Carlton torn to shreds over ‘putrid’ David Teague call

Furious criticism of Carlton hit fever pitch on Thursday as news leaked David Teague had been sacked after being made to wait in limbo.

David Teague was given his marching orders. Pic: Michael Klein

The footy world has condemned Carlton for its handling of David Teague and supported the 40-year-old after he was given his marching orders.

The Blues officially sacked Teague on Thursday after digesting the findings of a review into the club’s football department.

Watch every 2021 Toyota AFL Finals Series match before Grand Final. Live & Ad-Break Free on Kayo. New to Kayo? Try 14-days free >

Whoever replaces Teague will become Carlton’s ninth coach since 2000.

Many pundits expected the decision would be announced on Monday, but Carlton kept everyone guessing by delaying making a call on the coach until word finally filtered out Teague had been axed. He reportedly told the playing group of the news on Thursday morning.

Even before the decision to part ways was confirmed, Carlton bosses had come under heavy fire for showing a lack of respect towards Teague and not providing him with enough support, either privately or publicly, as they kept him in limbo.

The criticism ramped up when news of Teague’s sacking broke, as AFL fans lamented how the Blues had mismanaged the entire situation.

‘Disgraceful’: AFL world reacts to Teague’s sacking

David Teague never stood a chance. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Ex-AFLW star Meg Hutchins was scathing in her assessment of Carlton.

“Imagine this - your first two full seasons coaching an AFL team are the COVID effected seasons of 2020 and 2021 ... then you’re sacked,” she tweeted. “Putrid by the CFC.

“Just quietly… I don’t think the coach is the problem.

“Feeling for David Teague right now.”

Sports reporter Daniel Garb said “Carlton’s handling of Teague was disgraceful” while former Western Bulldogs star Billy Gowers added: “Sacking David Teague is laughable in my opinion. Surely the club has worked out that getting rid of coaches and players consistently, causing a ridiculously high turnover rate ruins the club and continues the constant anxiousness involved with uncertainty and persistent change.”

Another former AFL player, Josh Hill, also weighed in.

“It’s ridiculous to think all the blame is put on the head coach. David Teague being sacked is unjustifiable it doesn’t just affect the coaching staff it’s the players also who suffer having to adapt to a different coaching structure and new game plan each year,” Hill tweeted.

Respected AFL commentator Gerard Whateley said on SEN radio while he was unsure if it was the right call for Carlton to move on from Teague, “what I do know is this is not the dignified way to remove a coach from his job”.

Comedian and panellist on The Project, Peter Helliar, wrote on Twitter: “Blues have handled Teague horribly. He has been all class. At least he doesn’t have to coach Carlton anymore.”

Former footy journalist Rohan Connolly said: “Whether you think he was the right man for the job or not, David Teague at the very least deserved to be treated with some support and respect by the club which rushed to appoint him only a little over 2yrs ago. He’s had anything but. Shabby stuff by Blues.”

Collingwood great Michael McGuane joined the pile-on.

“Right now based purely on what’s happened in the last 10 weeks, I think everyone in the footy world knew David Teague had a lack of support which made his chances of being successful more difficult,” McGuane told RSN Radio.

The coach was unimpressed with Carlton’s lack of support. Pic: Michael Klein

Teague knew the writing was on the wall

Teague took over the reins when Brendon Bolton was sacked midway through 2019, and was appointed as the full-time senior coach at the end of that year. Under his two full seasons in charge, Carlton finished 11th in 2020 and 13th this year.

Following his side’s brave 14-point defeat to Greater Western Sydney on Saturday, Teague hit out at the “media narrative” surrounding Carlton and called out the club’s announcement of its internal review through the media.

He fiercely denied losing relationships within the playing group and conceded he was “hurt” by those claims and the lack of backing from the club on this issue.

Teague, who finishes with a 21-29 record across his tenure, also took umbrage with the media taking “pot shots” at him.

Speaking after the game against the Giants, he knew the writing was on the wall.

“I understand the club is going to make a decision. Let’s be honest, it doesn’t look like it’s going to go in my favour, but in terms of what I’ve done and what I’ve been able to control, I know who I am, I know why I’ve done it and I’m really happy with it,” he said.

“I love this club I don’t want to sit up here and say anything but when the review gets announced through the media that’s not high performance. I’m going to challenge it, I’m going to call it out. This footy club has got some areas to improve.

“It hurt when people said I’d lost relationships with the players. That one probably dug a little bit deep because it’s not true.

“Yeah, there’s certain players who don’t love what I say all the time, but that’s what a high performance environment is.

“I think the media narrative hasn’t quite been fair on this football club and on this playing group.

“At the start of the year many of the so-called experts didn’t have us in the eight.”