Carlton coach news: Nathan Buckley plans to take year off; out of the coaching race at Blues

Nathan Buckley had been identified as a potential replacement for David Teague at Carlton. But the former Collingwood coach is believed to have other plans for 2022.

Ross Lyon has already been approached by the Blues. Picture: AAP

Former Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley is not expected to make a push for the vacant Carlton coaching job.

It is understood Buckley’s manager Craig Kelly has made it clear to the Blues that Buckley does not plan to put his hat into the ring for the position.

It means Buckley is likely to have a year away from coaching and enjoy more time with his two sons, Jett and Ayce, after he respectively parted ways with the Magpies in June.

Carlton president Luke Sayers said on Friday he was keen to bring Buckley into the selection process.

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But former St Kilda and Fremantle coach Ross Lyon remains the clear favourite to replace David Teague.

Buckley’s gracious departure after almost 10 years in charge at Collingwood is at odds with the messy end of Teague’s tenure.

Buckley is still expected to be in demand among clubs over the next 12 months given his standing and record which included him taking the Pies to the finals in five seasons including the 2018 grand final.

Former Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley looks likely to join Alastair Clarkson by taking a year off. Picture: Getty Images

Sayers, a friend of Buckley’s, revealed his admiration for the Collingwood champion on 3AW on Friday night.

“Nathan is a terrific experienced coach,” he said.

Asked if he had spoken to Buckley, he said, “I speak to Nathan quite a bit, He is a friend of mine and a terrific coach”.

Sayers said he was keen to find a replacement for Teague as quickly as next month.

“(Greg Williams’) desire is to send out expressions of interest and try to land a coach over the next 30-45 days. I share that without having it ticked off and agreed at the board. But we want to move with some speed and try to get it done as quickly as possible.”

Buckley is believed to be looking to enjoy more time with his two sons, Jett and Ayce.

Coaches shy away from Blues as Lyon talks ramp up

— Jon Ralph and Marc McGowan

Carlton’s desire to run a full selection process with a range of quality candidates is set to be hampered by a belief among prospective coaches that Ross Lyon will win the vacant role in coming weeks.

New Blues football director Greg Williams will spearhead a coaching subcommittee, consisting of club figures and external experts, as the Blues move quickly to hire a replacement for David Teague.

Lyon spoke to club president Luke Sayers for 45 minutes on Thursday night after the Herald Sun revealed he had been in contact with the ex-Dockers coach for several months.

Candidates including Michael Voss, Robert Harvey and Nathan Buckley could be asked to take part in a Carlton process to find a new coach.

Ross Lyon will be a strong candidate for the Carlton coaching job. Picture: AAP Images

But Port Adelaide assistant Voss remains frustrated after feeling he was used and abused by Carlton when they hired David Teague — bringing him to Ikon Park for a high-profile interview but not running a full process.

Those close to Voss, who wants to become a senior coach for a second time, said yesterday he was “significantly burnt” by his experience with Carlton at the end of 2019.

A number of senior assistant coaches have become increasingly aware of the optics around them missing out on jobs and the damage it can do to their chances of winning future roles.

Robert Harvey finished second to hot favourite David Noble in the North Melbourne race last year and was keen to clarify whether he was a legitimate chance to win the role, which he was assured he was by the Roos.

Carlton will have to interview a range of candidates under the process and would seem to be looking for a very different coach to Collingwood, which will hand the role to one of Craig McRae or Adam Kingsley.

Luke Sayers has taken over as Carlton president. Picture: Arsineh Houspian

Lyon confirmed to Sayers during their 45-minute phone call he would “put his hat in the ring” to be David Teague’s successor.

“I’m not sure we have a No. 1 (coaching) priority,” Sayers told SEN on Friday.

“We’re going to look at a number of different coaches, I’m sure. Greg Williams is going to lead that process, as our new, incoming football director.

“We’ll wrap a couple of board members around him – maybe also some non-board members – but I am trying to accelerate through the process, so we can make sure we’re all set up from a coaching perspective by the time the boys come back later this year.”

Sayers and Williams will contact the other coaching contenders by the end of Friday, but the president was unable to say how many were in the running.

Alastair Clarkson is not expected to be part of the process after his manager, James Henderson, confirmed the four-time Hawthorn premiership coach planned to take a year off football.

Sayers said he would “love to consider” Clarkson but “from everything I hear and read he’s taking a year off overseas”.“We’ll probably get the board together today – it might slip into Saturday,” he said.

“But we just don’t have the process agreed at the board level; the timings, who’s going to do it, all that sort of stuff yet. As soon as we (figure) that out, we’ll let you know.”

Originally published as Carlton coach news: Nathan Buckley plans to take year off; out of the coaching race at Blues