Re: We need to fix our twos....
Reply #18 –
Box Hill Hawks are just Hawthorn with two extra words in their name......
You only have to compare facilities at Box Hill vs Cramer St to realise there is no comparison between Box Hill Hawks and Northern Blues.
When Carlton players go back to the NBs, it is like being sent to Siberia, and they play like it.....
I wish I could say that you are wrong, but you are not even close to being wrong.
We have 2 choices, neither of which is cheap, but both of which are doable.
[1] Stand Alone Carlton VFL.
[2] A highly integrated VFL affiliate like Box Hill is to Hawthorn or Sandringham was to Melbourne a few years back.
We have to choose one, as our present model is not working optimally.
Alternative #1: Stand Alone Carlton VFL
In many ways it is desirable. There would be a minimum of administrative issues as we would be all one club. We could select our VFL squad carefully and get a number of possible future Blues and some experienced played with (preferably) a Carlton background. It would be a good retirement gig for some good players with the right attitude and a reward, in some ways, for guys who might be good leaders or clubmen but who can't quite make it or are having their bodies being unreliable.
We have a positive relationship with the coaching staff and the other staff, as we are all the same club.
It will cost significantly more money. It would also probably kill Preston, as I doubt they could survive on their own at the moment. It would also ruin the raisson d'etre of the 'Northern Blues', as we would not be the only serious presence in the Northern suburbs any longer.
Alternative #2: Close Alignment with Preston
Preston have shown they cannot provide the players, as they still do not have the resources to attract top quality recruits. They have an excellent relationship with the Northern Knights, one that is worth keeping. However, the pathway needs to be clearer: players who play for NB could be future Carlton players. This simply is not the case yet. It must be for the alignment to work optimally.
We need the coaching panel to reflect our interests. Basically, we need to take over Preston like Hawthorn have done with Box Hill.
Alternative #1 is probably the best, but it takes a commitment we haven't been able to do so far.
Nicely thought through, Captain Crash.
Fill her up on Alt 1 please.