And that is why I will watching JE like a hawk, and I certainly wouldn't be leaving him alone with the silver.

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A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty" -Winston Churchill

L.M 35-06

Is Sticks an Elliott stooge?

I have to say (without knowing the inner machinations) I'm concerned that the loss of Richard Pratt as the centre of gravity for the club will leave a vacuum. I don't know what structures have been put in place to ensure a united, competent and successful board survives beyond Pratt's passing.

Will Anthony become the power behind the throne? Does he have the respect of other heavy hitters? Synbad, you know your history, I'm sure you have an ancient Greek analogy for the disruption that can occur after a great leader passes.

Sticks is a man that needs to be liked.
He hates confrontation.


Phaedrus said "The humble suffer when the mighty disagree"

Which is what happened in the late part of last century and the beginning of this one.







Trees, though they are cut and lopped, grow up again quickly, but if men are destroyed, it is not easy to get them again.-Pericles

Pratt will be missed.


I think were on the right path... but as again Pericles said "Wait for that wisest of all counselors, Time."

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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.

I shouldn't encourage you

I can't counter Phaedrus with another quote, but leaders need to at least know which direction they're going, and how to change direction when required.
A bit scary about Sticks. I think it's his responsibility to move on soon, but is there a succession plan? Is he still needed as a uniter?

Im pleading to Sticks that John Elliot is kept as far away as possible from any involvement in business decisions or even commenting on current club situations or issues. Lets not go backwards please, we have taken 20 steps forward and we don't need John Elliot pumping up his own damaged ego through the club

I now fear with the great man leaving us that Elliot may feel he has this free realm to big note himself with no to put him in place just like he did the very next day our savior and hero passed away

Human nature (greed & ambition...) will ensure the situation will change.

Nothing stays the same.

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There's so much I could say...

Correct. However, Pratt was a very smart man with great vision. He taught his son well enough that Anthony was a great success in New York and I expect he'll do well as his successor at VISY. I hope he was able to develop a succession plan at Carlton too.

Don't forget CFC was a mess 2 years ago and it took an outstanding personality to turn it around. Without a post-Pratt leadership plan it's highly conceivable that things will come unstuck as lesser people fight over the spoils. We are fortunate to have a fine administrator in Swann, good staff, improving facilities and (I assume) healthy finances. Having a nice bloke as president isn't enough to maintain and improve our position beyond the short term.

Democracy is both good and bad.

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There's so much I could say...

You can see old Carlton infuence.. inside the coaches box.
Williams Braddles Ratts and behind them Sticks... (not sure what he is doing there and the others have hardly had an orthodox baptism into modern day coaching... )

Would be hard for Reilly and Montgomery in there.

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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.

I saw that and thought it was another example of lack of professionalism by Sticks. As long as it's only once i can live with it, but it doesn't help the perception, especially when Sticks was conflict-central a few years ago.

Greg Swann should have more of a say in these things. He has experience at a professionally run outfit. Who hires the coaching staff?

Look i might be overreacting, but i dont like that set up.

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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.

I loved the set-up of Pagan, Elshaug, Libratore, Crosisca and Daniher with Smorgs Prez and Malouf CEO.

Those were the days my friend, I thought they'd never end.

I completely understand that we The Carlton Football club had lost its identity and we needed to bring the Carlton back Carlton but this 'jobs for the old boys' in my eyes, is destined for trouble.

The Hawks board (Piggy Dunstal) realised this after several failed attempts with that exact direction and went and got Clarko and other outsiders to the club.

Im not saying that Ratten was the wrong decision (time will tell) but Clarko, Wosha, Roos, Lethal, Mick, and Choco all run the show and its done there way. Not sure how much of Ratts way is being implemented here when the equally hanging around and involved are the likes of Diesel, Braddles, Sticks and Brown.

Sticks has been the coaches box when Pagan was there too.

Let's not turn this into a boys club argument to make a point.

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“It is a state of mind, a system of belief, a way of seeing the world, a deep faith that, because you are Carlton, you belong to something great.” - Mike Fitzpatrick articulating what Out of the Blue means.

The quicker we find a new President the more relaxed i'll be. And i love Steve Kernahan, but he's not the leader off the field that he was on.

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"I will rejoice in their anguish, delight in their failure and revel in our success"

We are Carlton, @#$%&! the rest !!!!!!

We he was chairman of selectors......

.... hes president now.......

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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.

I think for as long as the Pratts are involved with the club (no doubt Dick has planned something) i'd say a new president would have to be someone the Pratts approve of. For the time being no doubt Sticks is the best option for this, he with the Pratts have the power and Sticks has to keep it running along smoothly and hold it all together.

The general consensus seems to be Sticks is an idiot, and will be a lame duck pres.
Not only do I think that assumption is false, but also insulting to a bloke who has done
everything in his power to see the club survive and prosper.
I'm certain Dick would not only have tutored Sticks on what would be required of him while
president, but would also have counselled him on the right time to stand aside when a viable
alternative emerges,
Sticks is merely holding the fort. GET OFF HIS BACK !!

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The problem with Socialism is, you eventually run out of other people's money.

I would not be surprised at all if JDE has inflated his involvement in getting Pratt into the Presidency, yet no matter how much involvement he did or did not have, or Wes too, it was fair enough to keep it quiet at the time, and at the end of the day it is history, completely irrelevant and not much to really worry about in this day and age.

We are moving forward, and that's all that counts.

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"I had to eat"