Carlton have been encouraged to make a call to Geelong assistant coach and three-time premiership player Matthew Scarlett should they part-ways with current coach David Teague.
The Blues have endured a poor season in which the defensive side of their game has been exposed time and again. With an independent external review of the football department expected to see Teague lose his job.
The Blues have been heavily linked with a move for former St Kilda and Fremantle coach Ross Lyon as well as Alistair Clarkson.
However, Garry Lyon has called for the Blues to take their search a bit more left field and make a phone call to Scarlett in a bid to turn their defence around and get an edge into their game.
โI had a bit to do with him in the International Rules, so spent some time with him and loved the way he handled himself," Lyon said onย SEN Breakfast.
โI just love what he stood for, I loved how he played. Tough, hard, uncompromising, and maybe even too abrasive at times, thatโs what some people could tell you.
โI think it held that club in good stead. When you talk about those Geelong days, and you talk to the Stevie Js of the world, theyโll say the feedback was brutal, but it was honest and it was upfront. They sometimes boxed on, but it held them in great stead.โ
While there has been no indication from Scarlett that he wishes to be a head coach in the near future or depart Geelong, Lyon said a call at the very least was worth the time if the Blues are doing their due diligence.
โHe went and coached South Barwon where he spotted Tommy Stewart in his own right,โ said Lyon.
โNow heโs been in the system under Chris Scott for a long time. Heโs in charge of the backline group that is as hard as any team in the competition to score against.
โMaybe he has put it on the record that heโs not interested, I havenโt read that, but god help me.
โHeโs been involved in an elite program for a long time.โ
Tim Watson asked if Carlton needed to be reaching out to Scarlett given their defensive frailties.
โIf you were part of the Carlton search, youโd ask the question," said Watson
"If in fact Carlton are out there searching?
Lyon said that the Blues must reach-out.
"100 per cent," Lyon replied. "Iโd ring up and say, โHave you got time for a coffee?โ
โHe might say, โLove it down here in Geelong, just want to be an assistant and hope we get a premiership or two in the next few years. I love what Iโm doing, thanks for the callโ.
โFair enough, nothing ventured.โ
