Because for the supporters of the old dark navy Blues, it was their first opportunity to see Echuca-Moama young gun Brodie Kemp pull on the famous jumper.
Kemp, who ruptured his ACL during his draft year and has battled a syndesmosis injury this season, gathered 18 disposals and took eight marks in his return to the field, though his Blues were on the wrong end of an 84-point loss to Box Hill.
Kemp told Carlton media while the result was a disappointment, he was happy to pull the boots back on.
“It wasn’t the result we wanted, but from an individual point of view, it was nice to get through the whole game unscathed and it was the first one in a couple of years,” Kemp said.
“I’ve watched a lot of footy for quite some time and sometimes you can get frustrated and want to be out there and contribute to the team.
“To spend two years out just looking on has built that inner drive within me and gratefulness to finally be out there playing.”
Kemp, who was named in the under-18 All-Australian team before being taken in the first round of the 2019 draft, said he hoped to get his opportunity at AFL level.
But for now, he's happy just to be back on the park.
“I think the AFL debut will be front of mind and to get there is using my strengths, trust the process and compete hard in the games I have in the following weeks and hopefully get the call up from ‘Teaguey’ (Carlton coach David Teague),” he said.
“If that doesn’t come, that’s all right, I’m still happy to be playing footy week in and week out.”
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