Carlton End Alignment With Northern Blues.

[capcom]

Yes, even managed to barrack for Ray Shaw, that was tough work for a while but I got there...haha.

Laj, he is a really nice bloke actually, even today

[LP]

Laj, he is a really nice bloke actually, even today

Agreed, Ray's a nice guy, I've had a bit of contact with him years ago through the Unders.

Unfortunately I can't say as much about one of his brothers, but you'd never hear or read Ray stating something like that about anybody, he's just too nice, sometimes too nice for his own good a few bastards have taken advantage of that in the past!

[laj]

Laj, he is a really nice bloke actually, even today

Must've been the Collingwood thing, creates bad perceptions...haha.

[PaulP]

So, at this writing, we are the only club without a VFL connection, either affiliate or standalone. Interesting to see where this all ends up.

[LP]

So, at this writing, we are the only club without a VFL connection, either affiliate or standalone. Interesting to see where this all ends up.

 PaulP, the swiftness of this decision must to some degree expose some of our internal yet undisclosed priorities.

[PaulP]

PaulP, the swiftness of this decision must to some degree expose some of our internal yet undisclosed priorities.

I've got no doubt that Liddle is a fast decision maker. Clearly he (and maybe others) want a standalone team, but just like the Bolton decision, he seems to make up his mind and then quickly (and impulsively IMO) seizes an opportunity and goes for the throat. Whether that makes him a good decision maker remains to be seen.

I feel sorry for the Preston/Northern Bullants/Blues. They seem to have paid a very high price for their association with us. And apart from a short piece here and there on the day of the announcement, not a peep from anyone in the AFL about the demise of a 130 year old club. I can't even find anything on the CFC website. Maybe it's buried in a dark corner somewhere.

EDIT : there are a couple of short pieces towards the bottom of the main CFC page.

[Hubba]

Why can't Preston continue in their own rite like Coburg did when first Fitzroy and the Richmond abandoned them or like Port Melbourne did when North dropped them ?  I'm sure the people connected to Preston for the last 130 years will fight for the clubs survival.

[PaulP]

Why can't Preston continue in their own rite like Coburg did when first Fitzroy and the Richmond abandoned them or like Port Melbourne did when North dropped them ?  I'm sure the people connected to Preston for the last 130 years will fight for the clubs survival.

I wish I knew the answer, because it's a fair question IMO.

[LP]

I wish I knew the answer, because it's a fair question IMO.

I've heard Preston were broke, and were only still alive due to being underwritten by Carlton.

[PaulP]

I've heard Preston were broke, and were only still alive due to being underwritten by Carlton.

That would certainly seem like the most likely explanation. I'm wondering what the formal and structural mechanisms would be to "transform" an affiliate club to a stand alone, assuming it's possible ? Liddle has stated they want a standalone team, but they already had a seconds team, i.e the Bullies. Why does Carlton have to recreate from scratch what was, in a fashion, under their noses ?