I am just over nine months into my New York experience, having arrived here just before September 11.  It was an incredibly sad time to be in New York during that time with the scale of the devastation.  Even Kouta's knee injury paled in significance when compared to the events that led up to our clash with the Tigers last year.  But now that the dust has begun to settle in both parts of my world, I know that both are in the process of rebuilding.

Being overseas this year, some might see as a god send.  I disagree.  Listening to a webcast at 3am (ny time), with a commentary team that continually emphasise the inevitability of the team finishing last and an American fiancé consoling you after each devastating loss, as was the case last week against Geelong, I can assure you it has been no joy ride being so far away from Optus Oval.  The closest I get to live footy action these days is donning the boots for the New Jersey Crocodiles in the local competition here.  For all the graces of the information age, there is nothing like watching footy live at the 'G', Optus or even Colonial and bleeding with fellow supporters.

I was one who thought at the start of the season that the year was full of promise.  Some proven talent was brought to the club to compliment a pretty solid list and that would stand us in good stead in 2002.  I also remember Blues fans breathing a collective sigh of relief that there were no scandals in the off-season like those that had plagued us the year before. However, it now appears obvious that the writing was on the wall five minutes into the West Coast Eagles game in the Wizard Cup.  It seems like a nice bit of synergy then that this week the team attempts to put to bed some of the demons of this year and launch its fledging season against the side where it arguably all began.

Unlike some of the earlier losses against St Kilda and the Swans, there is now light at the end of the tunnel. I think most Blue fans can see that the future is not as grim as pundits Sheahan, Smith and Walls will have us believe.  The glass is either half full or half empty depending on which side you choose to look at things from.  The finger of blame is easily pointed and those looking to release some of the frustration of the past nine months may get some short term satisfaction in pointing it at the usual suspects.  However, history is a great teacher.  A club like Carlton has not been able to rise to the top and stay there by being reactive, impulsive or responsive to criticism from those who don't have the best interests of the club or the playing group at heart.

While the recruiting follies of the past have been recanted on many forums time and again, there is now a nucleus of good young players to take the club into the future.  Just like the era in the early nineties that spawned Kouta, Ratten, McKay, Christou, Brown and co, there is a current crop of future stars at the club who are showing that they have the competitive instincts and strength of character to be winners.

They are the custodians of the future of the club and we are now starting to see it is in good hands.

This week is perhaps not a defining week, as it is just one more week in a young team's continued development.  But I think we might look back to this week, and may be even the last quarter against Geelong, as perhaps a turning point in a number of careers and, with it hopefully, the fortunes of our footy club.  Livingston showed tremendous maturity, Campbell stepped up in his second game of footy, Thornton and Wiggins held down key posts down back and Fevola presented himself up forward.

Win, lose or draw, one thing is certain and that is the emotion will be felt equally by fans on the four corners of the globe, whether it be the Blue fan who lives in Hong Kong, the UK or the US or the unofficial match committee who go to training every week. Such is the far reaching appeal of our proud club, the expectations are always high.

In truth, things can't get much worse than the events that have transpired so far this season.  At least we can take pride in the fact that a lot of lesser clubs would have wilted under the kind of pressure the Blues have been under and self destructed.  To date, ours has put on a brave face and continued to put one foot in front of the other.  Unlike in previous weeks, let's hope this week we don't trip up in doing so.