AFL 2022: Carlton board backtracks on constitutional changes in big win for members
The Carlton board has backtracked on changes which were labelled as a ‘power grab’, in a big win for Blues fans.
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A vocal Carlton member’s group has claimed a major win after the Blues board backtracked on proposed constitutional changes that had been labelled a sly “power grab”.
Carlton quietly flagged constitution changes ahead of its 2021 Annual General Meeting last August that would have seen the minimum presidency term extended from three to four years, would have allowed non-members to fill casual vacancies on the board and included clauses which would have made it harder for an emergency general meeting to be called.
However, those three proposed changes have since been dropped ahead of the club’s 2022 Annual General Meeting, which is being held online on February 22.
Other flagged constitution changes around recognising First Nation Peoples, promotion of diversity and equally recognising AFLW players have been retained in Notice of Annual General Meeting notes.
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The scrapping of the governance changes came after months of consultation with member advocacy group Carlton Now, who were knocked back last September after pushing for a spill of the Blues’ board and the staging of an EGM.
Carlton Now leader and past president of The Carltonian coterie group, Vince Loccisano, said the updated plans for constitution changes were a win for members and praised new president Luke Sayers for listening to and acting on their concerns.
“In the end common sense has prevailed and to give Luke Sayers some credit, he’s pretty promptly backed down from what they originally tried to sneak through,” Loccisano said.
“It’s a really big win for the members that the new constitution changes have come out without these power grab clauses. So we’re more than prepared to endorse it now and say we support everything else with these constitution changes now.”
Docherty’s progress has Voss, Blues buoyed
— Glenn McFarlane
It was a big day at IKON Park on Saturday with Carlton opening the gates for a special members-only training.
Coach Michael Voss announced the new leadership group and the Blues were put through a three-and-a-half-hour match simulation session.
Glenn McFarlane was there and he walked away with some valuable intel. Here are his five key take-outs.
Let’s get physical
The members who attended the session got a glimpse of what they can expect from the Blues in 2022 - a more physical version.
New coach Michael Voss wants his players to be fierce at the contest.
As Patrick Cripps said: “We have a real desire to compete. One thing we are going to pride ourselves on this year is the contest. We are trying to put as much heat on as possible.”
New faces in defence
Mitch McGovern is relishing his new role in the back half, with insiders saying he could yet play a bit of a swing man’s role.
Former Bulldog Lewis Young will also be given a chance to lock down a spot in defence, while Oscar McDonald will also be in the back half.
“It was a real shame to see (Liam Jones) retire, but it has probably opened up some new opportunities,” Jacob Weitering said.
“‘Gov’ (McGovern) has certainly put his hand up, he can jump and mark and intercept. Youngy has done the same, and Oscar has shown he is a terrific one-on-one player.”
No discounting Doc
The roar from terraces and from the players on the ground was unmistakeable when Sam Docherty launched a punch at the ball, spoiling an opponent in trademark style.
Docherty, who is fighting back from a recurrence of testicular cancer, took part in almost half of the match-simulation session.
As Cripps said: “I think his body weight is about the same as it was pre-chemo(therapy), so it shows you how mentally strong he is.”
Mid strength
Carlton’s midfield depth looks one of its biggest assets, with Cripps salivating at what new teammates George Hewett and Adam Cerra can bring to the mix.
The former Swan and ex-Docker made instant impacts in the match-simulation.
“There is a lot of competition for spots, especially in the midfield with guys like George Hewitt and Adam Cerra,” Cripps said.
“They both have big bodies and are classy with ball use.”
Health check
The Blues are relatively healthy at the moment, which is always a bonus given Covid has impacted all clubs this pre-season.
Liam Stocker, Caleb Marchbank and David Cuningham were among those still on the sidelines, while Marc Pittonet, Lachie Fogarty and Jack Martin sat out the match-simulation session.
Walsh keeps Blues waiting on future decision
Carlton’s new co-vice captain Sam Walsh says he has complete faith in the club’s future direction, but won’t put a time frame on when he might sign one of the year’s most talked-about contracts.
Walsh, 21, and Jacob Weitering, 24, were named as understudies to solo skipper Patrick Cripps, 26, on Saturday at a special members-only training session at IKON Park.
With inspirational defender Sam Docherty choosing to step away from the co-captaincy to concentrate on his own health, Cripps will lead the club on his own, having shared the role with his great mate over the past three seasons.
