon Oct 10, 2005 8:36 am

welcome aboard mexican blue

now i get what you're saying but i think its a two way street - one of the things the blkuebaggers were good at was convincing the supporters -0 giving them beliuef - that this side was going somewhere.

each year we'd rock up and the stands would be dancing before a ball had been bounced, as the bluebagger army, bouyed by the admin's ability to sell the team to us, came at the start of each year ready to see the boys play.

this admin is not selling belief. I think this is a most uncarltonlike board - nowe that may be because times have changed, it may be because the club was left with nothing to bouy up, it may be for a lot of very good reasons, but somewhere along the line I want to feel that bounce in my step again.

When?

I seriously thought it might be at the start of 2006 - i thought we might set out to correct a few things, trade a few blokes, gather a few picks etc. i thought we might see big changes and an admin talking up the kids. No we have a steady as she goes....

you know what @#$%&! steady as she goes. Do something!

camel · **Posted:** Mon Oct 10, 2005 8:47 am

I've been thinking about this belief thing a bit more. I reckon when you're in a big bloody hole like us you need to break the problems down into little pieces. So, rather than expecting the players to have the belief that they can win, or turn a game from an unlikely situation, maybe they just need to have the belief that they, or their teamates will bust a gut to get to the ball first, or that they will chase all day.

I thought during the GF that once the Eagles had missed their early opportunities that the Swans would be able to hang on because they were too honest. What does that mean? That means that you knew the Swans players were going to put their bodies on the line to be first at the ball, you knew they were going to chase and tackle hard right until the final siren, you knew that they would play their guts out in respect of the jumpers on their backs. If we get that back that will help so many aspects of the club. And belief will be just one.

Electric Blue · **Joined:** Tue Mar 01, 2005 8:12 am **Posts:** 10076

Great first post! Bought back some good feelings.

Not as good as my 3,567th post mind you, but pretty good!

Welcome aboard. :-D

TruBlueBrad · **Posted:** Mon Oct 10, 2005 9:43 am

camelboy wrote:

I've been thinking about this belief thing a bit more. I reckon when you're in a big bloody hole like us you need to break the problems down into little pieces. So, rather than expecting the players to have the belief that they can win, or turn a game from an unlikely situation, maybe they just need to have the belief that they, or their teamates will bust a gut to get to the ball first, or that they will chase all day.

Great point camel. I think too many times this year, and even over the past 3-4 seasons, players weren't certain their teammates were going to bust a gut and weren't certain their teammate's were giving their all.

Its one reason we need to fix the midfield and get some accountability in there. Kouta should be played out of the goalsquare next season. Even though he's still great in close, clearing the ball, he can't chase. Even if he had the desire his body won't allow him to chase an opponant. Very deflating for his teammate's and supporter's.

oledarknavyblue · **Joined:** Sun Oct 09, 2005 10:36 pm **Posts:** 79

Thanks for the positive response people.
If I was to write my post again I would hopefully include most of the aspects that have been raised such as the idea that it is a two way street and that belief is neither automatic nor easy at times perhaps never less easy than the last few years and the idea of breaking things down into little pieces. One thing I dont blame though is the board as many seem to. I say that because I remember premierships that this club won when maybe they werent the best team going around and with problems off field that were just as traumatic in their time as todays (anyone who was at the extraordinary meeting at festival hall after the 79 flag will know what I mean). We won flags either side of that bust up and almost (even with Percy as coach) made it 4 in a row.
I guess my main point is that despite deficiencies on and off field it is possible to succeed but only if the attitude (that thing that got Sydney a flag) is right. The general attitude of Carlton supporters in recent times and I include myself here is actually pretty bad and many of us are too busy feeling sorry for ourselves and blaming the leaugue, Demetriou, the board, the coach, the players, the draw and anything else that seems appropriate. Surely this has created a negative vibe that filters intangibly into the team.
Maybe ...just maybe we Carlton supporters as a group need to take a long hard look at ourselves.

In the end though refering back to the title of this topic be glad you barrack for Carlton through thick and thin.[/quote]

camel · **Posted:** Mon Oct 10, 2005 10:49 pm

TruBlueBrad wrote:

camelboy wrote:

I've been thinking about this belief thing a bit more. I reckon when you're in a big bloody hole like us you need to break the problems down into little pieces. So, rather than expecting the players to have the belief that they can win, or turn a game from an unlikely situation, maybe they just need to have the belief that they, or their teamates will bust a gut to get to the ball first, or that they will chase all day.

Great point camel. I think too many times this year, and even over the past 3-4 seasons, players weren't certain their teammates were going to bust a gut and weren't certain their teammate's were giving their all.

Its one reason we need to fix the midfield and get some accountability in there. Kouta should be played out of the goalsquare next season. Even though he's still great in close, clearing the ball, he can't chase. Even if he had the desire his body won't allow him to chase an opponant. Very deflating for his teammate's and supporter's.

Actually the Friday night game from early in the year against Essendon* was on FoxFooty earlier today, and I caught the last 10 minutes or so. We started the last quarter 28 points behind and in the 10 minutes of play I saw again tonight I can't recall being beaten to a loose ball. It's never that easy, but if we could keep that mongrel consistently for, firstly 4 quarters, then 22 weeks, we'd give the supporters much more pride and belief than we currently have.

phoenix johnson · **Posted:** Mon Oct 10, 2005 11:48 pm

Reading this thread and listening to Tina Turner's "We Don't Need Another Hero" seemed to work well together and made me want to run through a brick wall.

Weird.

Welcome aboard, ODNB.

Ponkstar · **Posted:** Tue Oct 11, 2005 12:36 am

To quote the gospels:

Lord I believe, please help my unbelief.

Be glad you barrack for the blues

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