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.

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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 Morrisย 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.

โ€œIf the decision hasnโ€™t been made already, itโ€™ll be made on Thursday at this board meeting where the board will be delivered this review thatโ€™s been going for a couple of months,โ€ Morris said on On The Couch.

โ€œMy 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.

โ€œWhatโ€™s interesting is thereโ€™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.

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โ€œThe expectation is that early next week โ€“ if not regardless of the result, then the week after Round 23 โ€“ heโ€™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 wonโ€™t be coaching next year.โ€

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.

โ€œThe goalposts have clearly shifted ever since Alastair Clarkson became available. Senior officials inside Carlton acknowledge that,โ€ said Morris.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - JUNE 21: Alastair Clarkson, coach of the Hawks,
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)

โ€œThereโ€™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.

โ€œLuke Sayers is also close to Nathan Buckley. Geoff Walshโ€™s role in this whole thing is very interesting as well โ€“ he was part of that review panel alongside Matthew Pavlich and Geoff is very close to Nathan Buckley. Heโ€™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.

โ€œI understand Luke Sayers has spoken, at least informally and probably just that to this point, to Nathan Buckley about what heโ€™s doing next year and what his plans are," said Morris.

AFL Practice Match - Geelong v Collingwood
GEELONG, AUSTRALIA - FEBRUARY 26: Nathan Buckley, Senior Coach of the Magpies looks on before the AFL Practice Match between the Geelong Cats and the Collingwood Magpies at GMHBA Stadium on February 26, 2021 in Geelong, Australia. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)

"Itโ€™s pretty clear that while Teague is the coach, the Blues have been privately looking ahead to 2022.

โ€œAnother component of this is that Ross Lyonโ€™s name looms large. Luke Sayers has spoken to former assistant coaches of Ross Lyon just to see what he was like and whether heโ€™d fit in at the Blues.โ€

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.

โ€œI can tell you categorically this, no one has spoken to anyone else about coaching the footy club,โ€ he said.

Carlton Blues Media Opportunity
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JUNE 03: Carlton President Mark LoGiudice speak to the media during a Carlton Blues AFL media opportunity at Ikon Park on June 03, 2019 in Melbourne, Australia. Brendon Bolton was today sacked as coach of the Carlton Blues AFL team. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

โ€œNo, not even a cheeky text message.

โ€œWeโ€™ve made a commitment that until we get this review and know where weโ€™re heading, then thereโ€™s no need to speak to anybody.โ€