Carlton coaching job: Brian Cook set to turn up heat as race to get Alastair Clarkson intensifies

Getting chief executive Brian Cook to Carlton was always going to be crucial in the Blues’ pursuit of coach Alastair Clarkson. Stand by for Cook to make his move.

Carlton’s new chief executive Brian Cook is set to contact Alastair Clarkson in the coming days in a final attempt to convince the four-time premiership coach to take the club’s vacant coaching position.

Clarkson has been sounded out by the Blues on several occasions since his shock departure from Hawthorn, but he and his manager James Henderson have consistently said he planned to take a year off coaching next season.

But Carlton insiders are hopeful the club’s coup in poaching Cook could be enough to change Clarkson’s mind, given the huge industry respect for the former long-time Cats’ CEO.

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Carlton and new chief executive Brian Cook are expected to approach Alastair Clarkson in the next few days.

Cook, 65, was announced as the Blues’ new chief executive on Friday, signing on for the next three years.

While he is officially not due to start the role until next month, he is certain to launch one last pitch to 53-year-old Clarkson, potentially as soon as this week, in an effort to change his mind.

It is understood the Blues are not overly concerned with the time frame in appointing a new coach, although they would like to do so shortly after next weekend’s Grand Final.

Cook is expected to play a significant role in the selection of the new coach.

While he could approach Chris Scott to gauge his intentions, the Geelong coach — who has a year to run on his deal — said after the preliminary final loss that he won’t be taking calls about a new role.

The Blues have already interviewed Port Adelaide assistant coach Michael Voss, highly-rated Richmond assistant coach Adam Kingsley and Essendon assistant Daniel Giansiracusa.

While all three are said to have performed well at the interview stage, Voss and Kingsley are believed to have made the biggest impression.

AFL legend Leigh Matthews said on Saturday that Cook’s appointment to the Blues was potentially a game-changer in terms of the club’s search for a new coach.

He urged the Carlton board to allow Cook — who was involved in five premierships at West Coast and Geelong — to steer the process, saying his recruitment was every bit as important as the new coach.

“He (Cook) knows how to run a footy club,” Matthews said on 3AW.

“I think this is the best news. He is a much more important appointment to me than whoever becomes the senior coach.”

“It’s time for them (the board) to butt out. When you get a Brian Cook, who has been headhunted … they’ve got the right executive.”

Carlton president Luke Sayers called the Blues “a destination club” on the day after announcing Cook as the new chief executive.

Sayers tweeted on Saturday morning: “Carlton Football Club IS a destination club. Brian Cook, the best CEO in the AFL, welcome, welcome, welcome.”

Cook, who had been the Cats’ boss since 1999, takes over the chief executive role from Cain Liddle, who was sacked last week

Why master administrator is joining Blues

Master administrator Brian Cook’s first job as Carlton CEO will be to help find a new coach to replace the sacked David Teague.

The Blues landed the former Geelong and West Coast official on Friday afternoon and signed him to a three-year deal.

Cook’s appointment will reignite Carlton’s hopes that they can lure four-time premiership Hawks coach Alastair Clarkson to Princes Park.

Following his departure from Hawthorn Clarkson has continually said he would be stepping away from the game for 12 months to concentrate on overseas study.

Brian Cook has signed on with the Blues.

Is Alastair Clarkson a step closer to joining Carlton?

He was also said to have been concerned at the club’s lack of off-field stability.

In his time as a club CEO, Cook has overseen five premierships and eight grand finals at West Coast and Geelong.

He is being replaced at GMHBA Stadium by former AFL football boss Steven Hocking.

The Blues have been in a state of upheaval since the tabling of a review at the end of the 2021 season.

The report, overseen by new president Luke Sayers, resulted in the sacking of two-year coach David Teague at the season’s end and saw the club axe CEO Cain Liddle last Friday.

Carlton said the decision to cut ties with Liddle was made after he sought certainty over his future at the club.

The board decided that under Liddle’s leadership the Blues had not closed the gap between significant financial gains off the field and poor performances on the field.

Cook will commence in the role in mid-October.

Sayers said Cook’s appointment was a “significant pillar of the club’s ‘reset’ strategy.”

Cook said he could not ignore the opportunity to lead a big club such as Carlton.

