Round one of the season opened last Thursday night with the Richmond-Carlton blockbuster in front of an incredible 87,000 fans. Both teams went to the MCG with high hopes.
Richmond left with an 83-point thrashing and a couple of bad injuries. Their pre-game optimism was in tatters and they were faced with the task of regrouping after just one hit-out.
Carlton finished with the bullet next to their name even bigger and bolder.
The Blues are proving the truism that effective recruiting is the lifeblood of any organisation.
When recruiting is mentioned we normally think players but Carlton started at the top. The Blues recruited billionaire supporter Dick Pratt to become president. They pinched experienced CEO Greg Swann off Collingwood. Would he have gone to Carlton without the Pratt presence and financial muscle?
Current captain Chris Judd was the next big signing. Would he have gone to Carlton without the stability and bright future direction provided by Pratt and Swann?
Pratt moved on from the presidency but the spark he created was already burning brightly. Swann and Judd, the administrative leader and the playing leader, continue to spearhead the Blues' resurgence.
After many years stuck down the bottom they are currently looking like a probable finalist. The AFL system of helping the bottom teams has been critical.
Since they went to the bottom in 2002, Carlton has endured some horror years but it has enabled them to select three No. 1 picks in the NAB AFL Draft -- Marc Murphy, Bryce Gibbs and Matthew Kreuzer. All show every indication of justifying their lofty draft rankings.
Sometimes good fortune and good timing is just as important as good management and good planning.
The stars became aligned around the snaring of Judd from the West Coast Eagles. Players with his youth, exemplary character and immense talent rarely shift clubs.
The Eagles' off-field troubles may have just given him the justification to leave and move home to Melbourne.
Carlton, with pick one and three and Pratt as president, were in the box-seat and made it happen.
The extra carrot of a role as an environmental ambassador at the Pratt-owned Visy was an added bonus. How this is not included in Carlton’s salary cap is a mystery to me but that is another story.
The fact that Carlton have Judd, seemingly over his injury problems and still only 25 years of age, to lead their bounce from the depths of the ladder is of enormous benefit.
Players of his rare stature engender an enormous confidence and belief in those around them. Never flustered, always in control, Judd is the perfect role model to all his teammates.
It was a tragedy for the Eagles that he chose to leave and an incredible boost to the Blues that they were in the midst of perfect storm to recruit him. That was the good fortune -- but it was their good management which got him across the line.
A final note on Carlton’s win against Richmond.
The Blues' unhealthy reliance on Brendan Fevola to kick a winning score is a hurdle they must overcome to reach top four.
The great big picture outcome in their opening victory was Fevola kicking only two of Carlton’s 23 goals for the match.
Now that in itself is a great sign for their continued surge up the ladder.
