Mission & Vision of Spirit of Carlton Past & Present
- To run fundraising events assisting the team and coaches with direct funding towards the improving the team and its individuals with new age equipment and technology, including the running of the first SOC themed lunch.
- To assist past players with health and welfare issues directly and through the association with the AFLPA alumni assistance programs and promoting these programs.
- To assist the CFC with the management of the clubs incredible and long history of more than 150 years by funding and promoting memorabilia displays and online through the well regarded Blueseum website set up by a special volunteer group
- To promote regular past player and officials’ engagement with social events and gatherings at CFC games
History of Spirit of Carlton Past and Present
In late 2006 Bob Lowrie (CFC runner – late seventies and eighties) contacted a number of past players, coaches and administrators to entice them to get together to discuss informally the Carlton Football Club’s then precarious state and image in the AFL. Those who attended this get together included Robert Walls, Jim Buckley, Bob Lowrie, David Rhys-Jones, Ken Hunter, Geoff Southby, David Parkin, Steve Kernahan, Mark McClure, Mike Fitzpatrick, Val Perovic and Keith McKenzie with apologies from Alex Marcou and David McKay.
There was a very united and passionate feeling amongst the group that they would like to in some way contribute to restoring and enhancing the spirit & culture of the Carlton Football Club in a non political way.
Hence the slogan the “Spirit of Carlton” was born.
With the Club entering into a new and youthful era, it was felt that it was a great time for past and present players, officials to get together and make every effort to renew or rekindle the Carlton Spirit, which was lying very dormant at the time. There was a strong feeling amongst the group that this initiative should certainly not be about living in the past, but about the future of Carlton and its forthcoming successes on and off the field.
As a result this Spirit of Carlton group organised and ran two very successful functions in 2007. The special golf day and dinner in early 2007 enabled an intimate group of current players, past players and passionate supporters to get together on the day. It was highly successful in building the Carlton spirit and raising money to assist in the purchase of equipment and technology to enhance the current players’ spirit and on-field performance. Our guest Carlton speakers on the day were Robert Walls and David Parkin. Both were brilliant.
The theme lunch event run in August 2007 was attended by 700 of the Carlton family including past players, current players, passionate supporters and sponsors. The lunch celebrated in 2007 the magnificent performances of our famous 7’s premierships, 1907, 1947 and 1987. It was a highly successful event attended by many of the past greats of Carlton, current players and five surviving members of the 1947 team, including captain, Ken Hands. Eighteen of the 1987 premiership players were in attendance and Jim Buckley, a great former premiership player and the lovable larrikin of Carlton spoke with real passion on the day.
In addition to the incredible amount of spirit and Carlton passion generated at these two events, in excess of $100K was raised of which a large proportion was donated to the CFC for new technology training and fitness recovery equipment for our players.
In 2008, these two events were even more successful in terms of generation of the Carlton spirit and funds with almost 800 guests enjoying “The 1968 Breakthrough Lunch” at Telsta Dome, celebrating the 40th anniversary of the 1968 premiership, the first of eight premierships over the next 30 years. None of the 800 in attendance will ever forget the inspiring speech delivered by one of our ’68 premiership players, John “Ragsy” Goold.
At our Golf Day dinner, we were fortunate to listen to a great address from our wonderful defender of the nineties, Andrew McKay as our guest Carlton “Spirit” speaker.
In March 2008 at the Past Players Association AGM, there was an official amalgamation of the Spirit of Carlton group with the traditional past players association culminating in our new name. “The Spirit of Carlton Past & Present”.
The outgoing president, Dennis Munari and former past players president Chris Pavlou who both had worked tirelessly in keeping the traditional past players association up and running, were there to see the hand over to a new era and exciting future for all current and past players, officials and passionate Blues supporters.
SOC Fundraising
Since its inception in 2007, The Spirit of Carlton has run many events including our annual SOC Themed Lunches to raise funds to support the CFC team.
From 2007 to 2018, the focus of our funding was to purchase equipment and services to help improvements to our CFC team. This period represented a significant low in the performance of the CFC both on and off the field.
A list of donations to the CFC team from 2007 to 2018 is set out below.
From 2019 to 2024, with the CFC off-field financial performance reaching high levels, the SOC has continued to fund itself and generate funds mainly to support very needy past player health and welfare requirements. These funds are generated through our annual themed lunches and the official SOC/CFC Hall of Fame annual events in 2023 & 2024.
During the period 2007 to 2024, the SOC has received three significant donations. Thes are listed below. A big thanks go to the donors, including past player SOC member, Kevin Heath.
Brent Crosswell and SOC president, David Rhys Jones
Since 2007 the SOC has been pleased to be able to provide over $500,000 in support in funding the acquisition of new technology and equipment to provide on-going support to the development and performance of the team.
