Carlton coach latest: Blues continue to chase Alastair Clarkson as Ross Lyon pulls out
Brad Scott is suddenly one of the leading contenders for the Carlton job after a week where the Blues hit several dead ends. Who will replace David Teague?
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Carlton figures remain hopeful of convincing Alastair Clarkson to fill the club’s vacant coaching position.
The Blues are continuing to court the four-time premiership coach, despite his declaration last month that he needed a year out of the game.
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It follows revelations Carlton is also circling highly-respected Geelong chief executive Brian Cook in what could be a dream team combination at Princes Park.
There is a view that the hiring of Cook would be a major inducement for Clarkson.
If Clarkson cannot be secured, former North Melbourne coach Brad Scott looms as another key target.
Ex-St Kilda and Fremantle coach Ross Lyon bowed out of the Carlton race on Thursday less than 24 hours after president Luke Sayers announced a six-person coaching selection panel.
While considered in some quarters a certainty to coach Carlton in 2022 a week ago, senior club figures were divided on whether Lyon was the right man to replace David Teague.
Club insiders say the Blues went cold on Lyon, who had already told Sayers in a 45-minute phone call last week he was keen on the job.
The coaching subcommittee was formed to put all prospective candidates through a lengthy examination, similar to the weeks-long search that saw Craig McRae appointed at Collingwood.
Lyon was not interested in taking part in a lengthy process.
The coaching subcommittee is led by football director Greg Williams and includes fellow directors Tim Lincoln and Patty Kinnersly, three-time premiership coach David Parkin, CEO Cain Liddle and head of football Brad Lloyd.
Asked on Footy Classified if the goalposts had changed because of the subcommittee, Lyon said: “I was watching the news and what was being released so I reached out to Luke today and we connected and said ‘just want some clarity’.
“Luke was terrific, he said ‘we’re finalising it, putting some finishing touches on it’, which they’ve clearly done with the panel.”
Carlton’s decision to include Liddle and Lloyd on the subcommittee raised eyebrows after Sayers late last week failed to guarantee their futures.
Lyon and Lloyd’s relationship soured at Fremantle in 2018 while Lyon’s loyalty to close mate and business partner Steven Silvagni posed as a problem to Liddle, who messily sacked Silvagni as list manager in 2019.
Questions were also raised over Lyon because of concerns about an investigation involving behaviour towards a female staffer at Fremantle.
A decision by Brad Scott to re-enter the coaching ranks would likely see Essendon football boss Josh Mahoney secure the AFL football operations position at league headquarters.
The AFL’s decision on who replaces Steve Hocking in the role is imminent.
If Clarkson were to coach Carlton it would also be an about-face.
Clarkson’s agent, James Henderson, confirmed multiple clubs approached the four-time premiership coach last week but he had opted to spend time with his family and concentrate on other pursuits in 2022.
“He is fully committed to taking the year off to spend time with his family and to undertake further study and personal development opportunities,” Henderson said.
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Originally published as Carlton coach latest: Blues continue to chase Alastair Clarkson as Ross Lyon pulls out
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