Carlton Captain Chris Judd said the 2012 season had been a bitter pill to swallow for the Blues and that everyone at the club, in particular the players must take responsibility and learn from the disappointment.

Speaking to over 1400 Carlton supporters at the 2012 John Nicholls Medal dinner at Crown Palladium, Judd said, like all Carlton people, he had reflected on the 2012 season while also thinking about the future and what is required in 2013.

He said it was a most disappointing year, a year that expectations, both internally and externally, were high leading into the season and this made the failure to make the finals an even bigger disappointment for everyone.

“Each year the competition gives you feedback, and the feedback we got this year was that we have a lot of work to do across the whole club if we’re to regain our spot as one of the successful clubs in the competition,” Judd said.

“However this was not the only feedback the competition gave us during the year. It also told us that our best is good enough. We saw this several times throughout the year, and it’s our potential which makes Carlton an exciting proposition leading into 2013,” Judd added.

Like Mick Malthouse had said recently Judd said the issue for Carlton in 2012 was the difference between the best and the worst and the need to drastically reduce this difference going forward.

“Successful people and organisations don’t talk about potential, they reach it. Consistency is the number one thing that we, the players, need to change in 2013.”

Judd said he believed Carlton needs to earn the respect of the AFL before being in the privileged position to talk of premiership success and doesn’t believe Carlton has had that respect since the early 2000’s.

He said watching Sydney in the Grand Final reminded him that in today’s game it takes more than 22 players to win a flag. “It takes all the players, coaches, staff, sponsors and supporters, all prepared to, at times, put the common goal in front of their own needs and desires”.

Saturday’s Grand Final was also a reminder of what Judd calls the ‘why’ in football.

“Why do fans support, why do players play, coaches teach and staff work tirelessly? The answer is on the last Saturday in September when one team has created a piece of history.”

While focusing on the football, Judd did not forget the supporters and was adamant that the players were well aware of their frustrations during the season.

“To the supporters who continue to support us after a frustrating year, I both thank you and urge you to sick with us on our journey to first earn respect and then earn success.”

Judd then introduced a recorded message from new coach Mick Malthouse who was unable to be at the function due to a prior commitment