Strong leadership and team unity – that’s what Carlton greats say took their team to premiership glory back in 1995.
That triumph was relived at Visy Park last week at The Carlton Bequest Society luncheon.
The society holds biannual gatherings, and is made up of people who have chosen to leave proceeds from their estate to the Carlton Football Club.
Carlton President Stephen Kernahan, premiership coach David Parkin, and premiership players Mil Hanna, Dean Rice and Matthew Hogg were among those present.
Mil Hanna, who moved to Australia from Lebanon when he was five years old, reflected on the series of fortunate events that led him to become part of the premiership winning team.
“It was quite a journey,” he told guests. “Growing up, I didn’t have much idea about football. But I was lucky for two reasons; one being that Dad settled in Brunswick, which was in Carlton’s zone. The other was that the kid across the road barracked for Carlton and convinced me to go for Carlton too.”
Mil Hanna chats to Col Kinnear. (Photo: Carlton Football Club)
Hanna said it was his coach, David Parkin, who empowered the team and drove their success.
“It was a year where David Parkin, I suppose not handed control to players, but told senior blokes they needed to direct the tone and the way we were going to head that year. What that did was give us this steely resolve from all players that we had to get the job done, week in, week out.”
The luncheon was given an intimate insight into that one day in September back in 1995. A video was shown, that was shown to Carlton players 18 years ago, ahead of the Grand Final. The video drew an emotional response from premiership coach David Parkin.
“I had a tear here today when that film was on about these blokes,” Parkin said. “These blokes, when I look at them, they are the ones who have maintained this connection with each other, and with the club that has made them who they are.”
Parkin paid tribute to his premiership captain, Carlton President Stephen Kernahan, as a man who always had time for everyone. When it came his turn to speak, Kernahan talked about the importance of leadership.
“We had 10 or 12 blokes in that team who could have captained the side,” Kernahan said.
“Leadership is knowing what to do, and to make the right decision at the right time. It’s something that Mick is working to strengthen with our current playing group. If we can string a bit more of that together, then we’ll be going places.”
For information about the Carlton Bequest Society contact Jason Reddick on (03) 9389 6238.
