I do my utmost to conduct myself as a friendly, approachable, well-mannered and well behaved member of society.
But what is it about a sporting contest that brings out the raging feral in me?
After last night’s bitterly disappointing five point loss to those Essendon pricks, I am still as angry as I was when the final siren sounded.
Now that I can see the situation a bit more clearly, the Blues have a massive complacency issue. They get to that 5-goals-up mark and play the “ah, she’ll be right” card. Or when they go into games as favorites, only to not pay their opponents any respect. This lack of respect results in Carlton playing with an arrogance and lack of intensity, almost as if reputation alone is enough to win a game of footy.
A decent team would put the foot on the throat and be relentless with their pursuit of a percentage boosting thrashing.
After all, there is no finish line in footy, sure the siren sounds on the day, but the team with the hunger to push harder, week after week eventually ends up with a premiership, which leads me into my next thought…
I believe the dark days of 2002-2007 still haunt Carlton. The senior players who are still around from that era accept mediocrity as par for the course.
The new influences, new players and a fresh talent pool need to set a new, uncompromising winning culture and precedence for the rest of the club to adhere to. One man can only do so much, but it’s time for Carlton’s so-called leadership group to step up to the plate, because Chris Judd is on borrowed time.
I love my club and want to see the success that the likes of Geelong and Brisbane experienced during their periods of dominance. Geelong’s hasn’t finished, they could still be lifting a cup come the conclusion of the 2013 premiership season.
Like any other Carlton supporter, I’m sick of waiting. 1995 was 18 years ago and the clock is ticking. In my opinion, 16 premiership cups mean sweet bugger all because only 3 of those cups have been won since the VFL moved into NSW in 1982. That was over 30 years ago and the past means nothing, only the future will bring the happiness and fulfillment of success. That living in the past mindset does Carlton no favours.
It is time to create a new culture to take this club forward. With Malthouse at the helm, a new board and president on the horizon, the gradual dilution / retirement of those players from the dark days combined with pure grit and determination will earn Carlton their next premiership.
Only then will the raging feral in me be satisfied.
Come on Carlton! We are the masters of our own destiny. STAND UP AND BE COUNTED!