Mods,
You may wish to integrate this into my AFL Grand Plan thread. I couldn't work out how to apply this poll to it. BB
http://www.talkingcarlton.com/phpBB2/vi ... 2a1ea64e53

I know this will disturb the traditionalists, but I believe it needs to be discussed. What if the conspiracy theorists amongst us are correct? What if the Grand Plan is to move some Victorian teams around the country or force them to Merge and just start issuing licences to entities in other growth areas. It is pretty obvious that the AFL wants a presence on the Gold Coast and in Western Sydney, not to mention Canberra, Tassie and even Darwin.

Let us not kid ourselves, we are extremely vulnerable right now. I don't need to repeat the obvious, but if we were left with no alternative but to do a deal to secure the future of the club in some form, what would be palatable to most supporters? Based on what Graham Smorgan said yesterday in the Age about our finances, we definitely can’t keep going the way we have been travelling for the past 5 years. Something’s gotta give.

Under this worst case scenario, discounting Canberra, Tassie and Darwin, these are the most attractive options as I see it:

Merge with the Kangaroos and become the Carlton Kangas, North Carlton Blues or North Melbourne Blues. Based in Melbourne. Home Ground: Princes Park, Home Games: MCG. Strip: Stylised White Kangaroo and CFC Monogram on Dark Blue background.

Merge with the Bulldogs and become the Carlton Bulldogs or the Western Blues. Based in Melbourne. Home Ground: Princes Park, Home Games: MCG. Strip: Stylised White Bulldog and CFC Monogram and Red Hoops and Red Neck on Dark Blue background.

Merge with Melbourne and become the Carlton Demons, Melbourne Blues or even Central Blue Demons. Based in Melbourne. Home Ground: Princes Park, Home Games: MCG. Strip: Stylised Red Demon and White CFC Monogram, Red Neck on Navy Blue background.

Move to the Western Suburbs of Sydney and become the West Sydney Blues or the Canterbury Blues. Home Ground: Belmore, Home Games: Telstra Stadium. Strip: As is - Dark Navy Blue with White CFC Monogram.

Merge with Southport and become the Southport Blues, the Gold Coast Blues, the Carlton Sharks or even the Carrara Blue Sharks. Based on the Gold Coast. Home Ground: Fankhauser Reserve, Home Games: Gabba/Carrara. Strip: Stylised Light Blue Shark and White CFC Monogram on Navy Blue background.


The AFL/State Governments/Local Councils etc. would sweeten the pot to make any of these options a possibility. At one point it was suggested that the AFL would put up $15 Million to the first 2 clubs who took the leap and allow them to combine their lists to an initial 40 players and top up by utilising the lower finishing clubs draft pick order. This may just be the Kangaroos and Bulldogs way to secure their future. Imagine if they merged. What a great list they would have. That would reduce our options somewhat because I don’t think the AFL would come to the party for a second merge in the same timeframe. If we got in first with a merge with say…the Demons, we would not only have a great list but could build a dynasty. Imagine their current defence topped up with T-Bird and 1AW and a midfield consisting of Green, Sylvia, McLean, Johnstone, Moloney, Stevens, Bentick, Murphy and Simpson feeding these forwards: Fevola, Robertson, Davey, Waite, Kennedy, Betts etc.? And of course there is Bate, Dunn and Bower! How many of our current list would survive the cut?

We might be forced to relocate whether we like it or not. Maybe biting the bullet and exploring what deal can be done with Southport as an example could be the best solution in that we could retain all our history and our beloved CFC monogram on Navy Blue. Because they have so much money and have been applying for an AFL license for years and of course the AFL wants a team established there, they would love that team to be one that would draw a crowd from day one. The best part of this potential deal is we would get a shit-load of loot upfront and ongoing (wiping out all our debt) and as well we would get generous draft concessions similar to Port when they joined. Imagine retaining the core of our young list, picking up some quality experienced players and having say…10 picks in the first 30 of the upcoming super draft.

Let’s remove the emotion out of this debate. Let’s assume it is completely untenable to remain in our current state as the Carlton Blues based in Melbourne.

What do you think is the best option going forward if we were forced into an alliance of some sort? My view is that we should strive to retain the White CFC on a Navy/Dark Blue background no matter where we are located or whoever we are merged with. Unfortunately this won’t happen, IMHO. The best options: Either relocate to the Gold Coast or merge with Melbourne. What say you, my long suffering Blue Brethren?

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2002:> "In their Masters Chambers
They Gathered for their Feast
They Stabbed us with their Steely Knives
But They Just Can't Kill The Beast!" <2016

THE BLUEBAGGER BEAST IS BAACKK!!

I would have sworn this poll was about the new moderating style

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Time to go: Smorgon, Pagan

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Congratulations CK95

NEVER will we become the Canterbury Blues, just to keep the Monogram.

Canterbury are a bywords for bad sports, bad fans - Worse than Collingwood multipled by Port and moorabin's finest - and cheats of the highest order.

No way.

Never.

Never.

There are plenty of other suburbs we could choose from.

Castle Hill - Out Deano's way
Chatswood, up my way
Cronulla - whose juniors already use the CFC in their local league
etc.

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And so while others miserably pledge themselves to the pursuit of ambition and brief power, I will be stretched out in the shade, singing.

I am not even goin to vote on a poll that i dont believe in

The Blues Merge or relocate i stop following the Blues and just will watch the AF: .. and still wish doom and gloom on the bombers and the Filth

I'm sorry. Have I just hyperspaced to the Collingwood forum?

well just as long as we can discuss this like grown ups

Seems you hit a sensitive topic Brizzy.

