Off the back of a disastrous 2021 campaign that claimed head coach David Teague, Carlton's new Director of Football has spoken out about the direction of the club going forward.
Carlton, who are sitting out of the September action for the eighth straight year, are still searching for a new coach to replace Teague. Whoever takes the reins at Ikon Park will be the sixth coach in a tumultuous ten year period for the Blues.
The newly appointed Greg Williams, who won a premiership and a Brownlow medal during his playing days at Carlton, spoke to Carlton media about what supporters can expect next season.
โIโm probably the most frustrated, and thatโs why Iโve taken this role on,โ Williams said.
โI love everything about Carlton. I must say I understand everyoneโs frustration since that 1995 Grand Final: we havenโt [won a premiership] since and weโve been an average or below average team since then.
โI really understand everyoneโs frustration, I understand Kernahanโs frustration, Marc Maclureโs, David Parkinโs, John Nichollsโ frustration: all the great players who have played here. I know the members and supporters are frustrated as well. Iโm making that clear, I understand it."
"I'm making it clear, I understand the frustration. I'm a passionate Carlton man."
Opening up on what's to come, the expectations going forward and the processes in place, Greg 'Diesel' Williams speaks at length about his new role as Director of Football.
— Carlton FC (@CarltonFC) September 13, 2021
Speaking on the club personnel, Williams was confident that necessary changes would be made to see the Blues climb the ladder next season.
โIโm really confident with the people here already, and the new ones that weโre going to bring in, that the football department is going to be in good hands,โ he said.
โItโll be made very clear that the standards are going to be a lot higher than theyโve been. The players know that โ theyโre all so excited, they all want to be here.
โI know we can get the football department going and I know the talent on that Board is going to get a lot of other things going. It can turn quickly."
On the club's hunt for a senior coach, Williams remained positive that the panel was heading in the right direction.
โThe process is different for different people, for different levels of coaches. Itโs a short list, weโve picked a short list of quality coaches and weโre looking forward to - in the next few weeks - coming up with the right person" Williams said.
โThe football department, thereโs been some changes there with assistant coaches and such. Weโre all over that. Weโve got great people on the panel, David Parkin has been unreal already."
The Blues are yet to confirm a new coach, though rumoured choices Alastair Clarkson and Ross Lyon have both ruled themselves out of the top job. Meanwhile, CEO Cain Liddle added his name to the list of departures, leaving the club with immediate effect last week.
