David Teague: Carlton cancels meeting set to determine coaching future

David Teague will this week conduct exit interviews with Carlton players unsure of his own future as the Blues coaching saga drags on.

David Teague coaching against GWS. Picture: Getty Images

David Teague’s manager has launched a scathing attack on Blues’ co-captain Patrick Cripps on the day the club bizarrely postponed a call on the senior coach’s future.

Liam Pickering has lashed the Blues for their lack of public support for Teague over the past month and on Monday fired a broadside at Cripps for his defensive lapses, ordinary form and injury “excuses”.

The criticism comes as Teague prepares to front Carlton powerbrokers this week in an attempt to keep his job after receiving a copy of the club’s external review into the football department.

Carlton was scheduled to have an all-club meeting on Monday in which the coaching panel, fitness and recruiting departments may have learned their fate.

The race to the 2021 Toyota AFL Finals Series is on and every match matters. Watch Live & Ad-Break Free on Kayo. New to Kayo? Try 14-days free >

David Teague’s manager has slammed Patrick Cripps. Picture: Michael Klein

But the meeting was scrapped, leaving Teague and football boss Brad Lloyd to carry out exit interviews with the players despite clouds over their own futures.

Lloyd has been linked to Collingwood’s vacant list manager position, while the assistant coaching panel is expected to be overhauled.

Midfield coach Brent Stanton was let go by the Blues on Monday.

Pickering, who was speaking on a SEN platform, took aim at Cripps’ on-field impact and his injury history, saying the onballer was no longer an A-Grader.

“I don’t think he is (an A-Grader). The way he has played for the past two years, I think he has been pretty ordinary,” Pickering said.

“This is his game at the weekend – he had 17 disposals, no kicks, 17 handballs, and negative three metres gained.

“Geez, he has a lot of injuries, he gets a lot of excuses for injuries. I think he has just had a poor year.

“He has had a drop-off for two years. Is it injury? Yeah it probably is. Maybe.”

Teague appeared to have a crack at Cripps post game on Saturday night after the co-captain was subbed out with a leg injury.

The right-footer missed last week’s loss with a left quad injury but played against the Giants and did not have a single kick.

“I don’t know if he hurt it early or he was just choosing to handball,” Teague said.

“But a little bit of that hurt us around the contest at times. That is something from a leadership point of view and a group point of view we have got to get better at.”

Patrick Cripps did not record a kick among 17 disposals against the Giants before being subbed out. Picture: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

Pickering questioned Cripps’ defensive efforts throughout the season, even though the dual All-Australian and three-time best-and-fairest winner played under significant duress earlier in the season.

At one stage Cripps, 26, was having pain killing injections two hours before a game to treat a stress-related injury in his back.

But Pickering said the Blues “need more out of their captain” who was this year re-signed on a lucrative six-year deal.

“It has been long time since he actually has delivered in a consistent manner both ways in a game of football where he gets the ball and he actually puts defensive pressure on (and) chases and tackles,” he said.

“He is a good enough footballer to adapt to the modern game. He is an inside midfielder but they ran off him.”

Teague initially denied any knowledge of Cripps’ back injury earlier in the season, but later corrected himself saying “that was pretty average by me” and admitted he had “one of my worst press conferences”.

Teague said a call on his future “doesn’t look like it is going to go in my favour” after the Blues went down to GWS Giants by 14 points on Saturday night, rounding out a dismal season.

David Teague doesn’t like his chances of remaining as Carlton coach. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL Photos via Getty Images

Hawthorn mastermind Alastair Clarkson and former St Kilda and Fremantle coach Ross Lyon are the two most likely replacements for Teague, although a decision on his future could drag on this week.

New president Sayers said the Blues would not be rushed on a decision after spending the bulk of the day at the club on Monday.

“With our AFL season complete, our club is now in a position to fully brief the senior leaders of the football department on the review findings,” Sayers said.

“This process will commence this week and will involve consultation between the board and football department regarding the recommendations provided.

“The club will take the necessary time required to absorb this review and any outcomes or decisions will be made on the time frame that is in the best interests of the club, not based on external expectations or pressure.

“As always, I remain committed to continue being open and transparent with our members and supporters regarding any outcomes and decisions that will arise out of this review, including the summarised findings, and as such, once this process is complete, our members will be the first to know.”

Blues chief may delay call on Teague’s future

— Rebecca Williams

Carlton president Luke Sayers has told members the club is now ready to fully brief the “senior leaders” on the findings of the external football department review but has given no indication on the fate of under siege coach David Teague.

In a letter to club members, Sayers outlined the “next phase” of the independent football department review, which was conducted by panel members Geoff Walsh, Graham Lowe and Matthew Pavlich.

Sayers, who formally took over as Blues president last week, said the process of briefing senior leaders of the football department on the review’s findings would commence this week.

He said the Blues would take the time required to “absorb” the review and any decisions made would be on a timeline in the “best interest” of the club.

David Teague expected a call on his future to be made on Monday. Picture: Getty Images

“With our AFL season complete, our club is now in a position to fully brief the senior leaders of the football department on the review findings,” Sayers wrote to club members.

“This process will commence this week and will involve consultation between the board and football department regarding the recommendations provided.

“The club will take the necessary time required to absorb this review and any outcomes or decisions will be made on the time frame that is in the best interests of the club, not based on external expectations or pressure.

“As always, I remain committed to continue being open and transparent with our members and supporters regarding any outcomes and decisions that will arise out of this review, including the summarised findings, and as such, once this process is complete, our members will be the first to know.”

The external review panel delivered a final report to Sayers, the club’s board of directors and chief executive Cain Liddle.

David Teague leaves the ground after coaching against GWS. Picture: Getty Images

Teague said after the team’s final home-and-away game on the weekend that he expected to learn his fate on Monday.

The Blues’ coach conceded he did not think the decision was going to go in “his favour”.

“I think it’s going to be Monday (that I will find out). I had a chat this week and they said after the game they’ll get together, the board and have a look at that,” Teague said after the team’s loss to GWS.

“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.”

Originally published as David Teague: Carlton cancels meeting set to determine coaching future