She may be the daughter of three-time Brisbane premiership player Jonathan Brown - but try telling Olivia Brown that it’s life with the Lions.
You see, seven year-old Olivia is True Blue from top to her size threes. She just happens to be a big fan of both the Carlton men’s and women’s teams, and Darcy Vescio is her latest pin-up.
Olivia Brown with Carlton's No.3s Darcy Vescio and Marc Murphy in the Nova 100 studios in August, 2016. (Photo: Nova 100)
Which is why, despite her old man’s protestations, Olivia will lead Vescio, Arnell and co. out onto the Carlton ground on Friday night, just prior to the first match of the inaugural AFLW competition.
Olivia’s role as women’s team mascot evokes images of Master Samuel George Grimes leading out the likes of “Mallee” Johnson, Ted Kennedy and George Bruce – men of stature who played their part in Carlton’s grand final triumphs of 1906, ’07 and ’08.
Samuel, who died on the Monday after Carlton famously overran Collingwood in the 1970 grand final, was born at 177 Fenwick Street in the shadows of the old Princes Park ground – and for him the link with his football club was purely territorial.
In precious film of the 1909 VFL grand final with South Melbourne, Master Grimes can be seen flanking his heroes as 'Pompey' Elliott leads Carlton onto Jolimont’s hallowed turf. The near-complete silent film just happens to be football’s oldest, and doubtless young Olivia will be captured on celluloid when she takes her beloved Bluegirls onto the hallowed turf come Friday night.
It’s fair and reasonable to assume that the ghost of Master Samuel Grimes will also be roused, with the ringing of the old Carlton bell before the first bounce.
Samuel George Grimes, aged nine, 1909. (Photo: Ron Grimes)
The bell, which is thought to pre-date Princes Park itself, was cast in iron by famed founders and engineers Thomsons of Castlemaine, and is thought to predate Princes Park itself.
Legend has it that the bell first tolled in Carlton matches through the 1880s, and from 1898 until 1950 at Princes Park when the VFL standardized its sirens.
Although some bells were heard only faintly above the roar of the crowd, the Carlton bell, rich and strident, never gave cause for complaint.
Fittingly, this football club has seen fit to sound the bell for any landmark moment reached - as is the case when Olivia’s Blues do battle with the Black and Whites in old Carlton town tomorrow.
