Carlton and Essendon mocked for pre-game MCG tribute that only reinforces ‘sad reality’

Carlton and Essendon have been roasted for a pre-game act that had footy fans accusing the two AFL clubs of living in the past.

Carlton and Essendon's premiership cups on the MCG turf. Photo: Twitter.

Carlton and Essendon fans have been given a painful reminder of their lengthy premiership droughts ahead of their round 13 clash on Sunday night.

The traditional rivals faced off for some rare Sunday night footy and both teams decided to honour their proud history pre-game at the MCG.

All of Carlton’s and Essendon’s VFL/AFL premiership cups were placed around the MCG’s centre circle before the game.

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The Bombers and Blues are the two most successful clubs in Australian Rules history, with both clubs having won 16 premierships.

This week Essendon celebrated the 30-year anniversary of their 1993 premiership, where the team nicknamed the ‘Baby Bombers’ claimed an iconic flag.

It’s unclear what the occasion was that prompted Carlton to get in on the act and join the pre-game festivities.

16 each 🏆#AFLBluesDonspic.twitter.com/GMqy8ytbX4

— AFL (@AFL) June 11, 2023

But their devoted fans have had to endure some very lean years in recent times.

Essendon won their last premiership in 2000, but the Bombers haven’t won a final since way back in 2004 — a drought that has become a meme of sorts in recent years.

All of Essendon’s and Carlton’s premiership cup in the centre circle before their round 13 game. Photo: Michael Klein.

Carlton’s most recent premiership was 28 years ago in 1995, while they haven’t made finals since Chris Judd wore navy blue in 2013.

Essendon has rebounded this season and is well in the hunt for finals after a strong first half of the season.

But the same can’t be said for Carlton, who are set for another year in the wilderness with only four wins and a draw after 12 rounds.

And it’s safe to say the sight of the premiership cups out on display on the MCG turf wasn’t received too well by cynical fans, accusing the Blues and Bombers of living in the past.

These doing a lot of posturing for two organisations that haven’t looked close to winning anything in more than two decades.

Half the people at the MCG tonight won’t have been born the last time any of those cups were won! 😳#AFLBluesDonspic.twitter.com/TsKnOL22UP

— Matt Walsh (@MattWalshMedia) June 11, 2023

I get the sell of the 16 premiership cups each, but I’m not sure it makes Essendon people feel any better seeing the 1897 premiership cup when the club hasn’t won a final for 19 years… or Carlton going a decade without a final etc #AFLBluesDons

— Corbin Middlemas (@CorbinMiddlemas) June 11, 2023

Every Bombers and Blues fan in the crowd under the age of 28 tonight are asking their parents what these cups are…#AFL#AFLBluesDonspic.twitter.com/ke0Xp589Wj

— Dylan Leach (@NedsDylan3Votes) June 11, 2023

winner of this game gets to take home all those ancient premiership cups, just for a laugh #AFLBluesDons

— Brett Sprigg (@BrettSprigg) June 11, 2023

Carlton and Essendon may boast the most premierships of any club, but only a few of those have come in the AFL era.

Garry Lyon summed it up on Fox Footy: “32 premierships between these two teams, 16 apiece,”

“Carlton’s last premiership was 1995. Their last finals win was 2013.

“From the Essendon footy club, their last premiership was back in 2000. Their last finals win, you’ve got to way back to 2004.

“Whilst this is magnificent and it’ll be a great picture and the 80-odd thousand people at the ground will be appreciating the historic nature of these might two mighty footy clubs — the sad, hard reality is success has been hard to come by in recent years.”