Agreed.

I must admit, this makes me nervous.

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Richard Pratt - A Carlton legend.

We're so poor that raising money buys you redemption.

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This might sound extreme in the context of alleged sexual assault, drunken violence and a drug trafficking charge...

Jack’s final years were a disaster but IMO this was because of his alcoholism and resulting inattention to detail rather than his business acumen - this is a most debilitating disease.

If he can generate a few bob amongst his old buddies then great. Welcome back Jack!

Crap. Pratt has made his first mistake. Elliot is the last thing this club needs. We need to go forward ... not back. Elliot is why we have been down so long (stating the obvious .. sorry). He makes us look like a joke every time he speaks. We won 2 premierships while he was in charge over a 20 year period in an erra where we had some mighty sides. I don't count his contribution in terms of premierships ...the drovers dog could have been in charge and we still would have won 2. But how quickly we forget the damage this man has caused Carlton. We have lost reputation, money, supporters, sponsers and failure never seen before in the history of the club. ... we have had to go begging to the AFL. I want to go forward with a new Carlton ... forget the disgrace that Elliiot and Co have brought upon us. This is a sad appointment.

a) some of you don't realise that this is good for Carlton...very good

b) many of you don't realise that JE did great things for this footy club over a 20 year period (and I'm not denying he did some shameful things by stating that - but at some point you have to give credit where it's due)

c) some of you would never be brave enough to say what you post to John's face.

d) most Carlton people who aren't happy with this move think that only Jack is to blame...when there are a handful of others who got away with their name intact.

e) i've known John personally since 1996...the place hasn't been the same without him - i'm delighted that he's back in some capacity...he knows who the boss is now - the respect for Dick Pratt is too great to throw it all away with a few off the cuff remarks.

We need to be an inclusive club now. I'm sick of all the grenades which have been thrown by the Elliott people and the Collins people over the last half decade. I'm not apprtioning blame - I just think it is time everyone moved on. We all need to pull together now, and I think John Elliott has a very major role to play in all of that. I hope that Ian Collins and Graham Smorgon are also made to feel welcome in the club, and likewise, to make a contribution should they so desire.

My only other comment is that I don't mind JE working on the sponsors of yesteyear, but I trust that the Board will also be working on the sponsors of tomorrow.

Doc, we realise that he did plenty of good, but has he been "brave enough" to admit the damage he did too? Not on your life.

Me too.

It makes me wonder, oh it makes me wonder: could he worm his way back to a position where he's able to cause damage again.

But holding down my misgivings and looking with a practical eye, it's clearly for the good of the club if we're all pulling in the same direction. It's a far far better thing for Elliot Sr to spend his time and energy networking and fundraising for the good of the Blues than to be sitting by the phone waiting for the Herald Sun to ring for a headline quote.

Personally, I don't have a lot time for the man and I never have. But he clearly still has a lot of friends and supporters on these pages and elsewhere. And I've never doubted that he loves Carlton.

I'll say it again: Elliot loves Carlton.

If there's a role for him to help without making decisions, to build our future without digging up the past, to unite the Carlton family, then good.

Let's all get on with making this the greatest sporting club in the world.

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don't ask me, I'm just a lizard

Please ... tell me what extroadinary thing Jack has done for Carlton. This is a myth ... he was a bad president in a good football era. He opens the club for ridicule every time he speaks.

I think you're missing the point Dr.
Most people can accept that Elliott is returning to the club but he needs to keep his head down and shut up.
Already today he is giving interviews in the newspapers and on at least one radio program.
He needs to understand that its not about him!
If Elliott cant help the club without making a media slut out of himself, I dont want him near the club. His views are already contrary to club policy (games at PP) and its his first day back.

As for us not realising what Jack did for the club or not being brave enough to tell him, that baseless supposition on your behalf.
Dont underestimate others because they disagree with your view.

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Looking forward to seeing our potential realised.

It's a good move. I don't want to see him in an official position but heading up a coterie is exactly the right sort of spot for him. People won't forget his role in the club's debacle and the chances of him ever being voted into power are zero. However, I'd also like to see Pratt tell him to shut up and give up the dial a quote. Hopefully things will now be well run and less controversial allowing Jack little latitude to say anything of note anyway.

When Carlton One took over in 2002 nobody predicted the extent of the bleeding that would follow from the exodus of Jack's buddies from the club. We didn't just vote out the old board - we voted out half the coterie system that went with it. When people talk about the inability of the Collins board to raise coterie and sponsorship dollars they need to realise that it was in the context of taking over a club that had just had 20 years of connections ripped out of it. In hindsight they were always going to struggle with that. If Jack can bring back some of those lost Carltonians (and their dollars) then it's a very good thing.