“Football clubs are built on its people – its players, coaches, staff, members, supporters and commercial partners – my first focus will be connecting with as many of our people as possible and making sure we are all aligned on how we are going push this football club to achieve the success it is striving for,” Cook said.

“There is no doubt that is going to take a lot of hard work, from a lot of Carlton people.”

Brian Cook with Cats chairman Craig Drummond and Steve Hocking after Hocking’s appointment at Geelong. Picture: Alan Barber

Cook advised Geelong on Friday he had accepted the Carlton job after 23 years with the Cats.

He had initially talked to Geelong about staying on in a consultancy role once Hocking arrived in October.

“The club has enjoyed an incredible period of success under Brian’s stewardship, both on and off the field,” Geelong Football Club president Craig Drummond said.

“Since Brian joined the club, we have seen our greatest period of sustained on-field success, an almost complete rebuild of GMHBA Stadium, massive reduction of debt, a significantly enhanced positive impact on the community, record membership and the introduction of our women’s football program.

“Brian is the longest serving CEO in the history of the game, and he loves a challenge. He is excited about taking the reigns at Carlton and we wish him well in that role.

“The club is vastly different to the one he walked into all those years ago, and we can never properly thank him for all he has done during his tenure.

“The past 20 years have ensured the long term future of the Geelong Football Club, with Brian playing a huge part in that. When he arrived the stadium was crumbling, the club had crippling debt and there had not been a premiership since 1963.

“Every major goal has been met and the club can move forward with a sound base in football, business and the community.

“Steve Hocking has been appointed and is ready to take on the CEO role with us in the coming weeks. We are excited by the vision and energy that Steve will bring to the role and we look forward to an exciting future.”

FIND OUT MORE ABOUT CARLTON’S NEW CEO

In an in-depth interview with Jon Anderson in 2019, Brian Cook revealed his greatest achievements in club land, his favourite players and why he felt he would have done a good job as AFL CEO had he beaten Gillon McLachlan to the role.

Jon Anderson: When you retire, you will have spent an AFL-VFL record of 30 years as a CEO? What are you proudest of?

Brian Cook: The cultural change at Geelong is at the top of my list because without it nothing else could have happened. We have one of the best around. The AFLPA do their cultural survey each year and we’ve rated one or two for the last five or six years along with clubs like Sydney and Hawthorn.

JA: What about in terms of players?

BC: Seeing the development of players, someone like a Paul Chapman growing into a really good citizen. A real cat’s head the way he played, I loved him. Paul Chapman, Steve Johnson and Cameron Mooney oscillated between high performance and lazy. But they kept improving. Had we allowed that sort of stuff to dominate the culture and let them get away with it, then the whole club would have suffered.

JA: Would you have been a good CEO of the AFL?

BC: Ummm, had I been given the opportunity I would have done OK. I have been to the last three twice. Gil (McLachlan) was a fait accompli and he’s doing a good job. But I would have done it differently to Andrew (Demetriou) and Gil.

JA: How?

BC: At a high level I would have been really strong on getting all the major stakeholders to agree to a common purpose and common values. And identify what is our competitive advantage over other sports and really work on it. I think if the AFL had done that over the past 20 years in a really meaningful way, they wouldn’t be simply a very good organisation, which they are, they would be a great organisation. I get criticised when I say that but I stick to it.

JA: Will Gold Coast and GWS still be in the AFL in 20 years?

BC: I think they will be but it’s going to cost the AFL a lot more money than first expected. The original expectation over a five-year period was to provide about $100 million to each of them. I think the $20-odd million they currently get will go for at least another 10 years. But the television rights have gone up dramatically and it can be argued that the ninth game gives us extra money that goes to those two club, and that’s not a bad argument.

JA: So you would have supported the introduction of Gold Coast and GWS?

BC: Absolutely, but I wouldn’t have brought them in within a year of each other. I would have had a larger time difference between both. Having said that, the AFL bit the bullet, as they have with the AFLW, which I take my hat off to.

JA: Are 18 teams sustainable?

BC: It’s not ideal but you will never get to a stage where there are less Melbourne-based clubs. There’s no way one of the Melbourne-based clubs will put its hand up. The AFL under the system of equity will ensure that clubs survive.

