When I went to bed on Thursday night we were in the top eight and Richard Pratt was our President. Now, less than 72-hours later we have dropped to tenth on the AFL ladder and Richard Pratt is no longer our President. I know they say things happen quickly in football but this is ridiculous.

Like so many Carlton supporters leaving the MCG today I felt totally gutted. Not just because we had lost to the Bombers, and for the second time this year (Collingwood games in reverse!). It was also because we had lost to a side that we should have beaten (again) and once again the questions were being asked about our ability to handle expectation.

After such a positive start to the week, a come from behind victory over Collingwood and a spot in the top eight, it is hard to believe just what a difference a couple of days had made.

The disappointed is real however the ‘gutted’ feeling is fading as everything starts to be put into perspective.

Firstly the President, his decision was beyond the control of the Club. Far be it for a voice in the outer to pretend to know about the business affairs or the actions of the ACCC. Sure I have my opinions but will leave that to Richard Pratt and others to discuss. What I do know is that in 16 months as the President of the Carlton Football Club he has brought this great Club back on the right road. Through his support the Carlton Football Club has a promising future both on and off the field. Carlton has that confidence back and with it will come success.

I understand he has provided financial support but listening to those at the Club it is his overall support and his belief in the people at Carlton and those involved with the Club that has been the real change. It seems Richard’s philosophy is not about trying to simply fix something with money, he addresses the issues to ensure it is a long-term fix. And that is exactly what appears to have been done. He has not only ensured the right people are at the Club he has also worked with them to bring people and organisations back to support the Carlton Football Club. Members, sponsors and general supporters are involved with Carlton in record numbers.

Stephen Kernahan is the right person to lead this Club for the remainder of the 2008 season and that is all we should be concerned with at the moment. I am sure there will be speculation about a potential successor in the long-term but that is not an issue right now (I am sure it will be for the media as they know Carlton sells papers). The board will work through this matter if it needs to.

Importantly Richard Pratt will continue to support Carlton and while he is not a board member or President the confidence and guidance he has provided in recent times will still be provided and that is essential as we continue to move forward. He obviously loves the Carlton Football Club.

As for the football side of things – it is hard to swallow the events of the MCG today. However in the long-term does it really make any difference? I am not talking long-term as in this year. I am talking the next few years. Brett Ratten has said 2008 is an important development year for this young Carlton side and today was another step in their development. To be the hunted rather than the hunter was a new experience and the first quarter showed our young side was not ready for this.

Expectation is something that individuals and teams must learn to play with and perform under, today at the MCG was a learning curve. Earlier in the year we had a similar learning curve against the Bombers when we realised the need to be able to control the ball and play tempo football was important. Thankfully these young players are good and fast learners and they responded with a great victory the next week, playing tempo football when required. Next week against Richmond we will see what lessons have been taken from today’s game.

Had the Blues enjoyed a victory today we would still be in the top half of the ladder and we would all be feeling great tonight. However does it really matter? After all it is the ladder after 22 rounds that really matters.

Sure we all want to play finals again but in the end the development of this team is about building for our next premiership and sustained success at the top of the AFL ladder. There will be plenty of lessons on the way and today was just one of them. Don’t think about where we are tonight; think about the development and how much better this team will be as a result of another learning curve. Continued development and you never know we may still play finals in 2008, but that will take care of itself if we win enough games. No use thinking about it or working out how and if. The simple fact is if we confront each challenge as we have in recent weeks then we are a chance to win enough games to be involved in finals.  If not we need to ensure we continue to learn.

It is a hard and bitter pill to swallow, but in the end the result of today’s game will mean very little when it counts most and that is in the coming years when we are ready for a true tilt at the flag. Just remember we are coming from a long way back, but we are certainly on the march.

As our interim President said at the official luncheon today, “We are Carlton – look out we are coming!”