Given that your position has been confirmed for the next two years, i felt that it was necessary to write to you to get a few things of my chest, particularly in light of your comments that the answer to our problems lies in Carltonians learning to trust each other to work together.

It's been a pretty torrid time to be a Carlton supporter, and no, I don't give a damn any more about the reasons. I am sure they're sound and compelling, but they don't matter any more. It's time to leave them behind and move on.

I sort of thought we were going to move on this week. I haven't been a proponent of sacking you, until this week. This week I thought it was actually the right thing to do. It may not have been the right thing to do in a football sense, but I am not talking about that. I think it was the right thing to do in a supporters sense.

As a football club, in the past, we have not tolerated failure. Now we are required to wallow in it, and yes denis, we are reminded of it daily. Some bastards have even taken to pittying us. I hate that. It seemed a good time to remind us all of what we can be - set the bar high and make people jump it.

Given that we have now won two wooden spoons in a row, it is not difficult to mainatin an argument that that amounts to a failure. Pretty simple really. Worse though, we haven't improved, not one iota. 16th to 16th. 4 wins to 3, despite having the Coleman (well done Fev). Any further backwards and they'd have to relegate us. Well, all that seemed to me like as good a reason as any to make a stand.

So, there was a chance, an opportunity. The Board could have sent us all a message - this failure will not be tolerated at Carlton. Back to back wooden spoons will not do. This is Carlton. Here we are, we may be down, but the attitudes remain - we are proud, and not afraid to make tough decisions. We will neither condone nor reward failure. In fact, my reading of opposition supporters was they wanted to see that old spark back too.

It was all set up. They had their chance, went spoiling for the fight, created an expectation, a possibility, and then ..... they didn't do it.

What a roller coaster ride. Hard for you I'm sure. Hard for us too, you know, us supporters who turn up week in week out so our crowd averages 33,000 and we win 3 games only.

So, here we are. Sort of like dancing with your sister really: you know that you don't have the support of any number of people, the team (maybe), the Board (perhaps) and the members and supporters. And frankly, I am just not sure. Emotionally, i'd given you up, cast you aside. But now we have to live together.

So, ok, we are together for the ride.

In the spirit of honesty, then, let's put a few things on the table.

I don't get it. I don't know what you are trying to do. Apart from the West Coast game, and a quarter in Adelaide, I can't see what the plan is. Can you let us know, try to take us along for the ride. We all want to uderstand, but you don't talk to us - you talk in paganisms, and non answers. Give us a bit - go on.

Forget the draft penalties, and our list. Don't mention them again. Stand or fall on your own merit. Anyway, we don't want you to bag our boys, we know where we are at, believe me, we know. But I don't want to hear it from the coach.

Why do we hear about unrest and you losing the players time and time again? Is there fire where there is smoke? I though team was about working together. If you want us to work with you, i want you to work with them.

Tell us about the kids, why you play them for 10 minutes and let them sit on the bench - let us in on it. I understand that their bodies are n't hard, and they will take time to develop. But let us in on what's going on. I promise, we will back you if we understand the plan. If we don't, we can't.

This is our club, we want to know that there is plan.

I've had the privelege to support this club in its succesful era. I will continue to support it now. What I want from you is simple - honesty, openess, and communication. It's hard watching a losing team. It's much less hard when you can smell and taste the improvement, and know that you are at the beginning of something, watching a team develop. There has been precious little improvement after "our fall from grace", (other than in some marvellous individual standouts), so we need you to talk to us about where we are going, and how we're going to get there.

Not only are we not wining, but you don't even let us dream.

I will be there next year, in the outer, barracking for my team. I want to be able to support you, and believe that you will take us back to September, but you need to change for that to happen.

Are you brave enough?

_________________
"Two roads diverged in a wood,
and I,
I took the one less travelled by,
and that has made all the difference."

Robert Frost

Couldn't of put it any better,myself.
Excellent post.

I am crying right now.

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Formerly: Ackland the Wonderkid / Army the Wonderkid / quivering mess / molsey / Tony Lynn Fan Club

While I may not be entirely sold on the idea of retaining Denis being a potentially dismal choice, I applaud the effort you've put into labelling your concerns.

Great post.

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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.

You're too soft on him Vet.

Great post though.

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There's so much I could say...

Please consider sending it to DP.

You never know you might just get an honest response and then we'll all have a better idea and, whho knows, a bit more support for what he's trying to achieve.

Why not find someone here who thinks they have access?

