Carlton fans are experiencing a rebuild that has left them angry, frustrated, hurt and disenchanted

FOR the first time in the club’s history, Carlton fans are experiencing a rebuild that has left them angry, frustrated, hurt and disenchanted. And as Sam Edmund writes, that means the Blues are also on the right path.

Brendon Bolton has a tough task ahead of him. Picture: Getty Images

NO more brown paper bags.

No more smuggling star interstate players across the border in huge recruiting raids.

No more high-profile saviours — Chris Judd, Mick Malthouse — seemingly entrusted with turning the club around on their own.

Carlton supporters, welcome to a rebuild.

We feel the need to introduce you because, let’s be honest, you’ve never met.

In your glorious 122-year history, your 16 premierships have been hard-won by shrewd tactical minds and some of the biggest names this sport has produced.

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But they were also engineered by quick-fixes and a big piggy bank. One of the first things you need to know about a rebuild is it takes something no footy fans likes.

Time.

There’s only one road your club is on — a long one. You can’t deviate now. You’re setting off across footy’s version of the Nullabor.

The Blues look dejected after losing to the Western Bulldogs. Picture: Getty Images

Coach Brendon Bolton started driving this bus in 2016. He put the keys in the ignition with a clear strategy to rebuild the Blues. Yes, these are extremely testing times, but it’s not the time to panic and turn the joint upside down.

Your club has been there before and you know how that movie ends.

Injuries have kicked you while you’re down.

You traded Bryce Gibbs and have lost skipper Marc Murphy, Sam Docherty and Matthew Kreuzer to injury. That’s not only your senior core, it’s your top four in last year’s best and fairest.

It has savaged the win-loss column and has exposed the kids, of which there are now many.

You know the names. Charlie Curnow, Zac Fisher, Sam Petrevski-Seton, Harry McKay, Jacob Weitering, Paddy Dow, Lachie O’Brien, Tom Williamson, David Cuningham and Jack Silvagni.

Patrick Cripps is 23 and already a star of the game. Caleb Marchbank is only 21.

Some of those kids have shown immense promise, some have been a slow burn and others are yet to fire a shot or haven’t even been seen. But you play them and keep playing them. They’ve been in the AFL for five minutes.

Then in November you go to this year’s draft and take the cream again.

Yes, there have been recruiting blunders, but show me a club who hasn’t made those.

Brendon Bolton speaks to his players on Friday night. Picture: AAP Images

Ignore historical references like being 0-6 for the first time in club history. There will be more like those, but they will mean nothing when the wheel turns.

Wins will be scarce in 2018, that’s the reality. It’s necessary, and like the flu jab that makes you sick, this is the medicine you have to swallow.

You’re angry, you’re frustrated, you’re hurt or you’re disenchanted.

You’re also on the right path.