JA: Does an AFL team in Tasmania have a future?

BC: Tasmanian football needs to be developed more before it can have an AFL team, which is a pity because it was really well developed until the early 1970s. The AFL probably needs to focus in on Tasmania as a developmental state and not a traditional state.

JA: And by extension, is the state of country football in Victoria a concern, or the view in some quarters that the AFL isn’t doing enough?

BC: It’s an issue because it’s out there, but I would ask is it an issue the AFL needs to spend a lot of time and effort on? I’m not sure. I’ve seen what other sports do in relation to junior development and I can assure you the AFL does as much, if not more. It comes down to expectation. Because the AFL has this unbelievable pot of money there is an argument to say a bigger proportion should go down to the lower levels. At grassroots level there has to be a large degree of self-sufficiency, but I’m not sure it’s financial assistance from the AFL.

JA: Your CV is going to ensure your legacy in AFL history, but surely there must be regrets. For instance not seeking another challenge outside the AFL?

BC: I’m very happy where I am but I have indicated this is my last contract with the Cats which will finish at the end of 2020 when I’m 65.

JA: That isn’t old. Have you another big job in you?

BC: I doubt it. As for regrets, most of the groups who have approached me over the years have required an internal revolution which I’ve been through three times in my career and they do take a lot out of you. Do I want to work 16 hours a day, seven days a week, for a couple of years? No, I don’t want to do that.

JA: For those of us who don’t understand, explain how difficult “internal revolutions” can be, and what are the hardest parts?

BC: Letting go players. When I started at Geelong in 1999 we had to take $1 million out of our footy budget so the most practical way of doing that was to let go of some players. John Barnes was one. The one that does worry me that I got wrong was Micky Mansfield. He was an All-Australia playing in the VFL at the time. I looked at the payroll and looked at where he was playing, so I had a chat to Mick. I’m not sure I got that right. I have spoken to Mick and hopefully he’s forgiven me.

JA: Who are your favourite players?

BC: Joel Selwood, Tom Harley and Cameron Ling are three. Harley had limited natural ability but became a two-time premiership captain. I’m very proud we started to pick our best leaders rather than best players to be captain.

JA: In your 28 years as a CEO, Geelong and West Coast have played in 23 finals series. What are the best two teams you have overseen and who wins?

BC: The 2007 Geelong side and the 1992 West Coast team. The Eagles winning for the first time was a great moment, just to cross the border for the first time with the premiership cup. Who wins? Possibly Geelong in 2007 because of its depth.

JA: Do you like the game to watch?

BC: I understand it’s not a great spectacle for the public sometimes. For me I prefer the contest rather than the flow. I love the one-on-one contest although not necessarily 10 players on 10. If we could find a better balance between game-flow versus contest, that’s what I’d be after.

JA: So rule changes?

BC: We change rules a lot. I wouldn’t be changing them too often, coaches will find a way.

JA: How are the Cats currently placed?

BC: Key decisions have to be based on both one and five years, with Gary Ablett 34 and Joel Selwood 30. When Chris Scott first came on board one of his KPIs was to always play five players with less than 50 games each week. Of course you can’t always do it but this year we’ve played a heap. If you don’t play the kids now, in five years’ time we won’t be any good. It’s a very exciting time, probably the most adventurous for a long period of time. The kids may get tired but we know they can play. We have a lot of home games left this year and players constantly coming back from injury.

JA: How long before you realised Chris Scott was the right coach?

BC: He fitted the Geelong way very quickly and we will discuss with Chris his future before the end of next year.

JA: And Mark Thompson?

BC: In the first year I thought he was going to be the right coach. He could break down skills and teach players, and could pick up really early momentum swings in games. It’s a trait you seldom see.

JA: Which of his players may we see become coaches?

BC: Steve Johnson, Joel Selwood, Matty Scarlett and Corey Enright. Scarlett has a really good eyeballing sense and the ability to identify talent, which would also make him an outstanding recruiting manager. I used to call Matty Scarlett “The Senator” because he didn’t attend many meetings but to get something through you had to go through the Upper House which was Scarlett.

Originally published as Carlton coaching job: Brian Cook set to turn up heat as race to get Alastair Clarkson intensifies