it would be interesting to know exactly when that silvertails tag was given to us.

we were once regarded as the champions of the "respectable" working class in the 1800s.

none of the footy books describe us as being an affluent club in the first half of the 1900s.

the fierce carl v coll rivalry did not start as a class/socio-economic thing as far as i know. it was sparked by a torrid and controversial GF (1910) which, incredibly, they won.

did we become the silvertails during the menzies era perhaps?

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... an eagle flew out of the night. he was something to observe, came in close i heard a voice, bending stretching every nerve, had to listen had no choice ...

I think you're right about that.

Still, it gives some people one more reason to hate us, which I quite like....

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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.

Yet another legacy of the Liberal Party that makes me shudder.
Regards Pedro.

For the 25 of the 34 years between 1949 to 1983 we had an Australian Prime Minister who was the number 1 ticket holder at Carlton.

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"Hence you will not say that Greeks fight like heroes but that heroes fight like Greeks"?

Winston Churchill

URGENT... please help me...

Someone is trying to convince me that the mosquito fleet is more related to Essendon* than Carlton. Does anyone agree with this, or disagree with this? Either way, I need to know soon....

"Someone" is pulling your leg Molsey.
The mosquito fleet definitely applies to Carlton.

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Looking forward to seeing our potential realised.

Someone = Carlton Football Club

What would those clowns know?

An Essendon* team in the early 20th century was dubbed the mosquito fleet.
The term was reincarnated in the late 70s / early 80s ? by the media for Carltons band of small men.
Marcou, Sheldon, Ashman, Buckley, Cattoggio etc.

Essendon* now call their junior supporters club the mosquito fleet.

I'd be surprised if most people born after the 1940s correlated the term with anyone other than the Blues.

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Looking forward to seeing our potential realised.

One that took off was

Tommy " Jesus" Alvin.

Some bloke in a crowded stand at Waverley.

and for the Wrastlin fans.

Peter Dean covered up the 'Foreign Object' in the ARM Guard for many years.

DON'T forget our MP. Harry

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Stay tuned We're in for a BUMPY ride

Back in the latter part of Dick Reynolds coaching stint at Essendon*, Essendon* were snidly referred to as "The Gliders" as they were reknowned for being soft, having no ticker or engine.

But you can tell your mate that it was Carlton that was referred to as having a "Mosquito Fleet" from the time Jezza took over in 1978 and utilised our 'plethora' of talented rovers to their utmost advantage:

- Ashman
- Keogh
- Buckley
- Sheldon
- Marcou
- Johnston
- Harmes
- Cattogio

All under 180cms (or 5 foot 11 in the old lingo) all could turn on a sixpence and could hit a chest laces out from about 50 metres.

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"Hence you will not say that Greeks fight like heroes but that heroes fight like Greeks"?

Winston Churchill

Let's draft them

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#DonTheStash

Other than the Navy Blues, Premiers is the only nickname I want.

I like "Sweet 16"

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The most terrifying words in the English language are: I'm from the government and I'm here to help.

Ronald Reagan

Doesn't Essendon* refer to their Junior supporters as the Mosquito Fleet? It comes from their on-the-ground mascot which is a mosquito. That's what your someone is talking about.

Carlton's late70/early80s group of smaller players (Ashman, Johnston, Buckley, etc) were known as the Mosquito Fleet?

There was a time (1980s) when we were St.Kilda's primary recruiting zone.

And Malcolm Fraser as well ............

Yeah you're right Bort - looks like both clubs used it, but Essendon* did first. Their mascot is called 'Squita'.

When did They first use the term? I first noticed them using a mossy sometime in the mid-to-late 1990s. (The mid-to-late 1990s was when my sons first went to the footy and that's probably what prompted me to notice things like the mascots.)

That's what 1949-1983 represents... Menzies wasn't prime minister for 34 years...

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What if everything is an illusion and nothing exists? In that case, I definitely overpaid for my carpet
Woody Allen

Probably only felt like it.

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"Hence you will not say that Greeks fight like heroes but that heroes fight like Greeks"?

Winston Churchill