The hoopla over us (God forbid) getting some Friday night games convinces me that this thread deserves to be resurrected.
It might sound like conspiracy nonsense, but to me there is no doubt in my mind that da meedya want us to stay exactly where we are. For them these have been the glory days, starting with us getting busted in 2002, followed by Pratt being hounded by the ACCC, Judd's Visy deal, Malthouse as coach, and we were watching quality players disappear for peanuts and become better than they every could be under our roof.
Now that we have a competent coach, list management strategy and relatively stable board for once, they search for the slightest opportunity to take a shot at us. Whether it be the Trigg "resignation" (which we could've handled much better) or this latest mole hill about the fixture, it's something we'll continue to have to endure. No doubt even when #17 comes our way, there will be some way to hose it down, such as the quality of opposition that year being poor, an injury to some random opposition player, or one dodgy umpiring call in the GF that changed everything and needs to be investigated post-haste. There will be something to try and make the masses feel better, even if it is worth less of a mention than Walks' hat.
No matter what, a successful Carlton is poison to them. On the flipside, a successful * is all their Christmases coming at once.
As a thought exercise, try and imagine the meedya reaction to the following.
Carlton: - Trade for Stringer, Saad and Smith, while leaving no picks inside the top 40 - Are allowed to return to the AFL, and keep a #1 draft pick (who wins the RS), after a systematic doping scandal (where despite clearly being guilty, the AFL assisted at every turn to get them off). Then actually make it to the finals, before getting flogged in the first week. - Are given one of the softest draws in the league in 2018 despite making the finals the year before (hypothetically)
Essendon*: - Give up Heppell (equivalent to Gibbs) but end up with pick 10 and Kennedy, as well as Lang for a 4th round pick - Have 5 Rising Star noms in one year - Are given 5 Thursday and Friday night games in 2018, but are forced to play Geelong in Geelong - Have a couple of years down the bottom while young guys develop
There's your answer.
To me, as we become more successful, the translator will become all the more relevant.
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