WHAT makes a good clubman?
“I’ve always thought that good clubmen are people you want to come to the Club with and play with. The sort of people who have genuine care and have your back on-field and off-field. It’s that consistency of being there for your mate and going beyond yourself.”
They’re the words of Marc Pittonet, who on Sunday night was acknowledged as Carlton’s Best Clubman for the second time.
The first occasion was in his second season in Navy Blue in 2021, while this year’s honour came after his sixth year at the footy club. Having also been crowned the Spirit of Carlton award winner in 2021, it’s clear that Pittonet’s character and approach to football and beyond is highly respected at IKON Park.
Speaking in the days following, Pittonet was congratulated with a message - and then a cheeky reminder - from Nic Newman, who took home the award in 2020, 2022 and 2023.
“The three-time champ might’ve reminded me this morning that you can’t give out more than three to someone, which is the only reason why he didn’t win it…”
“No, it’s nice to know that it is valued and to get that recognition - not that you do any of it for that. I like to think I live a certain way based on my values.”
The chat taking place in the Carlton Media studio was at this point interrupted by Shane O’Sullivan, the veteran footy administrator who everybody at IKON Park has plenty of time for. It prompted Pittonet to go a little bit off topic.
“I’d love to see the Best Clubman award named after ‘Shane O’. You look at him and think of the people behind the scenes that don’t play on game day, but the Club isn’t anywhere near what it is without people like that.
“This has become a ‘Shane O’ chat... and that’s okay.”
For Pittonet, the chance to be a first-class teammate and club person stems from his early days at Hawthorn, where - as he put it quite frankly - he needed to make an impact in any way he could that wasn’t just playing senior football.
With seven games from his first five seasons in the AFL, Pittonet looked at a pair of senior leaders from the Hawks who he always remembers for the time invested in him, paying him back in kind. And then, of course, there’s the matter of a former Navy Blue teammate turned close confidant.
“Ben McEvoy was a massive one for me, and Brendan Whitecross is the main one that I think of. I still think about what those two said to me over the years - and then there are blokes like ‘Kreuz’ when I got here, who I had a pre-season together with before he got injured.
“They had such an impact on me, when they were playing but I could’ve been in and out the door. I’ve always liked to think I could return the favour when possible, and it’s nice knowing that I am passing on what was given to me when I was younger.”
So on a night where Carlton acknowledged Cooper Lord as the Best Young Player, who does Pittonet see as the Best Young Clubman?
After all, using Newman’s (very unofficial) criteria, Pittonet can only win one more before he’s maxed out.
“Best Young Clubman? Now that’s a good question. ‘Haynesy’?
“I’d probably go with ‘Garry’, Harry Charleson. He brings the energy and it was huge this year, so good. To be able to come out of your shell in your first year like that, it means you feel safe enough to do it.
“It was impressive to see that, especially in a tough year and you don’t know any different.”
Asked for his thoughts on Michael Voss’ speech to round out the interview, Pittonet agreed with the AFL Senior Coach’s sentiment - it wasn’t what people may have wanted to hear, but it was what they needed to hear.
“Yeah, liked it. Where we’re at as a club, it was pretty accurate and a good, honest reflect.
“Everybody at the Club understands that. The first point to improvement is recognising where we need to improve: that’s the starting point because otherwise, you can’t really make any change.”
