This is the psychology of supporters part 2.

Why do we love the Blues?

I was thinking about this in the car tonight, pissed, when Judy was telling me she found me "nerdy" and "geeky" because I have an excel spreadsheet which I use to plot the direction of the side next year.

well, it got me thinking........

why did I become a blues-man? Well, easy. My old man was a Carlton supporter. his old man was. My granddad was a factory worker in Coburg, and my old man grew up in a house just off Sydney road Brunswick. It shits me at work that people assume I'd vote Liberal because I'm a Carlton man, because to me Carlton are a factory-hand and immigrant side. My paternal side have followed Carlton since, well, at least 4 generations. In recent years since my old man's death, I've loved the blues as a preservation of that side of my line. Not to mention the fact that I grew up watching Sticks and co BURN for the Blues in the 80s with my dad and granddad when I was a kid.

Now, Judy asked me tonight "why do you love Carlton so much?". Well.... its a tough question to answer. All I know is I just could not imagine giving a shit about any other club.... and that I always felt that connection to my father barracking for Carlton.

In recent years, I've loved coming to this, and other, sites... to chat about the Blues and share experiences with you lot.

And, these sites have only really become huge in the years that we've sucked.... and we're still HUGE.... what does that tell ya??????

Look, ultimately, I wouldn't care if we never won another game again, EVER. Ok, that's a lie... but the point I'm making is, WE DON'T LOVE CARLTON BECAUSE WE WANT TO WIN. WE'VE BEEN SPOILT BY SUCCESS IN THE PAST. WE LOVE THE BLUES BECAUSE IT IS RIGHT TO, AND WE ARE BETTER PEOPLE FOR HAVING THE BLUES IN OUR LIVES. WE OWE THE CLUB A LOT FOR GIVING US THE FEELING OF COMMUNITY THAT EITHER BROADER SOCIETY OR RELIGION HAS BEEN UNABLE TO PROVIDE. WE COULD ALL GO AND BARRACK FOR ST.KILDA NOW FOR "SUCCESS"... BUT WHY WOULD WE??? ALL CLUBS ARE A PALE SHADE OF CARLTON. WIN/LOSS RATIOS ARE MEANINGLESS..... ITS WHAT'S BETWEEN YOUR EARS THAT COUNTS...... WHO CARES IF WE FINISH LAST??? WHO CARES IF WE WIN THE PREMIERSHIP???? WHAT MATTERS IS WHAT WE SHARE..... THE SINGULAR MINDSET THAT WE ARE SUPERIOR BECAUSE WE FOLLOW A MOVEMENT THAT IS UNIQUE AND PROFOUND......

NOW SHUT UP WITH YOUR BLUBBERINGS AND GIVE ME A CUDDLE... I'M DRUNK AND PONDEROUS

NO AMOUNT OF SUFFERING CAN HURT US IF WE BAND TOGETHER. DO NOT ARGUE MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS. WE ARE A SUPERIOR INTELLECT. WE ARE A TEAM WHO RECOGNISE THE TRUTH AND EMBRACE IT....

I was at a party tonight, and a Brisbane supporter asked me "who's Bret Thornton?".. and then tried to tell me Troy Selwood was a better player than Andrew Walker. I mean.. come on.. Walker AT LEAST has played 20 more games than Selwood..... what a tool.....

AT LEAST, people out there are unable to fully appreciate the Carlton experience..... and we can't expect them to.... its like giving a group of chimps a quadtilateral equation and expecting them to solve it... it won't happen.....

But who cares? we don't wait for our pet dogs and cats to remember our names before we can identify with WHO WE ARE.

Maybe its the beer talking, OR MAYBE I'M FULL OF LOVE AND DESPERATE TO MAINTAIN THE BEAUTY OF WHO WE ARE... BECAUSE ONLY WE WILL EVER KNOW IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

where ever you are, old man, appreciate that you have a kid who can see the truth, and encourages those around him to embrace the same truth that we all know is there. WE CAN ARGUE ALL WE WANT, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, BEING CARLTON IS A GIFT WE ALL SHARE, AND ONE WE ARE HONOURED TO HOLD.

PLAY ON, BLUEBOYS!!!!

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Love Cricket? Love me

Well said Tyrant i am with you been following the Blues for 35 Years and have never thought about any other team and if something ever happened to the Blues i would never jump to another club. The Blues are it for me and its a club that has tasted success / has a proud and great history. Still hasnt changed its jumper emblem or song. But thers something different about the Blues than other clubs ... dunno what maybe i am just biased lol but it really is the best club in the competition has special somethin about it

Anyway i am like you Blue through and though.

