Jordan Lewis was approached to replace Chris Judd on the Carlton board

David Teague says he would welcome additional coaching support at Carlton, after it was revealed the Blues were chasing Jordan Lewis for a board position.

Richmond's Liam Baker and Justin Leppitsch after the win 2020 AFL Grand Final win over Geelong. Picture: Sarah Reed

Carlton coach David Teague would welcome the Blues bringing someone in as a senior assistant to support him – but says that rests mostly with the AFL increasing the soft cap.

Teague again weighed in on the strain the $3 million soft cap cuts have placed on AFL coaches and assistants, saying it was something League headquarters must “address”.

A report linked ex-Brisbane coach and Richmond assistant Justin Leppitsch with a move to Ikon Park, starting next year, and there’s been other commentary suggesting Teague’s support crew was set to change.

It comes at a time Teague conceded his 3-6 side wasn’t progressing as quickly as it did when he first took over in mid-2019.

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David Teague says he would welcome additional help at the Blues. Picture: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos via Getty Images

The Carlton coach said he could see “a lot” of clubs hiring an extra coach if the AFL increased the soft cap spend.

“I love having quality people around me. The best people who get the best out of our players and coaching group are what you want and you’re always looking for high performance,” Teague said.

“Right now, I think we’ve got some really good assistant coaches I’m working with and they’re doing a great job, but do you continue to want to grow your programs?

“If the soft cap increases, there might be some opportunities and you have to see who’s out there and what’s the best fit.”

Teague was unable to confirm that captain Patrick Cripps had committed to a new four-year deal to stay at the Blues, as the Herald Sun reported this week, but remained supremely confident he would.

“(Cripps) cares about this group as much as anyone. We’ve seen for a long period of time, he’s put his body on the line for the club and for the jumper and he continues to do that,” he said.

“I thought last week he was strong and tough and powerful after being criticised and questioned around his back. We saw he was fine and he played a style like that.”

Harry McKay will face second-from-bottom Hawthorn on Saturday despite wearing strapping on his sore right shoulder at training, while Jack Silvagni (concussion) is poised to return.

However, Teague said Jack Martin (knee) was “probably a week away”.

Teague stopped just short of saying Carlton should expect to beat the lowly Hawks, but was clear his team needed to start winning games.

“So far we haven’t won (many), particularly against the top teams on the ladder,” he said.

“To show our growth, we’ve got to go out and play the same brand of footy we have in some of those games where we’ve played well but haven’t won … we still have to be better.”

BLUES APPROACHED LEWIS TO REPLACE JUDD

– Liz Walsh

Former Hawthorn and Melbourne star Jordan Lewis has revealed he has been approached to join the Carlton board to replace Chris Judd.

Lewis, who played 319 games in Hawks and Dees colours over 15 seasons, said he received a call “the other day” to gauge his interest in taking over Judd’s football director role on the Blues board.

It comes after earlier revelations that former Brisbane coach Justin Leppitsch was also approached to replace Judd, while also being sounded out for an assistant coach role under David Teague.

Lewis, who has recently started a new footy commentary career, told SEN that he was approached by someone external from the club, and asked whether he was interested in becoming a candidate for the board.

Jordan Lewis was approached to join the Carlton board. Picture: AAP Images

“I was surprised, to be honest,” the 35-year-old said.

“They must be sort of scraping around to try and get some candidates if they’re asking me.

“I had a call the other day, just to see my interest. I’ve had a few clubs ask the question and my answer will always be the same at the moment.

“One, because I’m young and inexperienced from going from playing to out of the system, but two, the conflict I think you would come under if you were the spokesperson for a club and also trying to perform a role in the media, I think for myself at the moment would be too much.

“I was asked, and respectfully said it was not something that I was interested in right now.”

Lewis also revealed he has been approached by his former club, Melbourne, about joining the club’s board.

Jarryd Roughead and Lewis enjoy their retirement lap together. Picture: Mark Stewart

“They never really had someone from a football background, they were heavily business-oriented people on their board, so there wasn’t that conduit between the football club and the board ... they asked the question as to whether I’d be interested, but once again it’s one of those things, you’re always happy to help out or offer advice, but you never really want that title of being a part of the board because you just don’t want to be compromised when things are going tough,” he said.

GET LEPPA: ‘BLIND FREDDY’ COULD SEE TEAGUE NEEDS HELP

– Glenn McFarlane

Carlton would execute “one of the smartest moves” it has had made in recent seasons if it can lure Justin Leppitsch as a senior assistant coach to support David Teague next year, according to Blues great Mark Maclure.

The Blues are understood to have sounded out Leppitsch to help Teague in 2022, while at the same time another approach was made to him about potentially joining the Blues’ board.

While Maclure said the board approach made no sense, the three-time premiership Blue believes Leppitsch is precisely what the club needs going forward.

“I’m certain he (Teague) does (need help) … blind Freddy could tell you that he needs some new assistants,” Maclure told the Herald Sun.

Mark Maclure is certain David Teague needs assistance. Picture: Dylan Burns/AFL Photos/Getty Images

“They know they have got problems; they just don’t want to admit it. They have been in most games … (but) they are trying to go attacking, but their defence is struggling from that.

“I think (getting Leppitsch) is (potentially) one of the wisest moves they have made.”

Maclure cited recent successful examples of clubs employing former senior coaches to assist head coaches.

“You look at what Melbourne has done. They put in ‘Choco’ (Mark Williams), he is a premiership coach, and they put in Alan Richardson, so that’s two senior coaches coming in to help,” Maclure said.

“You go to Sydney and John Longmire brings in Don Pyke. Why wouldn’t you? John is not an attacking coach, he is a defensive coach.

“So it makes sense to bring in people who can help.

“To me, if you can find a senior coach who has been around the block a few times and put him in with Teague, that would be great.”

Justin Leppitsch was instrumental at the Tigers. Picture: AAP Image/Michael Dodge

Leppitsch was sacked after three seasons as Brisbane Lions coach in late 2016, but was immediately snapped up by Richmond as an assistant coach to Damien Hardwick.

He played a significant role in the reshaping of the Tigers into a premiership force, winning three flags across the past four seasons before moving out of the system after the 2020 premiership success.

There have also been reports Collingwood may be keen on Leppitsch to assist Nathan Buckley if the Magpie coach is given a new deal.

Maclure said: “A coaching role (at Carlton) would be perfect for him (Leppitsch), to help sort out the defence like he did at Richmond.”

“He did really well at Richmond and that’s the role you would want for him (at Carlton).”

Leppitsch said this week he hadn’t yet made up his mind about whether he would return to clubland, but made it clear if he did, he would be looking for more responsibility than solely as an assistant coach.