Carlton claims third win in five weeks under David Teague to enhance interim coach’s hopes of full-time job

If this is Carlton playing with training wheels on, strap yourselves in for when the Blues hit full steam. The club’s third win in five weeks under David Teague has enhanced his hopes of the full-time job.

Marc Murphy, Patrick Cripps and Michael Gibbons celebrate Carlton’s win. Picture: AAP Image/Craig Golding.

Training wheels are back in vogue.

Carlton’s rapid improvement under caretaker coach David Teague continued on Saturday as the Blues claimed their fourth win of the season — and third under Teague — by seven points against Sydney.

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Teague might be in the infancy of his senior coaching career, but he has transformed the Blues from one of the AFL’s easybeats to a team which has lost only twice in five rounds by a combined eight points.

Five days after Carlton football director Chris Judd said the club would not employ a full-time coach “with training wheels on”, Carlton held on for a 9.15 (69) to 8.14 (62) win at the SCG to enhance Teague’s chances of landing the full-time job.

Nic Newman was instrumental against his former side across halfback, finishing with 32 disposals and 13 marks, while skipper Patrick Cripps (28 possessions, eight tackles) and Marc Murphy (29 disposals, five tackles) set the tone in midfield.

Marc Murphy, Patrick Cripps and Michael Gibbons celebrate Carlton’s win. Picture: AAP Image/Craig Golding.

“The biggest thing is just letting us play,” Newman said on Fox Footy of Teague’s impact.

“He doesn’t stress too much, he just lets us play, play freely and just play the game.

“We have got so many talented guys (and) we have got such a good mix.

“(If) we just play footy and bring our strengths we’ll be hard to beat, which we showed today.

While much of the focus has been on Rhyce Shaw’s credentials for the North Melbourne job, Teague is stating a strong case to be the frontrunner to be Brendon Bolton’s full-time successor.

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As Carlton’s AFLW coach Daniel Harford noted on Saturday, it will be “tough to take it off him”.

The Blues are effectively a 27-point-per game better team under Teague, having scored an average of 85.2 points (up from 67.1) and conceded an average of 81.2 (down from 90.3) since Round 12.

Carlton smacked Sydney (in Sydney) in clearances, contested possessions and tackles.

Teague has transformed this team.

Tough to take it off him!#Baggers 💪

— Daniel Harford (@HarfSerious) July 13, 2019

“The place is completely different,” Murphy said.

“Every year we have lost 10 or 12 blokes, moved them on. Hopefully we’re not doing that anymore.

“The last five weeks we have been in every game, lost a couple of nailbiters, won a few close ones.

“The feeling is really good and building that belief is really important for the back half of this year.”

Carlton has enjoyed a huge turnaround under interim coach David Teague. Picture: Paul Kane/Getty Images.

Murphy has been one of the greatest beneficiaries of Teague’s short reign, injected back into midfield and flourishing in the past five weeks.

Asked about Judd’s “training wheels” comment post-match, Teague said it did not faze him.

“I am learning a lot. I am learning a lot about the playing group, I am learning a lot about myself as a coach,” he said.

“The staff that I have had have been outstanding. The support that I have had has been really good.

“Right now I am focusing on the players and seeing their faces in that room after, that brings a lot of joy to me and to the people at this football club and to our supporters.”

The Blues seized the lead in the second quarter and did not relent, despite Sydney drawing within a goal during the second half.

Carlton debutant Hugh Goddard (cheekbone) did not feature in the second half after copping an elbow to the face in a marking contest with Nick Blakey.