I think your theory is right that economically the AFL would love that to happen. Hopefully the Carlton brand will be strong enough to survive in its own right, but I guess it is hard to say as that it is obvious that we are no longer one of the leagues super powers. It is hard to believe that clubs like Fremantle eclipse us for members and attendances. It is obvious that our fan(supporter)-base that is willing to cough up for a membership is not as deep as we first thought.

Going to an under-developed market might help us secure more members, but I am not too sure.

AFL has been so popular in the past that even in non-existing markets the average person follows a club or at least has an alliance. I'm not too sure that relocating a club would automatically assure that members would follow with it. Of course it would open up the sponsorship market for us.

I think Darwin could be an interesting option, especially if we get the concessions of drafting players from that market fist. Still would not like to see us give up our traditional base.

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"our guest is dressed by hand-me-downs, hair designed by pillow"

Nup. Not even we would discuss something so stupid.

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SIDE BY SIDE
COOOOOLLLLLIIIINGWOOOOOOOD

Where is the "none of the above button"?

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"Two roads diverged in a wood,
and I,
I took the one less travelled by,
and that has made all the difference."

Robert Frost

In fact, if we want to retain the name, etc, there's a Carlton up in Sydney, near Kogarah/St George way.

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And so while others miserably pledge themselves to the pursuit of ambition and brief power, I will be stretched out in the shade, singing.

yeah that's what I'm looking for

Absolute Rubbish. I lived in Sydney for many years and followed the Bulldogs. Once again The majority are tarnished with the deeds of a small minority.

As so for cheats of the worst order, they have had less salary cap breaches than certain AFL clubs in Melbourne.

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Hooked on The Blues

Thats exactly what I thought before I opened it!

Where is the option i click to stuff all the above five options.

The Carlton Blues have an incredible history, and hold an important place in VFL/AFL history. Carlton Blues have won the most Flags in the 100+ years of VFL/AFL history; 16 Premierships.

As a Carlton Blues supporter, I have been blessed with success and thrilling victories, since my first game; the 1968 Grand Final and the FLAG. Then there was finals almost every year since; another 13 Grand Finals and 8 Flags. I know I was spoilt rotten.

Great memories.

And today, having been out of the finals for the past 4 years, in a period we submitted to our first spoon, and our second spoon, I still love the Carlton Blues just as much. In fact, so much so, I named my son Carlton, in the hope that he too will experience similar success that I experienced growing up with The Mighty Carlton Blues.

Young Carlton's too young to know what we're been going through since 2002, but I know that the wheels of change will turn in our favour before the time he starts to realise he is/was cheering goals amounting to a losing score. I am patiently preparing for our team's return to finals and the 17th Flag. It's a thrilling experience watching the young kids grow, and the future unfold. The ecstacy of winning the 17th Flag is something he and I will enjoy together and we will cherish together. From that moment we will continue our support of our beloved Carlton Blues on their way to the next flag. Father and son, and mates together as blue boys.

If the Carlton Blues were to change their identity by means of a merge or a name change (god forbid), then I (we) will continue to honor the glory of the past. The chapter will come to a close and that'll be the end of the story of The Carlton Blues. The glorious history of the Carlton Blues will be just that, a history lesson for young Carlton, and all who follow AFL. The AFL will have won the war against The Carlton Blues.

I have sworn my allegiance to the Carlton Blues, and this remains intact. I have not sworn my allegiance to the hyphen team with a different name and identity, nor to the AFL, and nor will I (we). No way!!

I have no passion for any other footy team. Carlton generates the passion I have for aussie rules, now that I don't play. I go to see other teams with Carlton match ups in mind, studying their game plan and the relevant SWOT. That's where the fun of bragging rights start. Take The Carlton Blues out of that and there's a big void. How on earth could I maintain the fun of long standing annual ritual of bets with (friends who are) Collingwood, Essendon* and Richmond supporters, that have withstood the hands of time (or since school days)?

Then it's Game Over for me.

Young Carlton will play tennis or soccer instead of aussie rules. I will tell him that this was the right thing to do for him, because I knew by the time he was 20 he'll get the travelling bug, and no matter where he is oversaeas he will always be able to access a tennis or soccer club to meet new people and stay fit; physically and mentally.

What will be will be. I'll do my best for the club and continue to never bag them. Supporters will have to realise that the spirit and future of the club is in their hands, and if those who dish out negative continue with their cancerous comments and Carlton bashing, instead of showing some heart, empathy and positiveness in their passion for The Carlton Blues, they will be responsible for the downfall as much as anyone else.

The ball is in the supporters' and the AFL's hands.


Go The Carlton Blues forever.

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Everyone looks good in Navy Blue

Sponsored by Hillsong.

Fev would look great in jesus sandals.

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Richard Pratt - A Carlton legend.

The day the AFL is stupid enough to force either one of Richmond, Essendon*, Collingwood or Carlton to relocate or merge is the day football dies for me.

I wouldn't attend, I wouldn't watch on tv and I wouldn't raise my kids to follow the game.

It'd be soccer all the way.

Without a pure, unadulterated Carlton the other 3 teams are diminished. Likewise for all the other teams.

Now, the AFL may be shortsighted enough to let it happen, or they may not. But it'd be a big, big mistake.

I will never support a merger or relocation.

I'll say the same as what I said on the other site..... what a dumb thread! As if Carlton, of all sides, is ever going to merge or re-locate. There's more people at Carlton, than any other club, with money and backing if push can to shove, to allow that to happen. Then there's the huge supporter base. That's why blockbuster games still involve Carlton, even though we can't win a game. Our problems at the present are temporary and won't last. In 5-6 years we'll be wondering what the fuss is all about. Won't even waste my time and effort voting.

if carlton merge, im jumping on the melbourne storm and melbourne victory bandwagon.....

i would NEVER support merging or relocation.

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Back like a raging case of pubic lice