Carlton says it will release John Barker if he is offered Suns coaching role
CARLTON says John Barker’s 14-week stint coaching the Blues in 2015 was invaluable as he seeks to become Gold Coast’s third senior coach.
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CARLTON says John Barker’s 14-week stint as Mick Malthouse’s replacement has him perfectly placed to become an AFL senior coach.
Blues chief executive Steven Trigg endorsed Carlton assistant Barker as Gold Coast’s interest intensified.
Rodney Eade unlucky to be sacked after three years as Suns coach
John Barker among men most likely to replace Rodney Eade as coach of the Gold Coast Suns
The Suns on Tuesday announced they had sacked Rodney Eade after his efforts to improve the club’s culture and training standards failed to produce wins.
Barker is known to have a strong backer in Gold Coast boss Mark Evans, but the club said it was yet to talk to any prospective candidate.
Dean Solomon will be the interim coach, with Kevin Sheedy and former Essendon assistant Robert Shaw comparing him to a young Damien Hardwick yesterday.
AFL finals contenders could be disrupted with senior assistants like Stuart Dew (Sydney), Adam Kingsley (St Kilda), Blake Caracella (Richmond) and Simon Lloyd (Geelong) all contenders.
North Melbourne senior coach Brad Scott was backed from $41 to $7 yesterday, while Nathan Buckley would draw interest if sacked by the Pies.
Evans said the club simply hadn’t won enough games in three years under Eade, who had 16 wins and a draw from 63 games.
Barker is the white-hot favourite and while he has agreed to terms on a two-year extension at Carlton would be released if hired by the Suns.
He finished second to both Chris Fagan and Brendon Bolton in recent coaching races after returning a 3-11 win-loss record at the Blues in 2015.
“Like every club in this situation we wouldn’t stand in the way of someone if an opportunity came up to be their senior coach,” Trigg told the Herald Sun.
“He has been exceptional for us and if both parties thought it was the right thing we would be supportive of him going through the selection process.
“He has had the steering wheel for a period of time (in 2015) and I have said often that you learn most when you are in that scenario.
“He did an exceptional job and it was proof for us of why we rate him very highly.”
Sydney football boss Tom Harley told the Herald Sun Dew, who chose not to apply for some senior roles last year, would be released if chosen.
“I mentioned it to Stuart today and if he wants to go through the process and is approached we will have open and honest dialogue about it,’’ he said.
“We rate Stuart really highly as one of our senior assistant coaches and support his aspiration.”
Gold Coast can poach an assistant coach from a club midway through September after the collapse of an anti-tampering proposal.
But Coaches Association boss Mark Brayshaw predicted Suns chief executive Evans would show a level of respect given his support for that failed proposal.
That ruling would have seen assistants available for interview during pre-finals bye then not again until after their finals commitments were finished.
That proposal had the backing of Evans in his role as AFL footy boss but was rejected by club chiefs.
“We drafted a proposal that was rejected by the CEOs last year. It sought to constrain access to coaches until after their clubs’ seasons had finished,’’ Brayshaw said.
“Thankfully Mark Evans understood the proposed policy and what it attempted to achieve.”
Evans was adamant last night he had not spoken to any candidates or taken the direction of the AFL in sacking Eade.
“I am not going to talk about any individual on a day where we are letting you know Rodney Eade hasn’t been extended.”
Evans’ review into the football department will likely have further ramifications with football boss Marcus Ashcroft under pressure to retain his role.
Hawthorn’s Graham Wright has been linked to the club as a potential replacement, while the club’s list management will also be scrutinised.
Originally published as Carlton says it will release John Barker if he is offered Suns coaching role
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