Paul Roos and Michael Voss at the top of hit-lists for Carlton and Kangas, writes David King
Carlton and North Melbourne’s senior coaching appointments will have huge ramifications, and not just on the field. David King on the men he thinks best suit both AFL clubs.
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There is no bigger decision than selecting a senior coach.
The excitement of the potential next premiership coach walking through the door can only be dulled by the anxiety of an errant choice — one that can cost millions of dollars, many lost seasons and waste many playing, coaching and admin careers.
North Melbourne and Carlton need to be as ruthless with their appointment as they were at the point of sacking.
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They must exhaust all avenues to find their man. Ultimately, the successful candidate must be a “winner”, as it’s the only thing that matters.
Chris Judd and company simply cannot get this decision wrong.
Carlton cannot gamble on an untried coach, regardless of how impressive the interview or the CV.
The Blues need a level of security attached to this appointment, after the failures of the recent past.
A ground zero rebuild at Carlton will never be replicated as the task handed Brendon Bolton was too great, but the next coach will need to navigate speed humps in the short term without wavering.
Mark LoGiudice is adamant the “Carlton Plan” will maintain the course plotted for Bolton and it would take a brave potential coach to question that model and risk being overlooked.
A highly credentialed long-term senior coach like Paul Roos is exactly what Carlton need.
Understandably, Roos denies any interest in the position, but is he posturing for another “Godfather” deal? Why not.
The “soft cap” of spending on football departments as an equalisation measure is flawed in this circumstance but the Blues understand the sheer commercial cost of getting this position wrong.
Roos mentoring a successor, like Craig Jennings, Blake Caracella or an Adam Kingsley-type, over the next 2-3 years would be the ideal template.
It would appease the Blues members and powerbrokers, and attach a brand that can sell hope and direction, as witnessed under Roos’ broken tenure at Melbourne.
The “Old Carlton” would simply get this done. Can the new Carlton crew?
North is in a different position. After a decade of stability under Brad Scott’s, the Ben Buckley-led selection panel have the luxury to explore all options from first timers to John Longmire types who are contracted and settled elsewhere.
North is a unique environment that embraces the struggle but strives for success against the odds through its best asset, its people.
It’s a country footy club playing in the AFL.
Assessing the capability and potential of untried, first-timers is almost impossible as game knowledge isn’t a separating factor.
The No.1 seed is Michael Voss, who offers 100-odd games of AFL senior coaching as his point of difference.
An appreciation of the pitfalls and errors made would see the second opportunity attacked with eyes wide open.
North is financially capable of supporting Voss to be the best version of himself, unlike his period in the hot seat at Brisbane.
Some poor list management decisions undermined all else at Brisbane, but we haven’t seen the best of Voss’s coaching.
The popular interim coach Rhyce Shaw certainly has an incredible opportunity that’s started with a bang.
In 2002, Roos won six of 10 including winning the last four games of the season to flip all Sydney Swans coaching plans on their head.
For Shaw, win seven games and the job’s his.
North will interview far and wide, but before any coaching appointment Ben Buckley must forensically review the club.
Outside of Shaw and Voss, I believe it’s an open race.
The North job is the perfect role for any aspiring AFL senior coach to start with a list that can win in the short term but provide time and security to regenerate at the same time.
Adam Simpson stonewalled all advances and John Longmire was firm but left the door slightly ajar. It’s low percentage, but the question needed to be asked.
Is John Blakey the next Chris Fagan type with plentiful experience, significant volumes of success and the playing profile that epitomises all things the North fan base love.
Would Nick Blakey come as part of the package with John? If so, Buckley please go hard.
Choosing the next coach isn’t a selection, it’s an attachment. All selection panels get labelled as the people responsible for the pain or the pleasure of that coaching stint.
Let’s be honest. Is Mark LoGiudice going to attach his presidential tenure to anything but a senior coaching figure going forward? Absolutely no way.
Paul Roos plus one, a successor, to the Old Dark Navy Blues and Michael Voss to the Kangaroos seem like great fits to me.
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