Baggers are a family history my great grandparents grew up in Brunswick my grandparents did as well. Then we get into the family attendance at the football game itself with my grandfather and great uncles taking the kids to the footy then the yong ones did the same with their kids. My mum takes my neice and nephew to the game and will take my kids to the game evenutally. Carlton is ARE A PROUD FAMILY TRADITION.

Our family has been represented at every game of football for over 100yrs we have cried (Jezza being laid out by magro).. we have laffed (Percy kickin the point post..yes a army reserve game at Lake oval/Harrys run on Waverley)...we have been pissed (Millborn's gutless attack on SOS) we have been in awe (Bosustows mark at pp/Bradleys run down the g). Uppermost the club/players have given us some kind of joy and happiness whether it be as simple as a Harlett debut or as prestigious as a premiership.

The CFC is a tribe a family aka the relief at a game when u finally get someone sitting beside ya wearing the colours. And as far as this family the Dorian/McDonald/Wallace etc etc clan is concerned CFC is the game and the only blue to wear

AND THATS WHY I LOVE CARLTON FOR THE MOMENTS MY FAMILY AND MY CARLTON FAMILY SHARE.

ps..We have memberships dating back to the early 1900's

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Can smell the gf its there for the taking we are the form side

If Tyrant's post isn't Post of the YEAR, then, to use Lleyton's words, "I'll run to China."

Mate, you've summed up the joy which is being a Carlton person so eloquently, and the love which is being among other Carlton People.

My Grandmother's family emigrated from Poland in the late 1910's (or maybe early 1920s...). She lived at Princes Hill. Went to Princes Hill Primary school.

They were Jewish immigrants, who lived in an area of a lot of other Jewish immigrants, which at the time was Carlton. So naturally, they followed the team of the area where they lived (Like my paternal Great-Grandfather emigrated and lived in Fitzroy, and was a Roy Boy).

My Nan, rest her soul, made sure all us grandkids (3 in our family, 2 of my cousins) knew that Carlton was the team for us. Not for us the team of my Grandfather, Collingwood (Pop was a Blacksmith's Striker, and the last working blacksmith in Melbourne, and no doubt followed the team a lot of other people he worked with followed). Nor for me my Father's team, Essendon* (Dad used to watch John Coleman, and I can understand being swayed to the dark side by a player such as he).

My Mother's affiliations were similar. Daughter of Polish Jewish immigrants, They too followed the team which had strong Jewish community ties. Carlton.

I feel truly lucky I am a Carlton person. We are successful. We all know that. We are famous. Our song says so, but the CFC logo on the famous jumper is known across the land. I met one of my oldest friends, because of a shared passion for Carlton, and this was in year 7 in a Sydney high school, when AFL (VFL then) was still referred to as "aerial ping-pong".

I also feel blessed to be Carlton, for not for Carlton fans the fair weather support of Melbourne, or Sydney. Not for us the vicious intimidation of other parts of the crowd, such as Collingwood. Not for us the booing of our own team, our own jumper, such as Richmond. Not for us the symbolic tearing of membership cards, nor spitting, nor gestures such as 4 tonnes of shit at the door of the club, or a load of chicken hearts.

Darren Milburn (ptooey!) feared for himself as he left the ground that black and rainy day at PP because of the reactions of the crowd. Say what you will, but in a way, I loved the passion those Blueboys and girls showed when a favourite son was felled in such a cowardly manner. It said: "We stick up for our own! We are Carlton!"

So there has never been any doubt that I am Navy Blue through and through. Even in these hard times I have never wavered. And I feel truly blessed that I am, and always will be.

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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.

That post has reduced this man to tears Tyrant.

My love for Carlton stems from a young boys adoration of his big brother.

My Mum was a Collingwood supporter. She grew up in O'Heas Road, Coburg, and as a youngster developed a crush on a Collingwood player that owned a local sports store, thus that's how she became a Collingwood supporter.

My Dad started his life as a Fitzroy supporter, just like his Dad, up until he got an invitation to play with the Essendon* under 19's (Dad grew up in Pascoe Vale). After an unsuccessful run with Essendon*, my Dad converted his allegiance. Also, like KK's Dad, my Dad named John Coleman as his childhood hero.

