The story behind how Carlton surprised David Teague with news of senior coaching job

It was a case of nice guys finish first at Carlton, with people power, player power and an eye-catching turnaround making David Teague impossible to ignore after 10 weeks as caretaker.

David Teague had two powerful allies in Patrick Cripps and Sam Docherty as player and people power helped him seal the coaching gig. Picture: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images.

David Teague was lured to the club for a video to commemorate Patrick Cripps’ 100th game.

At least that’s what Carlton’s interim coach was told.

“I opened the door and there was Cain (Liddle), Mark (LoGiudice) and Brad (Lloyd) in there with their suits and their pins on,” Teague recalled.

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“I thought two things: ‘Maybe I’m a chance here’ or ‘They’re about to go and interview someone else’.

“They let me know in there. I thought it would be at the end of the year. It was a very nice surprise.”

David Teague won Carlton over with a swift turnaround during 10 weeks as caretaker coach. Picture: Michael Klein.

Teague couldn’t be blamed for thinking another interview was scheduled.

Teague himself had been interviewed eight times before the Carlton board on Wednesday ratified what was almost unthinkable nine weeks earlier — that he would be the Blues’ next senior coach.

“Quite simply, he could not be more ready to coach,” LoGiudice said.

It was a circus atmosphere on Thursday inside a building that has seen so much despair.

As one Blues official put it: “It feels like a football club again”.

The 34th coach in Carlton’s 155-year history was cheered into the press conference like Roger Federer walking out onto centre court.

But among the happy gathering of players and staff was the real Teague Train — wife Hannah, and three children Jack, 6, Lucy, 3 and Milla, 2.

Teague, 38, was introduced as a father of four by president Mark LoGiudice, but that’s what Teague and his family have done since Sam passed away several years ago.

He was the calm and composed operator we have come to know, but when Teague’s attention turned to his loved ones, the tears came.

Carlton coach David Teague with wife Hannah and his kids Milla, Lucy and Jack. Picture: Michael Klein.

“I came prepared this time, I’ve got some tissues,” he said.

“Telling my wife was good. Really good. It’s probably hard because they’ve been through a lot.

“When Adelaide asked me (to join as an assistant in 2014) I said ‘no’ and my wife was the one who said ‘why wouldn’t you go work under Phil (Walsh)? He’s been as big an influence on you as anyone’ and she was willing to pick up the kids and move over there. When she said she was proud that’s what choked me up more than anything.

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“Then I told my mum, that was really nice. But then I told my dad and you guys in here wrecked it because he goes, ‘Yeah, I just heard it on the radio. That’s old news’.”

That’s Teague. Powerful and direct, but also the king diffuser with the knack of delivering a well-timed gag.

Looks like we have an influencer on our hands @TomDekoning. 🤔 pic.twitter.com/MX3825b5Ka

— Carlton FC (@CarltonFC) August 15, 2019

Even upon being unveiled to the players behind closed doors, he sought to bring them in with humour.

“Hey, who did the LinkedIn thing the other day? Was there a LinkedIn course? Tommy De Koning? I might need your help; I need to change my job title,” he told them.

Indeed, Teague’s relationship with the players has emboldened them and empowered him.

After yesterday posing for a family photo with Hannah and the kids, Teague was told to stay seated by photographers so co-captains Patrick Cripps and Sam Docherty could join him.

“What knee do you want, ‘Crippa?” Teague said.

Cripps said he and his teammates were “so rapt he got the gig.”

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David Teague had two powerful allies in Patrick Cripps and Sam Docherty as player and people power helped him seal the coaching gig. Picture: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images.

“Everyone loves him and I think you could see by the humour in that press conference, he’s so likeable,” Cripps said.

“But what we love about him is he’s got a really strong personality so he’ll have a laugh, but he’s really strong with his messaging when it’s time to be serious.

“We’ve had so much change. Since I’ve been here I think I’ve played with about 150 players so it’s actually nice just to build a connection with a lot of these players knowing they’re going to be around.

“We feel like we’re building something special … to have ‘Teaguey’ on-board and have some real stability is exciting.”