More than a business...
For those of you who don't frequent carltonfc.com (or are just plain frustrated with how slow flash sites are), there's an article that cropped up recently written by Marc Murphy which I'll post here. It's well worth the read and I thought it deserved some attention called to it;
More than a business
BY Marc Murphy 3:19 PM Thu 17 July, 2008
I PLAYED my 50th AFL match last week and I was just so proud to do it wearing Carlton’s navy blue guernsey. There’s so much talk about how the AFL is a business these days, but I think most players would agree that, for the most part, it’s all about the guy either side of you and the jumper.
I don’t believe most players think of the game in terms of being a business despite the millions of dollars that are involved in our sport now. As soon as you run out there, you’re part of a team and who’s on what money is irrelevant. You’re just out there playing with your mates.
There’s a strong football tradition in my family, with my granddad Leo playing 132 games for Hawthorn and my dad John playing 246 games for Fitzroy. Dad was just rapt when I drafted by Carlton, which has such a proud history.
The game’s changed so much since they played, but I reckon the really important things have stayed the same.
As soon as you walk into the club you quickly become aware of the rich history of the place.
There have been so many players who have pulled on the same guernsey that I do each week that became regarded as some of the greats of the game.
Just looking at the lockers, you see all the names of the players who played 100 games for the club or have won a premiership and it really gives a sense of belonging.
I’ve played 50 games so far, so I look at it that I’m halfway towards getting my name on a locker, which I would consider a huge honour, and hopefully I can get one of the little premiership cups they stick alongside the names of premiership players as well.
Just sitting at my locker I look around and you see names like Kernahan, Williams and Silvagni, not to mention Mike Fitzpatrick, who I know pretty well, and who also wore the No.3 jumper and was the captain of a premiership side.
I remember after getting drafted walking in and being given all my new navy blue kit and even that was just a big thrill. But to then pull it on for the first time before a game was something else.
It was such great day for so many reasons, but mainly because we got a win and it was Kouta’s 250th as well. To debut in a game like that was something I’ll always remember.
Carlton has such a great supporter base and when you’re out there wearing the same colours as tens of thousands of fans at the MCG, it really gives a sense of being a part of something big.
Don’t get me wrong, careers in our sport can be fleeting, so you do have to take care of business every two or three years or so, but once that’s done it’s back to normal.
I’ve got to sign a new contract soon and we’re just getting all that close to being finalised now. The quicker we can get it done the better as far as I’m concerned. It’s all pretty simple with me.
That’s not always the case and I know Fev’s situation has been getting a lot of coverage, but I’m sure he wants to play for Carlton. He’s been here since the start of his career and he’s been through plenty of tough years, so I think he can start to see that we’re turning it around now and starting to play some good footy.
From a player's point of view, and I am not sure how it works at other clubs, we’ve got great confidence in Greg Swann and Steven Icke to get the job done. They are both quality people and administrators and the club’s future augurs well with them.
If you want to talk about sport as a business, I think rugby league is an interesting one.
The Melbourne Storm share our facilities here at Princes Park and I just shake my head when I think about the system of player movement they’ve got, where players can sign with another club before they finish their final season of their contracts with their current club.
I don’t know how you could run out and give your all for a club each week, knowing you’re not going to be there the next year. Its even stranger I think that coaches can sign up with another club while they’re still in charge of another. It would be pretty tough to listen to a coach that you know isn’t in it for the long haul.
In preparing for a game of AFL football there are so many things that you’ve got to take on board each week in terms of your own game, team structures and what the opposition will do, but even with all of that I reckon most players spare a thought for the jumper and what it means.
I know I do.
Source: carltonfc.com.au
More than a business
BY Marc Murphy 3:19 PM Thu 17 July, 2008
I PLAYED my 50th AFL match last week and I was just so proud to do it wearing Carlton’s navy blue guernsey. There’s so much talk about how the AFL is a business these days, but I think most players would agree that, for the most part, it’s all about the guy either side of you and the jumper.
I don’t believe most players think of the game in terms of being a business despite the millions of dollars that are involved in our sport now. As soon as you run out there, you’re part of a team and who’s on what money is irrelevant. You’re just out there playing with your mates.
There’s a strong football tradition in my family, with my granddad Leo playing 132 games for Hawthorn and my dad John playing 246 games for Fitzroy. Dad was just rapt when I drafted by Carlton, which has such a proud history.
The game’s changed so much since they played, but I reckon the really important things have stayed the same.
As soon as you walk into the club you quickly become aware of the rich history of the place.
There have been so many players who have pulled on the same guernsey that I do each week that became regarded as some of the greats of the game.
Just looking at the lockers, you see all the names of the players who played 100 games for the club or have won a premiership and it really gives a sense of belonging.
I’ve played 50 games so far, so I look at it that I’m halfway towards getting my name on a locker, which I would consider a huge honour, and hopefully I can get one of the little premiership cups they stick alongside the names of premiership players as well.
Just sitting at my locker I look around and you see names like Kernahan, Williams and Silvagni, not to mention Mike Fitzpatrick, who I know pretty well, and who also wore the No.3 jumper and was the captain of a premiership side.
I remember after getting drafted walking in and being given all my new navy blue kit and even that was just a big thrill. But to then pull it on for the first time before a game was something else.
It was such great day for so many reasons, but mainly because we got a win and it was Kouta’s 250th as well. To debut in a game like that was something I’ll always remember.
Carlton has such a great supporter base and when you’re out there wearing the same colours as tens of thousands of fans at the MCG, it really gives a sense of being a part of something big.
Don’t get me wrong, careers in our sport can be fleeting, so you do have to take care of business every two or three years or so, but once that’s done it’s back to normal.
I’ve got to sign a new contract soon and we’re just getting all that close to being finalised now. The quicker we can get it done the better as far as I’m concerned. It’s all pretty simple with me.
That’s not always the case and I know Fev’s situation has been getting a lot of coverage, but I’m sure he wants to play for Carlton. He’s been here since the start of his career and he’s been through plenty of tough years, so I think he can start to see that we’re turning it around now and starting to play some good footy.
From a player's point of view, and I am not sure how it works at other clubs, we’ve got great confidence in Greg Swann and Steven Icke to get the job done. They are both quality people and administrators and the club’s future augurs well with them.
If you want to talk about sport as a business, I think rugby league is an interesting one.
The Melbourne Storm share our facilities here at Princes Park and I just shake my head when I think about the system of player movement they’ve got, where players can sign with another club before they finish their final season of their contracts with their current club.
I don’t know how you could run out and give your all for a club each week, knowing you’re not going to be there the next year. Its even stranger I think that coaches can sign up with another club while they’re still in charge of another. It would be pretty tough to listen to a coach that you know isn’t in it for the long haul.
In preparing for a game of AFL football there are so many things that you’ve got to take on board each week in terms of your own game, team structures and what the opposition will do, but even with all of that I reckon most players spare a thought for the jumper and what it means.
I know I do.
Source: carltonfc.com.au