My brother, Peter Davey, was born in 1960. He grew up watching the Nicholls, Jesaulenkos and the like dominate in the navy blue. His most precious memory was the 1970 GF, just as it would be for many Blues of his age.

Of course when I was born, there was much ado about what my allegiance would be. I still have an Essendon* teddy bear that Dad bought me the day I was born. My Mother was a little more benign, as she had been through a miscarriage and a stillbirth before I came along, so she didn't really mind who I followed. Peter however, being a fourteen year old boy, had one mission and one mission alone in mind: make this baby a blueboy!

I can't remember how it transpired, but Peter won the war. My most precious childhood memories are of Peter taking me to games with his mates from the time I was about six. It was a big call for him when I think about it now, as he only would have been twenty at the time, and twenty year olds at the footy with their mates need to concentrate on other matters than looking out for a snotty nosed six year old kid.

I also remember the wonderful Carlton-based presents Pete would bring home for me, for no reason at all. I never got a birthday or xmas present from Pete, but the gifts he gove at random intervals throughout the year meant more than any token holiday gift.

Peter was killed in a motorbike accident early 2001. Not a day goes by where I don't thank the heavens that he never had to go through a 'spoon' season. I know though, that somewhere, he's watching, and he knows, as I know and as I think that we all know, that we just have to ride this shit out. We'll be back, and when we do, we owe it to the likes of Peter, KK's Grandmother and Tyrants Dad, to celebrate the next premiership as no premiership has ever been celebrated before.

I HAVE ALWAYS LOVED CARLTON.

I ALWAYS WILL LOVE CARLTON.

EVERYONE HERE, EVERYONE WHO SHARES MY ALLEGIANCE FOR THE ULTIMATELY SUPREME NAVY BLUE, YOU ARE MY BRETHREN. MY SISTERS AND BROTHERS. WHILE WE MAY HAVE OUR SQUABBLES FROM TIME TO TIME, NOTHING CHANGES THE FACT THAT WE ARE FAMILY. TOGETHER WE STAND, TOGETHER WE WILL NEVER FALL.

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Richard Pratt - A Carlton legend.

Here, here,guys, here, here

For moments like the 99 prelim.

Got it from the old man.

He's a Perth boy, and took up the Blues when some of the best from the West came and played at Carlton, starting a great tradition.

I remember being taken to PP by Dad and standing on beer cans to watch from an early age, but my first game was the 1973 Grand Final.

I think I've always been blue.

It is a way of life, an attitude, and simply put (as Tyrant did), it is right and true. It's not about winning, its about playing for the jumper. Winning simply follows.

And you are right, no-one else can understand the Navy Blue way, win lose or draw.

So keep playing Blue Boys, and I will be there, and so will my family, and my progeny.

Go Blues!

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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

moments like that dont come around often...that was a time to remember...and i will never forget the feeling i had when the siren went...

deano, that is pow material...but on top of that..its a post ill never forget, its worth more then a simple forum award....its worth us celebrating in a premiership...and soon....

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R A D I C A L B R O T H E R S

Inspired by the One-Minute Sculptures of Erwin Wurm

"All in all is all we are..."

Double POW for Deano and Tyrant I think.

Deano, that was a great story

My Dad's Dad barracked for Carlton so naturally my Dad did and now my younger brother and I do and Im sure our kids will be Carlton as well.

My older brother and my Mum are Geelong and my sister North Melbourne. I'm not sure where the Geelong comes from, most of Mum's side are Essendon*.

I have some English friends and I was trying to explain last night how its not really a territorial thing and that you'll normally follow your parents or someone will influence you over time.

I also needed to explain cricket to them and how test matches work. Apparantly cricket really works on a class level over there and so unless you're I guess upper class you wouldn't follow or be interested in cricket....no wonder they're no good at it. Can anyone clear that up?

I think one of the best signs of being a Carlton supporter is that in our worst of times the supporters have rallied to the cause and we have our highest ever memberships

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"The ability to speak doesn't make you intelligent." Qui-Gon Jinn 15-05-2005

"there’s more chance of me becoming the full forward for the [Western Bulldogs] than there is of any change in the Labor Party." Julia Gillard 18-05-2010

On the all in our family room, the famous #4 jumper proudly hangs with the autographs of Sticks and Buzz.

Visitors often ask my wife "why have you got that hanging in the family room". She always replies "because Carlton is part of our family".

Enough said.

