IT’S FAST becoming one of the feel-good days each year at IKON Park.
Once again, the next generation of the Blues’ bloodline took to Royal Parade last Thursday, with names such as Allan, Beaumont, Dean, Lappin and Pearce having a run around on the old Carlton ground.
With father-daughter, father-son and Next Generation Academy prospects all coming together, it provided the chance for potential Blues of the future to connect — and their parents to reunite with past teammates.
At her first Carlton Academy day, Sunny Lappin - the daughter of former Carlton fan favourite, Matthew ‘Skinny’ Lappin - embraced the day and all that came with it, having ventured to the Gabba with the family just a week beforehand for the preliminary final.
“I haven’t done a lot of footy in the last month and a bit, so it’s been good to get back into it. I had a lot of fun,” Sunny said.
“A few of us went into the AFLW final meeting to hear the coach’s last words. We went out on the track for some skills and handball games to get us back into the feel of the footy.
“I had a chat with Jess Good before. She was like ‘we have to see, if you get here, I might have to give you my jumper number’!”
Then, there was her old man, who well and truly lapped (no pun intended) the festivities of the day.
“Sitting out in the sunshine with a couple of my ex-teammates like Brad Pearce and Peter Dean . . . catching up with them and being able to see my own daughter as well as their kids out on the track, it was awesome,” Matthew said.
“A lot of old memories came flooding back.”
Two players who were familiar with the afternoon were Charlie Beaumont and Harry Dean, the sons of Simon and Peter respectively.
Last year, Peter lauded the professionalism of the day, and 16-year-old Harry said he relished returning to the old home of the 1995 premiership player.
“He used to play back and I play back, I ask him for some tips if I’m playing on a smaller player or if I’m on a bigger fella.
“Looking back [at their highlights], hopefully that’s us one day. You never know.”
Perhaps surprisingly, the vision of Simon’s eight-goal haul in a half against Collingwood doesn’t get too much of a run in the Beaumont household, according to Charlie, who plays his football off half-back and is aligned to the Sandringham Dragons.
“He rarely brings it up, he’s very humble — but he does to like to put it on every now and then!
“He’s always super encouraging, he definitely believes that if you get knocked down then you get back up against. I’m very grateful to have him as my dad.”
For Next Generation Academy prospect Jack Ison, who represented Vic Metro at under-16s level this year, it was all about “connecting with everyone else, enjoying your footy and trying to get better every day . . . Carlton helps develop me”.
It was the start of a good weekend for members of the Carlton Academy, as less than 48 hours later, two more sons of a gun fronted up on the MCG.
Taking place on the morning of the AFL Grand Final, Ben and Lucas Camporeale represented opposing sides of the under-17s Futures game, proving their wares amidst the best underage talent in the country.
Lucas showcased his versatility and class in an accomplished showing with 19 disposals and nine marks all over the ground, while Ben starred, amassing 30 disposals in the midfield to take home best-on-ground honours.
