Carlton has cut ties with its VFL affiliate, Northern Blues, forcing the historic club to close it doors
Carlton will end its alignment with VFL club Northern Blues after 18 years due to financial strains brought on by the coronavirus pandemic and it could mean the end for the historic Preston club.
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Historic VFA/VFL club Northern Blues has folded.
Carlton on Monday night told Blues officials that financial cuts brought on by the coronavirus pandemic had forced the end of the clubs’ alignment.
Northern Blues officials informed the players of the decision this morning, saying the 138-year-old club would not be able to go on as a standalone.
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Carlton CEO Cain Liddle said the Blues could no longer support the Preston-based club.
“It is hard to put into words how difficult a decision this has been,” Liddle said in a statement.
“Preston City Oval was a second home on the weekends for many Carlton players, staff and supporters.
“We are currently working with Northern Blues players to ensure they have access to ongoing support and resources.
“Should the VFL season go ahead, Carlton will be offered the opportunity to enter a team of our own and we would obviously be leaning heavily on existing Northern Blues players to complement our listed players.”
Formerly known as the Preston Bullants, the club changed its name to Northern Bullants when it aligned with Carlton in late 2002 and adopted Northern Blues in 2011.
Northern Blues president Stephen Papal was shattered seeing the club close its doors.
“To see our football club unable to continue its operations is as difficult as it gets,” he said.
“Our history extends 138 years and we are proud of each and every one of those seasons.
“This football club has a rich history and we will do everything possible to ensure it remains in the hearts and minds of our supporters forever.”
Bullants legend Harold Martin said he was “shocked and devastated’’ at the news.
Papal phoned Martin to tell him the Blues would have to close their doors.
“It’s a real shock. I think he (Papal) spoke to Ray Shaw as well, and Ray’s probably feeling the same as I am,’’ Martin said.
“I think this other struggle we’re going through (the coronavirus pandemic) is probably more important than the club itself, what with so many people losing their jobs and suffering illness.
“But there’s so much history to it. I just hope that down the track, they keep it going in some way, like functions for past players and so on.
“I’m trying to think to myself that there’s hope, but there doesn’t appear to be any, sadly.’’
Brilliant big man Martin captained Preston from 1978 to 1980, coached the club 1978-81, and won the best-and-fairest in 1978.
The Bullants won a premiership under him in 1978 and were runners-up in 1981.
“It’s been a great club, a successful club, with so many great players,’’ he said.
“At least old blokes like me had the chance to play out our careers and enjoy our time. Those are memories we’ll have until we die.
“For the young players there today, and the coaches and the staff, the club’s gone. They won’t get the opportunity that we had, and that’s sad.’’
Martin said he now feared for the future of other VFL clubs.
Shaw won the 1973 JJ Liston Trophy at Preston in 1973 and went on to captain Collingwood.
He returned to Cramer St in 1982 to coach the Bullants to the 1983-84 premierships.
Shaw said there would be “a few people around Melbourne with tears in the eyes’’ at the demise of a “great community football club’’.
“Even when I went back there, money was always their biggest issue and problem,’’ he said.
“The financial part of the club, it was always hard for the committee and the president to raise money. They worked their butts off, and although we had success they just couldn’t get ahead.’’
Born in Reservoir, Shaw began supporting Preston as a schoolboy and joined it at the age of 19.
The Bullants played Coburg in a relegation game at the end of the 1973 season before 16,000 spectators.
“I think about that day, all those people there, and now we’ve got this very sad news,’’ Shaw said.
“Even after the financial help of Carlton for quite a few years they’re unable to continue.’’
The club won four VFA/VFL premierships, was runner-up seven times and produced 11 Liston Trophy winners.
Legendary spearhead Jamie “Spider’’ Shaw, with 673, was its leading goalkicker.