2013.
Now a decade in the rearview mirror, it was a year in which Barrack Obama was inaugurated as the leader of the free world and Australia was served by not one, not two, but three Prime Ministers.
2013 was also the year that the hot air came out of Lance Armstrong's tyres, with the fastest Texan on two wheels admitting to blood doping during his lengthy cycling career.
Speaking of doping, the Essendon Football Club was punted from the post-season action after bringing the game into disrepute following their role in quite possibly the most explosive story in V/AFL history.
The Dons' eleventh-hour booting from the eight left the door open for the Carlton to punch in their finals pass from the ninth on the ladder.
During a Sunday afternoon elimination final at the 'G, Mick Malthouse's Blues would do battle against the Tigers - a club with their own acrimonious history with the ladder's ninth rung.
While the pair of old enemies would split their pair of regular season clashes that year, Richmond would enter the do-or-die final as the bookmakers' favourite.
And for much of the afternoon, Damien Hardwick's ambush would control the tempo, slamming on seven goals to four in the second term to take a 26-point lead into half-time.
Down, but not out, the Blues needed a hero, and who better to call on than dual Brownlow medallist Chris Judd.
Putting his side on his heavily-taped shoulder, Judd turned the tide on the Tigers, collecting 25 touches and a goal to go with Bryce Gibbs' 30-disposal, 12-clearance game.
While Carlton's Cinderella run at their 17th flag would come to an end a week in Sydney - the club's last September appearance - Bluebaggers of all ages recall this afternoon fondly, not just for the win but for the many cult heroes that thatched it together.
But what are these Blues Brothers up to these days?
Before Michael Voss' side take to the MCG on Friday night, we checked in with the last group of monogrammed men who had the honour.
4. Interchange/coach
A lump of a lad, Bell made his presence known across 51 games for the Blues between 2012 and 2015.
A Queensland native, the utility returned home in 2016, linking up with the Lions for a further 21 games at the level.
Since calling time, Bell has involved himself in the building and construction industry, these days working as a Commercial Manager for Blended Services Group.
Yep, that's right, Juddy came off the bench that day.
A player who needs absolutely no introduction, in 2021, Judd was made a member of the Australian Football Hall of Fame at the first time of asking.
Away from the footy field, the dual Brownlow medallist has balanced the odd media gig with his role as director of Chris Judd Invest.
Andrew McInnes
Despite playing just 17 games for the club, McInnes featured in both of the Blues' finals in 2013.
Delisted the following year, the Dandenong Stingrays' product went on to turn out for Norwood and Frankston at state league level.
After trying his hand as a landscaper, McInnes is now a Sales Rep for AIRR, an agriculture and farming supplies company.
Menzel's days as a Blue would last just two more seasons before returning home to South Australia to play for the Crows.
After four games in two seasons, the forward was delisted before playing with Tea Tree Grove and Central Districts.
Recently, Menzel linked up with his younger brother, Daniel, with the pair earning SANFL premiership honours with Woodville West Torrens.
Unlike his tenures at West Coast and Collingwood, Malthouse would leave Carlton without claiming a premiership flag.
Though the league's longest serving coach would depart in acrimony, Malthouse isn't lost to the game, these days calling games for ABC Radio and penning his thoughts in a News Corp column.
