Carlton great Robert Walls believes the time is now for Blues coach David Teague, suggesting the club should look elsewhere for the senior coaching role if Carlton fail to make finals in 2021.
The Blues will be looking to end an eight-year finals drought in their upcoming campaign, with Teague entering his second full season at the helm and under immense pressure to reach the top-eight after a busy off-season.
Teague took over from Brendon Bolton midway through the 2019 season and showed plenty of promise from the coaching box to land a 16th-placed finish.
The following year the Blues won seven matches from 17 games in a COVID-19 impacted season, earning an 11th-placed finish for their efforts.
Teague was able to invest in the free agency and trade market following the conclusion of the 2020 season, adding Giants star Zac Williams and Essendon speedster Adam Saad, with the pair increasing the club's bid for a return to September football.
Walls, a three-time premiership player and 1987 premiership coach with the Blues, added to the club's lifted expectations, suggesting it's a make-or-break year for the Blues gaffer.
“If they made finals, they have got to continue with David Teague no doubt. But if they didn’t, they will probably have to cast the net and look at what’s about,” Walls told The Age's Jon Pierik.
“This will be his third year. The team promises a lot but hasn’t delivered a lot the last few seasons. So it’s time.
“I think they need to play finals, that’s where they are at. It’s been a very slow, gradual build but the time has come.
“I would like to see them play more attacking football. I think they started off doing that under David but it wasn’t to be seen a lot last year. Play with a boldness, and I think [Zac] Williams and [Adam] Saad will help them do that. They are pretty attacking players.
“And [they need to] kick a score. They need blokes like [Mitch] McGovern to step up and show something. [Harry] McKay is going to be a good player. He has showed that. Eddie [Betts], is he just about done? Looked like it last season. Hopefully, he can show a bit. They need to kick a decent score. That’s been their problem.
“They have been doing a lot right off field. They have got their act together off field with their president, their CEO, their footy manager in Brad Lloyd. I am confident they have good people in place but it’s time to deliver on-field."
Carlton will get their 2021 Premiership season underway in their traditional season opener against Richmond on Thursday, March 18.
