‘Never seen this’: Blues supporters revel in dreams 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 last minute thriller over Melbourne in the Semi Final on Friday night to put them into their first Preliminary Final in 23 years.

If you‘re a Carlton supporter under the age of 25 years old, you’re right for not knowing quite what to do with yourself this week.

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Among the 6,000 strong crowd for training at the Blues spiritual home, supporters young and old were lapping up being a part of the third week of finals. Both again, and for many, the first time.

“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.

“It‘s a sight to behold” he added, trying to find the words to summarise the ride he and fellow Carlton supporters have been on over the last three months.

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 the ”giant”.

“You‘ve never seen this, it’s crazy.” He described the scenes around the Carlton faithful.

Supporter Tony, who has lived through and witnessed at least half a dozen of Carlton premierships described the rise and journey of this current group as “different”.

“It‘s been a different experience because they (the boys) have had to scrap and scrape and bounce back from a lot of adversity, it hasn’t just been an overnight thing,” he said.

Amid the scrambling of organising ways to get to Brisbane and then securing tickets to the game, the buzz was palpable at Princes Park when their navy Blue heroes stepped out for a light run.

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.

As the terraces began to fill with families and supporters young and old getting a glimpse of their heroes, the 6,000 strong crowd erupted again when the players emerged.

If it hadn‘t sunk in before then, it certainly was real for everyone to see the Blues start their preparation to play in a Preliminary Final.

Supporter Heath, who had lived through the clubs golden generation in the 70s and 80s, described the “unbelievable” scenes as the first time in a long time that the Carlton Football Club had truly been brought together.

“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 99‘ 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.”

For young supporter Jasmina, this was the first time she had ever seen Carlton advance this far in a finals series.

“It doesn‘t feel real,” she said.

She described her journey as a supporter and going to the football with her dad, who used to tell her all about “the good old days,”, the days that Jasmina, the co-mastermind of the Carlton Besties TikTok account and podcast- is starting to live through at the moment.

”I‘ve been going to the footy with my dad, it’s been something that we’ve been doing together forever.

”It’s good to watch the start of some success with him now.”

On the track, the full squad stepped out but some were there for longer than others.

Courageous defender Sam Docherty made an appearance on the track briefly before heading back inside to continue rehabbing his injured shoulder that he played through the pain during the second half.

Nic Newman, Jacob Weitering, Marc Pittonet, Brodie Kemp and David Cuningham were also part of the crew on light duties, watching on from the sidelines as the players broke off into ball movement drills and skills.

Sore Blues Blake Acres and Patrick Cripps were participants in the drills as they managed their way through the light session.

Harry McKay and Jack Martin, who both missed last week through concussion and suspension respectively were apart of training from the start and are poised to reclaim their place in Carlton‘s starting 22 for the clash against Brisbane.

Carlton fans are daring to dream again. One game away from the grand final, belief is high among the faithful.

“Why not us?” Joe said when asked if Carlton can go all the way.

“I can‘t see a reason why they can’t (go all the way),” Adrian said.

“The only thing stopping them is themselves.”

Despite having seen success previously, Tony believes the next premiership Carlton win will be “the greatest of them all,”

“It would have been the hardest earned because this has been a long time coming,” He said.

“I‘m rapt for the supporters, particularly the young kids who have never seen it (a Preliminary Final or Grand Final), rapt for the players that were here, banging away when we were getting smashed week after week.

“It‘s great to be part of this and feel the momentum.”