The Carlton Football Club’s relocation of home matches from what was then Optus Oval to what is now Etihad Stadium towards the end of 2005, undoubtedly came at substantial sacrifice.

So it’s only fair and reasonable to assume that if Etihad is to serve as the club’s preferred venue for six home matches in 2010 and beyond, then Carlton should take greater ownership of the place.

One such means at Carlton’s disposal is to stake a claim in certain sections of the stadium’s infrastructure . . . like the Coventry end perhaps.

As such, it would seem appropriate the following letter from the Carlton CEO to the Collingwood President (and cc’d to the Chief Executive of Etihad Stadium) should be fired off post haste.

 
The President,
c/o Collingwood Football Club
Cnr Olympic Boulevard & Batman Avenue,
Olympic Park, Melbourne, Victoria, 3000

Dear Sir,

Now that the precedent has been set to rename the Coventry end of Etihad Stadium after the son of former Carlton footballer John Lloyd, I am writing to formally request that the Coventry end also be renamed the Kernahan end - in celebration of Stephen Kernahan’s exceptional career - for all future Blues home matches at the venue.

As you know, Stephen Kernahan is not only the longest-serving captain in VFL/AFL history and a dual Carlton premiership captain and triple club best and fairest, but is also the Blues’ leading goalkicker with 738 goals from 251 senior appearances and their leading goalkicker in each season from 1986-‘96.

He is also a seven-time All-Australian, a member of the Australian Football Hall of Fame and a Carlton Football Club Hall of Fame Legend.

Mr. Ian Collins AM, Chief Executive of Etihad Stadium, perhaps put it best when he said of Stephen Kernahan - “On and off the field, he is the greatest leader this club has ever had - bar none.”

In the spirit of commemorating the heroics of our star, and understanding that Gordon Coventry Junior has already displayed a flexibility in this regard, I await with genuine anticipation your preparedness to reach an appropriate compromise for Carlton’s next home match.

Yours faithfully,

Mr. Greg Swann

Carlton FC CEO

 
Please Note: the views expressed in the above article are solely the opinion of the author and do not reflect the opinions of the Carlton Football Club or those employees of the Club. The Carlton Football Club would like to acknowledge the tireless work of those supporters who contribute to carltonfc.com.au.