Not quite smelling the roses

Time for a notebook dump to address some burning issues as the middle of the season looms large on the horizon.

WHAT IS IT WITH CARLTON AND POWERBROKERS?

u Every club has its moneyed, well-heeled supporters, but they are never given as much oxygen as at Carlton.

In the wake of Carlton’s struggles of late, fans were bemused to wake up and read remarks in the Herald Sun from businessman Bruce Mathieson lamenting the state of the Blues and especially the leadership of the club.

Mathieson, long retired to Queensland after making his fortune in hospitality and gaming, didn’t miss and had Carlton president Luke Sayers, chief executive Brian Cook and football boss Brad Lloyd firmly in his sights.

It prompted SEN’s Gerald Whateley to come out the next day and ask whether Mathieson was a powerbroker, or more to the point, a troublemaker.

The leading commentator was especially indignant at the remarks about Cook, one of the game’s most widely respected administrators.

It would be fair to say there was near universal agreement that Mathieson was out of line with most of what he had to say, especially in regards to Cook.

But you make a deal with the devil when you become part of Carlton.

For all the public support from the likes of David Parkin and the constructive criticism from Mark

Maclure and Robert Walls, there are others who feel less constrained and will say whatever the hell they like, all on the basis that they give a lot of money to the club.

It has long been the reality of life at the Blues.

HAS COLLINGWOOD EVER BEEN THIS LIKEABLE?

u Forget trying to revive the old stereotypes about the Magpies. This is the new Collingwood and it is time to climb aboard.

The Magpies are the best team in the competition (at least for now) and certainly the most entertaining. Darcy Moore raised the bar considerably for post-match speeches with his heartfelt comments on Anzac Day.

And Craig McRae is breaking the mould for AFL coaches through the combination of his tactical smarts and high emotional intelligence.

He and his club were at it again last Sunday.

Rather than grumble at being handed the unpopular Mother’s Day Sunday twilight timeslot at the MCG for a game against the low-drawing GWS Giants, the Magpies instead used it as an opportunity.

All the players’ mums gathered for lunch at the AIA Centre before a short walk across the bridge to the MCG.

From there they were ushered into the rooms where they were greeted with flowers and hugs from their sons.

But Macrae had one last trick up his sleeve.

As the players were seated for their last pre-game meeting, he invited Julie McCreery, Beau’s mum, to deliver a rousing pre-game address.

And she didn’t disappoint. “When in front of the goals, MAKE IT COUNT!” she implored the players in what was a few moments of magnificent oratory. No surprise that the Magpies then put the Giants to the sword. They’re not doing much wrong, so sit back and enjoy the show.

BIG TALKERS: Gerard Whateley took umbrage to Bruce Mathieson’s attack on respected administrator Brian Cook (above left) as Julie McCreery (above right) won praise for firing son Beau’s Collingwood up on Mother’s Day. Meanwhile, battling teams shouldn’t think Harley Reid (below) will be their saviour.

Ignore The

HARLEY REID CUP TALK u It didn’t take long for it to start ahead of Sunday’s Hawthorn v West Coast clash in Tasmania, whose loser is set to become the favourite to claim the wooden spoon and therefore sit in the box seat to claim Reid, all but certain to be the No. 1 pick at the NAB AFL Draft this year.

And yes, Hawk coach Sam Mitchell has already watched him play at least once this year and liked what he saw.

But when news broke early last Monday that Mitchell had tested positive for COVID, the tin-foil hat wearers got to work, spouting theories about it being the first step towards the Hawks taking a seriously weakened team into Sunday’s game to guarantee a loss and strengthen their grip on last place.

So here is the timely history lesson.

Since the introduction of the National Draft in 1986, only four No. 1 picks – Drew Banfield, Des Headland, Luke Hodge and Tom Boyd – have become premiership players and only Headland was part of the worst-to-first journey at the same club he was drafted to.

Yes, No. 1 picks are exciting at the time and Reid shapes as a great player, but will he singlehandedly elevate a club to a premiership? History says no. @hashbrowne

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