I'm sure you know what I'm referring to ....... if you don't then I'll explain ...

The only year I have been to a Grand Final - 1981 against Collingwood.

Although the fact we were playing Collingwood I should have had a breath of expectation instead 'cos we were surely a 'shoe-in' for the flag playing that lot.

Anyway I will never forget that moment after the initial excitement of the pre-match build up.

The crowd seemed to take a 'breath of anticipation' as the first bounce when down.

This was followed by an almighty roar and a subsequent pasting of the Woods.

But for those who weren't there that day ......

It's that moment after the initial roar when the ball spills to Hoola on the flank just before he kicks the chainsaw goal.

It's that moment after the initial roar when Harmes belts the ball back from the boundary line in '79 (for any Collingwood supporters happening to be reading ...... it was obviously out by at least 2 feet) and we watched the ball roll to the goal square to Kenny Sheldon for the sealer.

It's that moment for 99% of the crowd who waited for the goal umpire to signal Eddie's goal of the year because they weren't in the perfect position to see the daylight between the sticks.

........ and it's now.

I haven't truly felt this for some time and I thought I had lost my passion for not only the club but footy in general (compounded by the fact I now live in Qld).

But last weekend my Father-in-law (spanker Crows supporter) and I were talking about Carlton and he was having a go saying that just 'cos you've got some money now you'll still be a sh1t team for the next 10 years.

Needless to say my reaction to that cannot be printed here but I realized I had my passion back.


For this I thank Richard Pratt for coming back to the fold and bringing some fringe benefits attached with his return.

I also thank the voting members of the club who have played no small part in this because without the recent winds of change, this may not have happened at all.

It's also the premiership team I can see within the new playing list which has me walking tall again and being proud to be a life-long Carton fan.


Now we may have to hold that breath for a while ..... maybe a year or even two.

But christ I can't wait to exhale because when we do the ROAR that follows will be heard the length and breath of the nation and the other 15 teams of the AFL will feel the wrath of the MIGHTY BLUES back in town.

To borrow the term coined by an Australian Rugby legend ..... GO YOU GOOD THING.

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Don't worry Essendon* ....... We still hate your guts

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Great post mate, it's hard not to feel at least a little optimistic about the clubs fortunes. I definitely believe we have turned a corner, and although not all would agree I have to say wait until the season begins. The only thing that is missing from the club in my eyes is that winning mentality *and maybe another top 10 draft pick *

I have to say, being the supreme optimist I am I always enter every season with high expectations... but I have a really good feeling that this year we will be getting more enjoyment out of watching the Blues than we have in at least a decade!



You can see the nucleus there, how a lot of young faces down at the club will be a part of Carltons 17th premiership - the sweetest premiership of them all!

GO BLUES!

Thanks Sparky.

I know it's pretty easy for people to get all caught up in optimistic hype before each season. Hell I do it nearly every year.

My point is that it feels a lot different this year.

I don't feel like it's pitiful blind faith again.

It's the fact we have height, speed, a good vibe around the club with past legends coming back (some even in coaching roles).

It's that we can go into this year with confidence that we will still have our club residing where it has for the last hundred years.

And it's the feeling that no matter how many or how few games we win this year we won't be an easy team to beat and we won't just roll over and take it like we have too many times in recent years.

Like I said ....... it may take a year or even two ....... but I can feel it coming and it looks and feels very real this time.

_________________
^^^

Don't worry Essendon* ....... We still hate your guts

^^^