David Teague is reportedly a "dead-man walking" as Carlton coach with reports filtering through that he will be relieved of his duties as early as next week.
Pressure is mounting on Teague with the Blues set to miss finals yet again. Despite a lengthy injury list, the Blues have fallen short of their own expectations for 2021 and in large part that has been down to gameplan and not players missing.
Carlton have at times been unwilling to defend and have been exposed all year. Recent losses to North Melbourne and the Gold Coast have seemingly sealed Teague's fate.
Tom Morris is reporting that the Blues have "privately" sounded out some "big name prospects" to coach the Blues for 2022 and beyond.
Morris says that while the club's external review will be tabled this week, the decision may be made by as early as Thursday.
“If the decision hasn’t been made already, it’ll be made on Thursday at this board meeting where the board will be delivered this review that’s been going for a couple of months,” Morris said on On The Couch.
Is David Teague a ‘dead man walking?’@tommorris32 has the latest on Carlton’s under siege coach. #Couch pic.twitter.com/YPDXW9gBuW
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“My understanding is that senior management at the club has already seen this review.
Morris says that there is a possibility that Teague coaches this weekend against Port Adelaide with his tenure as good as done.
“What’s interesting is there’s 48 hours between this board meeting then when Carlton are due to play Port Adelaide on the weekend," Morris said.
"That leaves, I think, David Teague as a dead man walking for two full days.
“The expectation is that early next week – if not regardless of the result, then the week after Round 23 – he’ll lose his job and his papers are essentially stamped. I know lots of people inside the club know that, the board is just waiting for this review to drop for good governance purposes. But David Teague won’t be coaching next year.”
Sources have told Zero Hanger that Alistair Clarkson's availability may have caused the Blues' thinking to change. While Morris also reports that "senior officials" at the Blues have acknowledged as much.
“The goalposts have clearly shifted ever since Alastair Clarkson became available. Senior officials inside Carlton acknowledge that,” said Morris.
looks on during the round 14 AFL match between the Sydney Swans and the Hawthorn Hawks at the Sydney Cricket Ground on June 21, 2019 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)
“There’s been lots of discussions about whether Alastair Clarkson will coach next year or not. I know that people at Carlton believe they can get Clarkson next year.
“Luke Sayers is also close to Nathan Buckley. Geoff Walsh’s role in this whole thing is very interesting as well – he was part of that review panel alongside Matthew Pavlich and Geoff is very close to Nathan Buckley. He’s a big fan of Brad Scott as well.
Buckely's name was also mentioned this week by Kane Cornes who thinks the former Collingwood coach would be the perfect fit for Ikon Park.
“I understand Luke Sayers has spoken, at least informally and probably just that to this point, to Nathan Buckley about what he’s doing next year and what his plans are," said Morris.
"It’s pretty clear that while Teague is the coach, the Blues have been privately looking ahead to 2022.
“Another component of this is that Ross Lyon’s name looms large. Luke Sayers has spoken to former assistant coaches of Ross Lyon just to see what he was like and whether he’d fit in at the Blues.”
The Blues however have denied that they have spoken to anyone. Outgoing Carlton president Mark LoGiudice has said that no one at the club has spoken to anyone about taking over from Teague next year.
Speaking to the Herald Sun, LoGiudice says that the Blues will wait for the review before making any decisions.
“I can tell you categorically this, no one has spoken to anyone else about coaching the footy club,” he said.
“No, not even a cheeky text message.
“We’ve made a commitment that until we get this review and know where we’re heading, then there’s no need to speak to anybody.”