A list of the items funded by the SOC from 2007 to 2018
ITEM DONATION
Piero Software (2015 – 2018) $150,000
150th CFC Anniversary (2014) $50,000
Development room (CA Altitude – 2012) $28,000
Touch Screen Player Pro
systems for gym x 2 @ $6k ea (2012) $12,000
Watt Bikes x 6 @ $2,975 ea (2012) $17,850
Grinders x 2 @ $4,000ea (2012) $8,000
Versa Climbers x 2 @ $4,500 ea (2012) $9,000
Rowing Machines x 2 @ $3,000 ea (2012 $6,000
Qatar Altitude Training Venture (2011) $50,000
Ice spa bath – recovery chillers (2010) $32,000
Body Flow Recovery Vests (2010) $22,000
History Management Funding (2009) $50,000
Hi- Tech Treadmill G-Trainer (2008) $85,000
Players room furniture (2007) $5,200
Player Compendiums (2007) $3,000
Players room stereo unit (2007) $6,000
Total $584,000
Donations to SOC
Player’s room – Plasma TV (2007) – Donated by Kevin Heath of Sony
Harold Mitchell (2013 – 2014) – $20,000
Vivien Kerr (2023) – $10,000
Our Executive
In November 2006, within the confines of Giancarlo Caprioli’s University Café on Lygon Street, a hardened core of legendary Carlton Football Club figures convened for what was the first-ever meeting of the Spirit of Carlton movement. In attendance for that historic gathering were Jim Buckley, Mike Fitzpatrick, Ken Hunter, Alex Jesaulenko, Stephen Kernahan, Bob Lowrie, Mark Maclure, Alex Marcou, Keith McKenzie, David Parkin, Val Perovic, David Rhys-Jones, Geoff Southby and Robert Walls.
Today, the following executive has been entrusted with the responsibility of keeping the Spirit of Carlton alive, through the Spirit of Carlton – Past and Present.
They are as follows;
David Rhys-Jones (President)
Famous for his Norm Smith medal as well as numerous tribunal appearances, David represented Carlton in 106 games spread over 8 seasons, including the 1987 Premiership. Superbly skilled, fiery, volatile – these are all apt descriptions of the enigmatic David Rhys-Jones. Originally from Oakleigh Districts, David was signed by South Melbourne as an 18 year-old and made his debut for them in 1980. At 188 cm and 73 kg, he quickly established himself as one of the game’s tallest and best wingmen. He had pace, balance and wonderful aerial skills.
Geoff Southby (Secretary)
One of the greatest full-backs of his or any generation, Geoff represented Carlton in 268 senior matches over 14 seasons, including the Grand Final victories of 1972 and ’79 under the leadership of captain-coaches John Nicholls and Alex Jesaulenko respectively. Considered the pioneer of full-backs of the modern era, Geoff was recruited from Sandhurst and made a stunning impact, taking out Club championship honours in his first two seasons of 1971 and ’72. A regular Victorian representative, Geoff was also named in a back pocket in the Blues’ coveted Team of the Century, rubbing shoulders with the League’s full-back of the century, Stephen Silvagni.
David McKay
Fondly remembered as one of the most consistent and spectacular high marks of his era, David “Swan” McKay was a Carlton star for twelve years, and a key member of four Premiership teams.
David Nettlefold
David Nettlefold, began in the outdoor advertising industry over 40 years ago, working for Claude Neon and then Australian Posters before starting his first business, which was later sold to the United States group 3M. After a time out of the industry, he launched Nettlefold Advertising, a company that became the first strongly branded out-of-home media business in Australia. That was sold to the Hoyts group and, after various incarnations, most of that business is now found within APN News Media, which has Australia’s largest group of outdoor assets.
Alex Marcou
Alex was a member of Carlton’s fabled mosquito fleet of brilliant small men of the 1970’s and ‘80’s, and a three-time Premiership rover for the Blues. Recruited within the Blues recruiting zone, from northern suburban VAFA club Thomastown. Alex was a lightning-quick rover with sure ball-handling skills and excellent goal sense. Aged 20 on debut, by mid-season in ‘79 he was a regular in a powerful Blues combination that topped the ladder. In 1989 after retiring from league football, Alex played at VFA club Springvale, the club was being coached by premiership teammate Phil Maylin. He later returned to Carlton as an energetic and active member of the Past Players. In 2006 he was a popular – some would say overdue – choice for induction into the Carlton Hall of Fame.
Brett Sholl
Brett Sholl played 35 games for the Blues from 1992 to 1994 in the number 9 guernsey. Some 18 years after his last match – in June, 2012 – Brett was featured in an interview on Carlton’s website, and had this to say in an effort to ensure all former players that the doors at Princes Park are always open to them. “My message to the players and to the club itself is this – re-engage,” Brett said. “To the past players who wore the guernsey and played one, two, three, 40 or 50 games and who because they didn’t participate in a Premiership may not have felt a part of it, it’d be great to see you back at Carlton. To the club, it’s important that it realises – and I’m sure it does realise – the significance of the contributions of all those players who wore the guernsey, and in their own way, help set up the premierships for those others who actually played in them.”