The above 2 posts from Blue Jean and Sinbaggers are plainly disrespectful by not acknowledging what MLG has achieved at our great club.
There is nothing you have said in your posts that tie MLG with anything he's done wrong for the club. Nothing.
I am old enough to know the 60's, 70's 80's 90's 00's 10's and feel comfort where the club is today, off field, and truly believe we are on the right track on field too.
I have known the appointment of Luke Sayers was going to take place for some time, as many have hoped over the years, this distinguished business leader would take the reigns one day, but I wasn't going to believe it till it happened.
We are blessed to have had MLG as President and blessed with his succession plan.
Have a look at the Elliot Presidential era post 1995 and try and remember what happened in 2002. Ian Collins took the reigns, and was handing the keys to the club to the AFL, till a deal was struck to leave our home, Princes Park. Smorgon's Presidency promised a lot with "Smorgiland" with his mates, but divided the club, and achieved nothing. Reflect on the Kernahan Presidential era and you will see a man out of his depth but loved the club...nearly to death. He took on the role till he knew he was drowning. The Pratt Presidential era gave us hope our once great club would not fold, and helped us build our elite facilities, and aimed to get the best, but died prematurely.
Think about the trepidation unconditional supporters felt when the club was in limbo post Pratt. Think about it.
Powerbrokers. Bottom of the ladder. In debt to the AFL. Under control of the AFL. Presidency is not an easy gig in one of the Big 4 clubs in Melbourne.
I like the fact that I belong to a club that was established in 1864, making it one year younger than the oldest clubs in the world; the 2 major Australian cities at the time, Melbourne and Geelong at a time paving the way to an era known by the term "Marvellous Melbourne". Carlton reflects those days, and has been a great club for 150 years, being the only Melbourne club never finished on the bottom of the ladder.
In 2002 Carlton hit rock bottom for the first time in its history. We were sold out by Ian Collins (AFL employee at the time, Dome CEO and new Carlton President) who was going to hand over the keys to the AFL. From that day, when Collins agreed to the AFL's terms, as our Creditor, we became an AFL puppet. We were propped up by the AFL with loans which forced our hand and made us bow to their every whim. We lost our independence, and with that our identity. The Commissioners at the time were led by the likes of Evans, Demetriou and Samuels who hated, and still hate Carlton (Evans from his grave).
MLG took on a role to mediate and bring the factions to work towards a common goal (every club has them), to get us out of a terrible mess. A mess many still don't understand.
Things take time to change, and for those who can't see change, are uninformed or ignorant. Leave the bitterness behind and appreciate where we are as a club. Be grateful.
Change is inevitable, including voting rights, which MLG addressed and acknowledged in his letter, as well as giving us an incredible new leader to take the over reigns, with a well orchestrated succession plan.
MLG has led our great club, from an antiquated state, stuck in the 80's, a play thing for the rich (with good intentions but questionable practises) into the modern age and positioned Carlton to flourish.
Every year 17 teams don't win the flag. Every year every year club's make mistakes. But you have to respect that MLG has not had an easy ride to bring us to where we are today. Bringing factions together. Yes together. No debt, Elite facilities, Women's team, etc etc, a progressive CEO, Great Directors, and you should know, the recent mistakes from those recently appointed, Austin, Silvagni, Judd etc will learn from those mistakes, and only make us stronger for them. We are identifying our gaps in this rebuild and its only round 6. To state a classic "Early Doors".
Congratulations and thank you MLG for you Presidency.
In all those decades I've been around I never saw a President walking around the ground, outside the exclusive enclave of the Members stand, willing to engage and embrace every and any Carlton supporter he met and make them feel as part of something special, just as he did: our Blue Brethren. I live in Sydney, and it was a breath of fresh air walking around the SCG, or Drummoyne Oval or Spotless Stadium with Sydney fans to be greeted, belly to belly, eye to eye, and chat to our President: the people's President. My kids will never forget that nor show disrespect for the man.
Sydney fans stated and displayed their appreciation for our People's President at the time. I wish some of our supporters showed the same gratitude.
Thanks MLG. You have left with the club in a better place than when you took the reigns as President. I hope somewhere on the new elite facilities features your name. Respect.
Welcome aboard Luke Sayers.
BLUEBAGGERS
_________________ Everyone looks good in Navy Blue
|