Carlton senior assistant coach John Barker could join GWS
CARLTON has been a popular destination for GWS Giants in recent seasons. But could a Blue be headed the other way? Jay Clark on John Barker and some other key coaching moves.
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CARLTON senior assistant coach John Barker has been targeted by Greater Western Sydney to help bolster the Giants’ premiership tilt next season.
The Herald Sun can reveal the Giants have made an approach to Carlton’s head of strategy and high performance about partnering GWS senior coach Leon Cameron for next season.
Barker, who narrowly missed out on the senior jobs at Brisbane and Gold Coast in recent years, is widely considered one of the best assistant coaches in the game.
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But the 43-year-old has a young family based in Melbourne and remains contracted to Carlton for 2019.
The Blues will be under pressure to rise up the ladder next year under senior coach Brendon Bolton after another season in the doldrums of the AFL ladder.
Carlton is in the mix to land departing West Coast senior assistant coach Sam Mitchell after the Brownlow Medalist told the Eagles he wants to return home to a Melbourne club next year.
Mitchell, 35, remains close friends with Bolton from their time together during Hawthorn’s golden premiership era.
But the opportunity to rejoin Hawks’ premiership mastermind Alastair Clarkson could yet sway Mitchell back to Waverley only two seasons after his bombshell trade to West Coast.
Mitchell wants to become a senior coach and the chance to absorb more of Clarkson’s wisdom could put the 2012 Brownlow Medalist on a fast-track to win a top job.
West Coast will demand compensation from any club which wins Mitchell’s services as the champion midfielder remains contracted to the Eagles for two more seasons.
Mitchell will formally speak to clubs at the conclusion of West Coast’s season.
St Kilda is also in the hunt for Mitchell as the club embarks on an overhaul of its coaching department next season.
Hawthorn assistant and former Carlton senior coach Brett Ratten has also emerged as a key target for the Saints to help support Alan Richardson next year.
The Saints have been one of the biggest disappointments of the year with only four wins so far for the season.
Remarkably, 14 of St Kilda’s 15 losses have been by more than 24 points.
St Kilda football manager Simon Lethlean has vowed to support Richardson who has two more years remaining on his contract.
But Saints’ assistant coaches Rohan Welsh (forward), Lindsay Gilbee (defensive) and Simon McPhee (midfield) will not have their contracts renewed.
Lethlean said there will be a new look to the Saints’ coaching staff next season.
“There will be some changes in our coaching side of the program,” Lethlean said.
“How many and who any of the appointees may be is unknown at the moment.
“It’s July so we have to test the market and see who is available and see who is interested and also understand what structure is best for us.
“I have a view on how our coaching structure should be and it’s a bit different to now, so that will mean change.”
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Originally published as Carlton senior assistant coach John Barker could join GWS
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