Carlton appoint Graham Wright as deputy CEO in succession plan with Brian Cook

One of footy’s most respected administrators is set to join Carlton in an off-field coup, with the appointment to be confirmed on Wednesday. GLENN MCFARLANE has details.

Carlton’s CEO-in-waiting Graham Wright says he is refreshed and ready to go following his overseas sabbatical, insisting he wished his former club Collingwood well in the future, except for when they are taking on the Blues.

Wright will start work with Carlton on Monday as deputy chief executive, working closely with one of the AFL’s most respected CEOs Brian Cook, who will step down from his role at the end of next year.

As Carlton and Collingwood slug it out over a bid to attract Port Adelaide’s Dan Houston to their clubs, the Blues’ successful bid to secure Wright - who quit Collingwood as footy boss in August - has created a few more simmering tensions between the old rivals.

It’s a significant appointment for the Blues in what has been a 12-month long search for a successor to Cook, with president Luke Sayers saying the club had secured “the best football person in the country to lead our football club.”

Graham Wright speaks to Nathan Buckley during a game. Picture: Michael Klein

Brian Cook and Carlton president Luke Sayers. Picture: Michael Klein

Asked if his decision to not return to Collingwood following his break had anything to do with reported tensions with Magpies chief executive Craig Kelly, Wright stressed there was always a chance he would “look to do something else”.

“I actually resigned (earlier this year) where they wouldn’t accept my resignation,” Wright said. “There was always a chance I would look to do something else.

“That became clearer for me at the back end of July, and as I said I had a couple of opportunities (to look at).

“I had some great times there (Collingwood). They have some fantastic people there and I wish everyone at Collingwood well, except for when they are playing Carlton.

“I have a lot of friends there, so there is no issue with that.”

Wright was in the south of France when he took a call from Sayers seven weeks ago, with his few months as interim Collingwood chief executive before Kelly’s arrival fueling a desire to seek a similar role.

He was approached by a number of AFL clubs over various roles and was in talks with the AFL about a role in football operations before agreeing to join the Blues, with the chance to learn from Cook being a massive tipping point.

It will see the Blues have a formidable partnership between Cook and Wright heading into next season as part of the transition of the club’s senior leadership.

“I had some interest (from the AFL) but after I spoke to Luke … this role was No.1 for me,” he said.

“I want to say how rapt I am to be here. It is such a big powerful institution and I am looking forward to being a part of it.

“It is a really values-driven club which suits me. I am genuinely excited to be working with Brian. I am not the finished article … I have got some learnings and to be given 12 months to sit alongside the doyen in the competition in terms of CEOs. I am super excited about that.”

Wright was one of the masterminds behind Hawthorn’s success. Picture: AAP Image/Joe Castro

Wright said he had no intention of getting involved in the Blues’ trade and draft strategy, but would spend some time getting to know footy boss Brad Lloyd and list manager Nick Austin.

Sayers said the Blues were well placed to attack next year on and off the field, insisting that a premiership remains the ultimate goal.

“We are always wanting to win premierships,” Sayers said when asked about the Blues’ passmark in 2025.

“I am not going to shy away from that. We start out each year trying to win games of footy, getting into the finals and ideally getting into the top four, and then to win the premiership.

“We are focused on trying to achieve that next year, but also setting us up so that it is not just a ‘boom bust’, like often football clubs are.”

Cook said he was looking forward to working with Wright across the next 12 months, having decided to retire from the job at the end of 2025.

“As Ange Postecoglou said recently, ‘I know I will not be here forever, but I will work like I will be’. That’s my philosophy over the next 12 months.”

Wright is one of the game’s most respected off-field minds across three and a half decades, having played key roles in premierships at Hawthorn during its three-peats of success as well as at Collingwood last year.

Cook was involved in the process of appointing Wright, along with Sayers and the rest of the Carlton board.

Originally published as Carlton appoint Graham Wright as deputy CEO in succession plan with Brian Cook