Brendon Bolton has taken the radical step of starting his AFL senior coaching career as a Carlton employee, not on a contract.
Blues chief executive Steven Trigg took the same step four years ago at Adelaide for the last year of Neil Craig’s coaching tenure.
But Craig had coached Adelaide since 2004 – Bolton is untried and at a club reeling from Mick Malthouse’s disastrous tenure.
“It’s as simple as some protection in there for Brendon and his family, some protection for Carlton, but otherwise we go into this a long-term horizon,” Trigg said.
Bolton is also a rarity in senior coaching because he has no AFL playing experience.
He narrowly secured the Carlton job ahead of John Barker, who has earned massive respect since taking over when Malthouse was sacked in May.
Only a few hours after helping run training in his Hawks tracksuit, 36-year-old Bolton fronted a packed media conference at Carlton on Tuesday afternoon in a club suit and tie.
Bolton was deliberately more serious than his bubbly personality when he coached the Hawks for five games last season, pledging he will be ruthless when it is needed.
He said it would be a balance between bringing people with him and making sure the job gets done.
“I have an idea of how I’m going to go around that,” Bolton said.
“You’ll see both sides, that’s the ride you’re on as a coach.
“I understand that.”
Bolton has an impressive football resume, starting in Tasmania and joining Hawthorn seven years ago.
His stocks soared last year when he coached the Hawks to five-straight AFL wins while Alastair Clarkson recovered from illness.
“I probably only got the job last year because I was the only coach he could look down on,” short-statured Bolton said with a grin.
He also learned some invaluable lessons during that taste of senior coaching.
“It’s about being reliable, not remarkable – I learned it was the sum of the parts,” he said.
“I also learned you need to be yourself … be authentic.
“We need to be an authentic footy club.”
Given Carlton’s lack of sustained success for more than a decade, Bolton and Barker went through a particularly-rigorous selection process.
But Bolton had plenty of his own questions in about nine hours of talks.
The first topic he wanted information about was the Blues’ much-criticised playing list.
“I do want the list to understand it’s a blank canvas as far as I’m concerned,” he said.
“I don’t have too many preconceived ideas.”
Bolton said he had deeply-conflicted feelings on Monday night when Carlton told him he had the job.
Earlier in the day, he was among mourners at the funeral of Cooper Ratten, whose father Brett is another Hawks assistant coach.
“Today, (it’s) genuine excitement about trying to lay a platform for sustained success,” Bolton said.
There was speculation about when Bolton would start, given the Hawks are on the verge of another finals series.
But they confirmed on Tuesday that he would switch clubs by the end of the week once he handed over his assistant duties as forward line coach to Damian Carroll.
Barker will coach Carlton for their last two games, giving Bolton a chance to ease into his job.
Trigg said Carlton will also wait until the end of the season before Barker’s future at the club is decided.
“Someone who has done such a wonderful job for us and shown deep care for the club gets our care in return,” Trigg said.
Meanwhile, Trigg also moved to scotch speculation that ruckman Matthew Kreuzer could leave the contract at the end of the season.
Macca
Guest
Rick - When it all comes down to it we are still faced with the same thing, your opinion requires a series of highly unlikely scenarios to be true and known facts to be wrong and Bolton, his management team and the AFLCA to been happy to be scr&wed. The sooner you realise this makes your opinion illogical and poorly founded the better - good luck finding someone to tie your shoes.
Doc Disnick
Roar Guru
"You have justed just the shark my friend, if you actually believe what you are saying I wonder how you have the intelligence to put your shoes on in the morning." I think that sentence sums you up nicely, along with your entire argument. It makes NFS whatsoever. At least get your sayings right if you want to be a smart a4s.
Macca
Guest
Rick - You have justed just the shark my friend, if you actually believe what you are saying I wonder how you have the intelligence to put your shoes on in the morning. You somehow think Bolton is happy to be reemed by the blues, you think a deal the AFLCA described as bloody good would invole Bolton being on probation or not actually having "snior coach" in writing and you believe that Barker is not being demoted if he were to move back from Senior coach to an assistant - you live in lala land mate there is no other way to describe it. And not for nothing - the people you are employing aren't working in a field you yourself described as "one of the most volatile jobs in the world" - Bolton isn't going to be as accepting as they are and the AFLCA certainly aren't.
Macca
Guest
While you are at it Rick could you explain why the AFLCA described a deal in which one of it's members would be able to be treated in the manner you describe as a "bloody good deal"?
Macca
Guest
Rick - I am still waiting for an answer to that pretty simple question why would an intelligent person sign a contract doesn't specify the role as the same one he applied and interviewed for and that would allow him to be demoted without compensation?
