‘Never seen anything like that,’ say Blues fans as they dream of new Prelim territory.
It was advertised as a viewing session and the perfect way to start the first morning of school holidays.
But the scenes at Ikon Park very quickly resembled a Beatles concert as the Carlton faithful continued to lap up their side’s last-minute thriller over Melbourne in the semi-final on Friday night to put them into their first preliminary inal in 23 years.
If you’re a Carlton supporter under the age of 25, you’d be excused for not knowing what to do with yourself this week.
Around 6000 supporters, young and old, lapped up training at the Blues’ spiritual home on Monday. For many, this was the first time supporting their team in the third week of finals.
“I‘ve never seen anything like this in my entire life following this football club,” Carlton supporter Adrian told foxfooty.com.au as he prepares to watch his first preliminary final with his team playing in it.
Trying to find the words to summarise the ride he and fellow Carlton supporters have been on over the last three months, Adrian said: “It‘s a sight to behold.”
Another supporter, Joe, described the feeling around the club and the scenes in the grandstands at the MCG as “biblical” and the real awakening of a “giant”.
“You‘ve never seen this, it’s crazy,” he said describing the scenes of the Carlton faithful.
Blues fan Tony, who has lived through and witnessed at least half a dozen Carlton premierships, described the rise and journey of this current group as “different”.
“They (Blues players) have had to scrap and scrape and bounce back from a lot of adversity, it hasn’t just been an overnight thing,” he said.
Before the players had even hit the track, the faithful had burst into a rousing rendition of the theme song, with the replay of Friday’s triumph displayed on the Sam Smorgon scoreboard.
Amid the scrambling of organising ways to get to Brisbane and securing tickets to the game, the buzz was palpable at Princes Park when their navy Blue heroes stepped out for a light run.
Then they erupted again when the players emerged.
If it hadn‘t sunk in before then, it was real now.
Supporter Heath, who witnessed the club’s golden generation in the ‘70s and ‘80s, said the “unbelievable” scenes felt like the Carlton Football Club had truly been united for the first time in a long time.
“This is the old, the young, all brought together,” he said.
“Did we think that it would ever happen? It was always going to turn around at some stage, but to be here in this position and here right now, considering where we were halfway through the year, is quite surreal.
“It‘s incredible what this group has been able to do for the fanbase.”
Carlton supporter Julian was just four-years-old when he attended the 1999 prelim with his family. He said he remembers “moments”, but nothing will compare to being at the Gabba on Saturday night.
“It‘s amazing to finally be in this position again … We’ve been dreaming about this and every year we’re not in this position,” Julian said.
“To finally be there, we just have to enjoy it.”
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