Walsh, who finished fourth in the Brownlow Medal last year, comes out of contract at the end of this year, with Blues insiders confident he will stay in navy Blue.
Geelong star Patrick Dangerfield stoked the fire this week, saying if he was in charge of the Cats’ purse strings, he would be willing to offer Walsh a $10 million deal across 10 seasons.
Walsh said he was pleased with the discussions he and his management have had so far with the Blues.
“Danger has always put in a good word for me … (contract) talk is always going to come when you are in the last year of a contract, but I try not to read too much into it,” Walsh said.
“I am really happy with where I am with the club and the direction the club is heading. I have got a lot of support here.
“I am not going to put a time frame on it because then the talk starts. All I can say is that I am more than happy with how it is tracking and I am sure it will take care of itself.”
Cripps said he was confident that Walsh would stay at the club for the long-term, saying he and Weitering would one day make for outstanding captains.
“If you watch Walshy, the way he attacks the ball and the way he gives to everyone around him, he is a star,” 26-year-old Cripps said. “He will do it (sign the contract) in his own time.”
“These two guys (Walsh and Weitering) ... are going to be great leaders of this footy club.”
Cripps said Docherty, who is recovering from a recurrence of testicular cancer, would continue to be a leader without the official title.
That much was obvious on Saturday when he took part in the early part of a gruelling match-
simulation session, showing his class across half-back.
“He gave the whole group a boost (on Saturday), in some of the contests he was in,” Cripps said.
“He is one of the best blokes you will meet, he is resilient and he gives everyone his time.
“Although he doesn’t have the ‘C’ (captain) next to his name, he is going to be a leader of this team.”
Weitering agreed: “’Doc’, to his absolute credit, has been a leader in his own right (during the pre-season). He is a mentor to all the younger blokes.”
Cripps said he was feeling fresh and ready to make his stamp on the 2022 season, insisting he wants to get back to his contested best.
“I am just going to get back to being big in the contest and being aggressive, and play to my strengths,” he said.
New coach Michael Voss told the Blues faithful he had enormous confidence in the club’s emerging leadership group.
“Since arriving at the Club, I have seen first-hand the incredible passion Patrick has to bring team success to this football club,” Voss said. “Equally, both Jacob and Sam set the standards for workrate and professionalism.”
Voss strips back Carlton leadership group
Carlton will take a compressed three-man leadership group into Michael Voss’s first season as coach with young guns Jacob Weitering and Sam Walsh to act as co-vice captains to solo skipper Patrick Cripps.
Voss made the announcement at a members-only training session at IKON Park on Saturday morning, just moments after the players had been informed.
With inspirational defender Sam Docherty opting to step away from the co-captaincy earlier this month to concentrate on his fightback from a cancer battle, Cripps will lead the club on his own after being endorsed by his peers, coaching staff and the club’s board.
The 26-year-old will be ably supported by Weitering, 24, and Walsh, 21, who have been part of the club’s larger leadership group since 2020, and have won the past two best and fairests.
Cripps, who took on the captaincy role with Docherty in late 2018, said it was an honour he did not take lightly and was looking forward to helping drive the Blues back to a finals appearance again.
“It’s been an absolute honour to have held the captaincy alongside Doc for the past three seasons – it’s largely thanks to him that I’ve grown to be the leader I am today,” Cripps said.
“I’m now really looking forward to taking the next step this year under a new team of coaches and alongside Weiters and Walshy.
“The leadership of our group does not stop with just the three of us. We are fortunate to have both established and emerging leaders across every line and our focus this season will be bringing that out in one another – it is a collective responsibility for us to start to earn respect and we’re already putting in a massive amount of work to get that.”
Voss told the Blues faithful he had enormous confidence in the club’s emerging leadership group, saying Walsh and Weitering had earned their elevation as co-vice captains.
“Our club has complete belief that Patrick, Jacob and Sam will drive the team that we are striving to be this season,” Voss said.
“Since arriving at the Club, I have seen first-hand the incredible passion Patrick has to bring team success to this football club. Equally, both Jacob and Sam set the standards for workrate and professionalism and have earned the opportunity to lead as co-vice captains.
“A strong culture is centred around great leadership, we certainly have that in these three players who have a terrific understanding of what is required to drive standards at the elite level.
“I have no doubt as this group builds its connection with one another with the more time we spend together, the responsibility of leadership will be shared right across the board – which we have already started to see great signs of.”
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