Premiership player Mark Naley was up at four in the morning to make the trip over from Adelaide an event he said he wouldn't miss.
"I do it every year. I come across two or three times a year for a function or for the golf day which is great for catching up with all the old teammates from back in the 80s and also mix in with the new lads," Naley said.
"I suppose they would feel like the old past players still want to be a part of the football club and I think the players of today would really appreciate that.
"It's very important to help [keep nurturing that club spirit]. It keeps your past players involved which is very important, but it also [helps] the current day players realise just what it is to be a Carlton person and what's expected of a Carlton person."
Naley has been buoyed by the recent signs of improvement both on and off the field for his beloved Blues, but admits it was tough watching from afar as the club struggled through most of the last decade.
"You go back to a few years ago and Carlton finished bottom - that just wasn't heard of back in my day," he said.
"When I came across in the mid-80s you were expected to play finals and you were expected to win flags.
"[But] we've seen the last couple of years when the boys have been fairly competitive and touching on those finals and hopefully they can go a bit better this year."
While Naley is hopeful of a march further up the ladder, he admitted he has been pondering the same question that has been on Blues' fans lips all summer.
"Last Saturday night was their first game for the year and you look up forward without the Fevola factor and you think 'who's going to kick the goals?'," he said.
"I'm hoping that one of the young players will stand up and become one of those key forwards that Carlton really does need."