I think over the past week about 20 people here have indicated links to Director or Directors. Surely someone can find a way. Or better still someone who knows the people that do the press releases or run the website.

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Formerly: Ackland the Wonderkid / Army the Wonderkid / quivering mess / molsey / Tony Lynn Fan Club

who cares what you think!!!
your posts waste vital web space....wish you would go away. nothing worse then always having to scroll through your garbage

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"One of my favorite philosophical tenets is that people will agree with you only if they already agree with you. You do not change people's minds." - Frank Zappa

I love jimmae's stuff...what unhappy pills are you on and exactly what do you contribute?

Its public buddy..you, me and John Elliott have just as much right to post as you do.

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Formerly: Ackland the Wonderkid / Army the Wonderkid / quivering mess / molsey / Tony Lynn Fan Club

Agreed Ponkstar!..

I think you should seriously consider sending it by email to Denis.. See if you can get a response...

We all want to know what his plan is, because it's hard to see much of a plan atm with our game style and lack of belief with finishing off games and winning!..

We all hear about the kids, which we've heard about now for a few years... Blue Skies Ahead.. Yeh weve heard that one too..

Sure, we have some talented individuals playing in our team but whats the plan??!!

What steps can he and the coaching panel make to implement the plan and how will it benefit our guys as a team??

_________________
Corinthians 9:6- 8

Good post. Edit the first half and send it to DP and cc it to the Age and Herald Sun. They may print it.

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Number 17 - come on down!

Brilliant post, it would be great for something like that to happen, for us to understand what he is trying to do with the team, that way it leaves us with less guessing and complaining.

Some teams you can tell what they have been told to do, we look a mess and especially in the forward line.

What happen to the free flowing footy that won us the Wizard Cup, the long kicking game of 2004 that won us 10 games, regardless of the personel AFL standard players can kick the ball long no problem and how many tall targets do you need.

Anyway, brilliant post, most people thought that but you put it together perfectly, POW for damn certain.

Go Blues.

Whilst you're at it ... Ask him about Flooding.... Just because i am soooooooooooooo much a fan..... NOT !!!

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I know a little secret. And i'm not sharing.

great stuff. please in the very least send it to the club. mayb you can send it, obviously with you as the author, and ppl on this site can 'authorise' or whatever it to all show our support.

_________________
"In fairness it did seem in the early days of the draft teams would just pick a name totally at random out of a hat. I'm pretty sure we picked James Cook at #2 one year. The mediocre forward, not the explorer" - Me, 12/9/2011

Carlton 2012: Lets remind them why they once feared the Dark.

Stick to the torrents thanks.

_________________
29 different attributes,
And only 7 that you like;
20 ways to see the world,
Or 20 ways to start a fight.

anyone got Denis' email address?

_________________
"Two roads diverged in a wood,
and I,
I took the one less travelled by,
and that has made all the difference."

Robert Frost

Fantastic post...I had goose bumps just reading it....

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#sayerscouldbetheman!!

While I agree with the sentiment of you post I cannot agree that the team has not improved. To judge the side on the number of wins is a shallow assessment. The team at the end of 2006 is in far better shape than it was at the end of 2005. I acknowlege that we still have some glaring weaknesses in the team such as in the ruck and in defence but the number of young players that have been blooded this year in addition to the continual improvement of players like Simpson & Walker puts as in a better position than we were 12 months ago.

And the fact that young players are not given enough game time is frustating but Pagan was also criticised for dong the same with Kade Simpson two years ago . When you consider that Marc Murphy was given plenty of game time, its just possible that the other young players weren't quite ready for the rigours of AFL.

I am a Carlton Supporter of 40 years and I share your hurt and dissapointment but I beleive that there is a lot to be excited about with our young playing group.

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Hooked on The Blues

Firstly... Fantastic post Vet!!!!

But i do agree with what you say here Noonamah. Just becuase we are crap I still don't think that warrants us playing kids for the sake of it.....I think that was behind the recruitment of a Saddington and the retainment of the Prendas, Sporns, Lappins and such just so we aren't fielding a side that would get beaten by Vic Metro.

There was a positive to come out of late this season and that is, it looks like Bower will be a regular for us now.

P.S I know Prenda is crap. But he provided some mental stability....fancy not having any decent players, apart from the obvious, over the age of 24. that's another thing contributing to our crapp-ness.

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The problem will be made. for the solution to be sold, to your face before your eyes, tolerance is now the new danger