Nice work guys..........

it's emotion isn't it.......?

it's what our team is able to emote in us.......!
(you know what i mean)

i wasn't lucky enough like you guys.......our
family was new to Australia......1954.....so no
grandparents and stuff......!

but this happened........!

it was 24 Canning st Carlton upstairs (1970 hmmm)....by an old
black and white TV......my cousins Spiro and Stan....
where watching footy replay......(they were 18 and 16
years old)......!

so it was a saturday night......!

the conversation went "something" like this.....i was
young......!

"who do you barrack for?".....said Spiro.....!

i remember thinking......barrack....barrack...what
does that mean......he could see the look on my face.....!

"you know....which team do you support?...."..said Spiro.....!

"you have to barrack for somebody".....chipped in Stan...!

oh i thought.....again i had a look.........!

"you gotta barrack for Carlton"....said Spiro.....
"yeah Carltons the best team"......chipped Stan......!

Stan being the younger one....he looked up to
his older brother......!

"oh yeah.....i barrack for Carlton"....i sort of said....
hoping they would think i already did......but they new
what they'd achieved......!

and i'm sure....pretty happy with their work.......!

so that was it......that was the exact moment......as
simple as that for me.......it's amazing.....i can't remember
where i slept last night..........!

but that could very well be.....one of the
earliest memories i have......!

where my story does becomes a little like others is......
in 1988 and 1990......i lost both my cousins....i do miss them....
but i have one of lifes true gifts from them.....!


The Carlton Football Club........!


and for that i truely thank them......!


kindest regards tommi


cheers for making me feel those "emotions"
again Tyrone........!

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that'siti'mnotchangingthistagain......!

What am I? Chopped liver?

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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.

Nice work Kapt'n........!


kindest regards tommi


that's it Dark......!

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that'siti'mnotchangingthistagain......!

Pop (maternal) cut hair in Lygon street. Now he had a lass who met this bloke who didn;t follow a team (he was from Irishtown in tassie) though his mum was mad collingwood and his dad was Essendon* ( )

now the young gadabout started to date the lass and each saturday he'd walk from The Avenue in Coburg to Lygon St to meet with her dad and journey to the football with him.

Well dad fell in love twice. He fell in love with mum and he fell in love with Carlton.

the rest, as they say is history!

postcript: Dad's clan hated mum - they were all mad Collingwood and here was mum and dad, Bluebaggers through and through. Things really soured in 1970.

And never recovered!

I must say my side of the family sure seems to enjoy talking footy more than the rest of them

What is weird is now i've married a mad filth family and my kids go through with their nanna the same things as i did with mine though, luckily for them, their nan does not have a @#$%&! magpie statute you had to suck up to if you wanted anything from nanna.

I never got much from nanna.

None of my side did.

Though my brother did break that statue once.


And we would not have wanted it any other way

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This type of slight is alien in the more cultured part of the world - Walsh. Its up there with mad dogs, Englishmen and the midday sun!

Great stuff guys.

We should never forget that the Blues, win lose or draw, are in our blood now. Losing sucks and it gets us down..... but its only a game. Loving the Blues transcends matches and results. Its about Family.

GROUP. HUGS. ALL. ROUND!!!!!!!!!!!

PS One of my proudest traits is my ability to type somewhat coherently while drunk.

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Love Cricket? Love me

You type BETTER when you're drunk! you sure you're not related to Dannyboy?

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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.

dunno... never read any of Danny's sober stuff

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Love Cricket? Love me

All great stuff guys.

My story is boring, a cartlon supporter because my StKilda supporting Grandmother wanted to piss off my Essendon* supporting father. All is well that ends well.

Just on the topic of writing while drunk.

I once wrote the perfect paragraph.

It was after consuming a bottle of vodka.

I finished off an MBA assignment for my wife with the most perfect concluding paragraph ever written in the history of mankind. Seriously you could whack this particular paragraph on the end of just about any essay/assignment and you would be garaunteed a top mark.

It just so happens that we went searching for this perfect paragraph not long ago. It has been lost, a good thing really, in the wrong hands it would be dangerous.

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|♥♥♥♥♥♥| http://www.blueseum.org |♥♥♥♥♥♥|

This is a great thread guys - I'm going to refer back to it if times get tougher over this year and next.

My story is a simple one really. I'm one of six boys and three girls - my old man wouldn't let any of us follow anyone but Carlton - I was happy to join this amazing community!