As Molly wrote - it's time for us to be an inclusive club. I wouldn't mind seeing a President's lunch with Elliott, Collins, Smorgon and Pratt up front at some point this year. It might be a bitter pill for Smorgon to swallow and it's probably got bugger all chance of happening but it would be a great statement by the club that the politcal crap is over.

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“When a clown moves into a palace, he doesn't become a king. The palace turns into a circus.”
Turkish Proverb

Great post GWS, it is time for ANY infighting to stop. Would love to see the ex presidents presenting a united front for the good of club.

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The most terrifying words in the English language are: I'm from the government and I'm here to help.

Ronald Reagan

I agree with other people who stated that whilst this is good news, the fact is that his coterie position shouldn't be used as a platform to voice his personal opinions about the club.

Case in point -- mentioned in the same article (albeit not a direct quote):



I can't see how this announcement could have possibly been a forum for JE to speak on the home ground issue.

If he can withhold such divisive comments I think that the appointment is good, but we're not off to a good start IMO.

Shit hey the wheel has turned full circle - I agree with your sentiments DU - Just hope he keeps all in check

I think hell be good for us point to prove and all that - hopefully the coffers see the benefit.

Ive always had a lingering thought as to what would have been the outcome if Elliot was allowed to oppose the AFL's sanctions - Big "IF"

I have very mixed feelings about this. I think too many people do not want to realise what JE did to the club both on and off the field from 95 tp 02.

I am all for an inclusive style, but the key concern is that JE can not shut up and he is already far too much in the media. His style and reputation is IMHO damaging to the brand. So if he wants to help - thats fine - but only if he promises to shut up and not talk to journos.

I agree Dr sherrin that Jack did a lot of good over 20 years. but I think these points are worth considering

1. We dont know that another president wouldnt have done just as agood a job in the 80s and early 90s. Carlton was THE premium brand in the VFL/AFL and we had many businessman who couldhave run the club IMO

2. he built the club around himself. Evidenced by the withdrawal of support and funds once he was outed. A true clubman would have said "No matter that i am not in charge anymore,i want everyone to still support the club". he didnt and watched the club spiral while he sniped at the incumbents.

3. The decisions he made in the last 5 years were crippling. Salary cap cheaing, Legend stand , dodgy contracts (Scoreboard). Dont forget the last few business he has been involved with are all broke. He isnt the master businessman he believes anymore

4. He would have had to resign after waterwheel anyway.

I welcome him back with extreme caution and Dick pratt needs to keep him on a tight leash which issomething Jack wont like

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T E A M

Isnt it great?!?!?

The club's throwing a huge party and everyone's invited!!!

Come one, come all....as long as you bring your wallets.

Make no mistake about it, Big Jack was absolutely crucial in securing Pratt as President. He has done this club an enourmous favour in that regard. But is that enough to make up for the state he left us in???

Maybe not...

Maybe Big Jack knows that there is still more that he can do for our club. If there is....i say let him have a crack at it, provided of course that he keeps a low profile. Love him or hate him, the man has a lot of old friends. Bringing them back to the club to join the party would do us a huge service.

If you were wondering why the board has been relatively quiet of late, its because they're busy, out trying to re-sign all the corporate sponsors that we have lost over the years....somewhere in the region of 100 corporates have jumped ship.

If Elliot can help bring them back...we should all be welcoming him with open arms

Do you notice how two of JE's biggest supporters are also the two most prominent presidents in the AFL at the moment - our own Saint Dick and Fat-head Eddie.

Both men managed to get to where they are by surrounding themselves with the right people and having a clear and cohesive vision. Its a simple thought, but perhaps jack is the right person because of what he brings in passion and openness at the discussion table.

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"The best argument against democracy is a five-minute conversation with the average voter" - Winston Churchill.

While it's good to see bridges being rebuilt, I share titimus' concern about Elliott's behaviour. Provided he doesn't adopt an ex-officio leader stance, then it will be OK, but his track record doesn't convince me.

Elliott has only our club as his claim to fame, and he loves the limelight as well as his new internet show, so will he be able to resist becoming our unofficial spokesperson?

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"The old believe everything, the middle-aged suspect everything, and the young know everything." Oscar Wilde

Exactly. A lot of people got rich in the 80s by following Jack. The smart ones got even richer by getting out when they saw him go downhill in the 90s..... Now his friends will come back now that he is back on track - we need them to, otherwise Saint Dick will be just another Joe Gutnik - cast aside after the cheque clears

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"The best argument against democracy is a five-minute conversation with the average voter" - Winston Churchill.