Of the many who’ve committed countless time and boundless energy to the Carlton cause over the years, few can truly compare with the four generations of females, beginning with Ida Sardi.

Members of the clan – ranging in age from three and a half to 77 - can lay claim to a collective total of 160 years as paid-up Carlton Football Club Members – the first of them the matriarch Ida, who as a five year-old in 1941 parted with her pocket money for the privilege.

Ida, whose two older sisters were born in the Treviso region of Northern Italy (the area from which the mother of Anthony Koutoufides hailed) was born and raised in Carlton’s Palmerston Street - not far from the famous hotel eatery the Clare Castle. She remembers that a family friend first led her and twin brother Elio on the blue-brick road to Princes Park of a Saturday afternoon, in what became a regular winter occurrence throughout their childhood years.

For Ida, the likes of Bob Chitty, Sergio Silvagni and Vin Waite made an indelible impression along the way, as she and her loved ones together savoured the many home and away and finals triumphs that truly set Carlton apart.

Little wonder Ida’s granddaughter Renee Costa took the liberty of recently contacting the club to trumpet the family cause - which in part tells the whole of the unbridled love of women for Carlton and indeed the game itself.

“My grandmother lived in Carlton and members of her family are all Carlton supporters,” Renee explained. “In the years that my Nanna has been a Member she’s rarely missed a game and she organises her calendar around the matches.

“In the 72 years that Nanna has been a Member she has carried the love of the Carlton Football Club to the women who succeed her - starting with her daughter (my mother Giannina Zei) who has been a member for 53 years. Together they attended games, slowly but surely accruing other friends to come along.”

In terms of her own involvement with the old dark Navy Blues, Renee admitted she had no real say in the matter. As a two year-old old toddler she was dragged kicking and screaming to Princes Park and almost anywhere else the Blueboys took to the field.

Today, history repeats  . . .  and try keeping Renee away. Of a weekend, she accompanies her own three-year old girl Scarlett to the games armed with the ticket Nanna bought her the day she was born. Renee also reminds that she and the little one featured in the club’s 2009/10 membership campaign when Scarlett was just four weeks old.

“Of course we are all members of the Women Of Carlton, attending many of the ladies of Carlton functions and events,” Renee added.

“We now have a group of 13 getting along to the games each week with reserved seating, all sitting together cheering on our Blue boys. But we don’t limit ourselves to just home and away games in Melbourne. I can’t manage to count how many times we’ve travelled interstate as a group to support our Blues . . . ”

Renee is of the view that her own family’s story truly reflects the standing of women in football and their substantial bearing on the overall building of the great Australian game.

“When you think about it, women are the backbone of the game at junior level. They are the support to their sons and usually the transport to and from Auskick and junior games,” Renee said.

“Generally women are the support behind the club and are involved in the fundraisers and also in the canteen on gameday, along with washing club jumpers and cutting up the oranges. Without these women supporting their sons and the clubs they play for, some of them may not have become the footballers they are today.

“It’s terribly critical that the AFL, along with the clubs, continue to openly acknowledge women in the game at both a support and playing level. The AFL needs to ensure the Respect and Responsibility policy is promoted and encouraged across the league.”

Renee’s reasoning in telling her family tale is truly noble. As she said: “lt’s important to highlight the incredibly dedicated female supporters amongst the Carlton Members who need to be recognised and honored in true Blue fashion.

As she said: “Four generations of female support initiated by my amazing Nanna and her love for the Blues is something that is rare and should be cherished”.