AS CARLTON'S irresistible September campaign gathers momentum, people of all generations are as one in support of the dark Navy Blues.

There are septuagenarians who’ve lived long enough to see 20th century past glories, through to kids who’ve never known what it feels to experience finals – and in between, the former players, many who gave their all through so many long, dark seasons in the 21st.

Amongst those who watched on in wonderment as Michael Voss’s 23 willed themselves to a famous two-point triumph over Melbourne at the MCG on Friday night were former players including Andrew Walker, Kade Simpson, Dennis Armfield, Michael Jamison and Jarrad Waite (together with son Teddy, sister Sharyn and nephew Jacob) watched on – and how proud they all felt.

In being asked to describe Friday night’s experience, Waite a 184-game senior player through 12 seasons with Carlton, replied: “Pure excitement”.

“It’s funny. As a player you’re out on the ground so you don’t realise the intensity of the supporters,” Waite said.

“My young fella started crying half-way through the last quarter because he thought we were going to lose, but he was pumped when the siren sounded. I too was pretty nervous between the 22 and 25-minute marks when the Melbourne players were peppering the goals, and every time they missed I thought they’d let us off the hook.

“We let a few opportunities slip when I played, and as an ex-player you look at it that way. A year or so ago we would have lost those games, which just goes to show how we’ve matured as a group.”

Waite also got the opportunity to renew acquaintances with old teammates at the ‘G on Friday night – Armfield and Walker, together with Andrejs Everitt, Lance Whitnall and Bryce Gibbs who’d jetted in from Adelaide – and as he said: “With everyone asking us for photos we felt like players again”.

“What the club has done for the past players is fantastic. We feel welcome and that’s the sign of a good club,” Waite said.

Also pictured leaving the MCG after that thrilling result on Friday night was the great Bruce Doull – Carlton’s 356-game four-time premiership player and Norm Smith Medallist – who as the most capped finals player in club history with 29 knows that September feeling better than anyone.

For Waite, heading home with the Carlton faithful was also a first.

“Another thing I’d never experienced before was when we walked from the MCG back to Flinders Street and seeing and hearing the carry-on, with everyone waving flags and singing the song,” Waite said.

“It’s great to see the club in a really good position now.”