Carlton should chase John Worsfold: John Elliott

By Rob Forsaith / Wire

Former Carlton president John Elliott has nominated John Worsfold as the man to chase should the AFL club want a new coach.

President Mark LoGiudice continues to repeat that Mick Malthouse will see out the season, despite former Carlton player Mark Maclure saying the under-pressure mentor could be sacked this week.

Elliott, who oversaw the dismissal of four coaches in his tenure at Princes Park, believes Malthouse is unlikely to be at the club in 2016.

“I don’t think he’ll stay, unless they get close to the top eight,” Elliott told Fox Footy on Monday.

“That’s about where they have to get to now, then he’d have a chance.

“But the players love him, that’s what I find amazing .. they all want him to stay as coach.”

If the three-time premiership coach is moved on, Elliott suggested he should be replaced by former West Coast coach Worsfold.

Worsfold won flags as an Eagles player in 1992 and 1994 then coached them to victory in the 2006 grand final.

He resigned in 2013 and hasn’t expressed interest in any head coaching job since.

“If you are going to change your coach, you have to get a proven one,” Elliott said.

“They’ve got to be looking around … I’d chase Worsfold. He’s an exceptional fellow.

“I regard he and (Stephen) Kernahan as the two best people I’ve met in football.”

The Blues have been this season’s biggest disappointments and the past three weeks have been particularly woeful.

Malthouse’s 715th match as a VFL/AFL coach, which set a new record, ended with a 75-point defeat to Collingwood.

A loss against besieged Brisbane followed in round six before they were touched up by Greater Western Sydney at Etihad Stadium.

Malthouse, in his weekly message to Carlton members, called on fans to “stick with us”.

“We owe you guys so much,” he said.

“Supporters by definition support you through thick and thin.

“Things haven’t worked out anywhere near good enough but we will continue to keep trying.”

A six-day break is usually a source of frustration for AFL coaches.

But the rush is almost a relief for Malthouse as he searches for absolution after the 78-point shellacking dished out by GWS last Saturday.

“We’ve got six days to get ourselves in order,” Malthouse said.

“In many respects you say it’s not enough time.

“But we would rather get out there and see what we can do to redeem our performances.”

Ruckman Matthew Kreuzer is set to return against Geelong on Friday night, but otherwise there are few sources of optimism for Carlton fans.

The Crowd Says:

2015-05-20T08:46:49+00:00

Martin

Guest


I suppose John Worsfold owes Carlton something because that was the club that gave him an apprenticeship in coaching.

2015-05-20T07:00:59+00:00

Liam Sheedy

Roar Guru


Not sure if Worsfold would be the right fit. But the Open Mike interview with John Elliott was very interesting viewing.

2015-05-19T11:28:34+00:00

Michael Steel

Roar Pro


I find it a strange comment. Barassi, Nicholls and Walls were not proven coaches when they coached Carlton to their fllags. Parkin was the only one. What you need is a hungry coach. Over the past ten years , whenever the media spoke to Leon Cameron I I thought no one is hungrier for coaching success than this bloke and now he's doing good things with GWS. Dennis Pagan was a proven coach.

2015-05-19T04:08:03+00:00

Shaw

Roar Rookie


“If you are going to change your coach, you have to get a proven one,” Elliott said. Yeah, that worked so well with Malthouse, for the bargain price of 1.5 million pa. Good luck blues (but not too much :p)

2015-05-19T03:50:57+00:00

The Original Buzz

Guest


Elliot calling for Woosha makes me really think we should definitely NOT go for him. This is a bloke who has made costly decisions in the past.

2015-05-18T15:59:58+00:00

Pasta Bob

Guest


I respect Coach Malthouse and believe he is one of the coaching greats, but it is time to call this for the sake of the club. The players aren't responding to his coaching methods and as such a change is needed.

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