Doc Disnick
Roar Guru
"It beggars belief that you would apply for and get appointed to a position but then sign a contract that allowed you to be demoted without compensation" Who said anything about being demoted and without compensation? Please don't go on my sarcasm at the start there champ! We are being serious now. He may well be signed into an acting role, a bit like John Barker at the moment . When John Barker steps down, is that seen as a demotion? You just don't know what Trigg means by 'staff'. He's a cunning ba4tered, a cheat and a liar! Alternatively: It's very plausible Bolton has agreed to become a permanent staff member of the Carlon coaching department. It is also very plausible that Bolton has agreed to a 12 month probation period as the senior coach, or 3 months or 6 etc... Why not? I do it will all my employees, it's pretty standard. This may work for him and his family, so stupidity has nothing to do with it here. However, a 3-year contract does not allow for this type of negotiation. Most senior coaches want a minimum of 3 years to turn a list around and would not agree to any performance targets, which is why we see so many clubs having to pay out contracts. I can come up with any number of scenario's and speculate all I like. You don't have to like them, nor agree with them. But after reading this, I'm betting you are going to start questing it yourself (irrespective of what you say to me). At the end of the day Bolton is not on a contract as the senior coach (fact). There is no set date for his appointment as the senior coach (fact). The CFC were caught breaching the salary cap and were punished severely for it (fact). They then appoint a CEO who was caught instigating salary cap breaches at the Crows (fact). He was suspended for 6 months, before immediately joining the CFC (fact). He is the man announcing Bolton as the senior coach of the CFC (fact). Seriously Macca, use some free will and think for yourself here. I may be wrong, but I might also be right.
Macca
Guest
"I think you will find he has been appointed the ‘roll’ of senior coach. That is vastly different to being appointed the senior coach in writing." And this gets back to the issue you have been avoiding all along - why on earth you think an intelligent person with a professional management team would sign a contract that doesn't state his role (you might have to explain if that is different to the "roll" you are referring to) in writing. It beggars belief that you would apply for and get appointed to a position but then sign a contract that allowed you to be demoted without compensation - it just doesn't happen - and the fact that this tenuous thread is what you are abasing your whole argument around is exactly why I have saying your argument lacks logic. I have understood where you think you are coming from from the start - I just haven't been able to get you to see you are not coming from reality.
Doc Disnick
Roar Guru
"SO Bolton applied for the senior coaching role and was appointed senior coach but you find this evidence that he signed a contract to be something else?" I think you will find he has been appointed the 'role' of senior coach. That is vastly different to being appointed the senior coach in writing. Go away for at least a day and think about what I'm saying before getting too hot-headed. When you understand that, you will understand where I am coming from with everything else.
Macca
Guest
I am certain they will, it will be 3 years before they could financially afford to sack him and as long as progress ins being made by then I think they will continue with him.
Macca
Guest
"Now I definitely know this discussion is beyond your comprehension. Thanks for confirming it for me." SO Bolton applied for the senior coaching role and was appointed senior coach but you find this evidence that he signed a contract to be something else? Time to grow up and admit your opinion has no basis in reality Rick.
Wilson
Roar Guru
Can see what you are saying there Macca. I just hope the board give Bolton the time and support that is need to get blues off the bottom of the ladder.
Macca
Guest
No you are right Rick I have no evidence to suggest he was appointed Senior Coach, other than the fact the blues set up a panel to find a senior coach, Bolton applied for the position of senior coach, Bolton was announced at a press conference as senior coach and currently there is an article on the blues website which starts with the sentence "“The Carlton Football Club is pleased to announce the appointment of Brendon Bolton as its new senior coach.”" Outside of that I can only rely on the assumption that Bolton and his management team have the intelligence God gave a fly and wouldn't sign a contract for a role that allows him to be demoted at the whim of the board without compensation. And the only reason I have been unable to "show otherwise" is that you lack the ability to comprehend the most basic of statements while demonstrating a stunning ability to ignore any evidence, logic or reasoning that shows just how ridiculous your opinion is. You have never answered why Bolton would sign up for the contract you believe he did, you have never provided any evidence to support why you think Bolton was appointed anything other than senior coach to refute all the evidence to the contrary and you never provided any evidence as to why you think the "wolves will be at the door" from day 1 ignoring a specific request for coaches who have been sacked inside 1 and 2 years in the last decade. As I have repeatedly said you can have your opinion but don't for 1 second believe it is equal to mine.
Doc Disnick
Roar Guru
“The Carlton Football Club is pleased to announce the appointment of Brendon Bolton as its new senior coach.” Now I definitely know this discussion is beyond your comprehension. Thanks for confirming it for me.
Doc Disnick
Roar Guru
"See the above post as to why I know that was what he was appointed as and why your belief otherwise is foo lish." Oh the irony of all this Macca is incredible. That would be your 'opinion' on how you 'know' he was appointed the senior coach. In order for you to prove it you would have to show some evidence, which you can't. You know what happens then? Speculation about his future, precisely because you - along with the media - can't show one way or another what his position at Carlton is on paper. This was all brought about because Trigg told us (fact) Bolton is not on a contract (which means he is not contracted as the head coach of Carlton for his 3 years there), but is on 'staff' (again fact) for 3 years. So to summarise things Macca: In my 'opinion' this is a weak appointment by the CFC and shows they lack any real confidence in themselves by not offering Bolton a 3 year contract as their senior coach. You have had plenty of opportunity to show otherwise, but you can't. Goodbye.
Macca
Guest
Rick this is from the Carlton website; "The Carlton Football Club is pleased to announce the appointment of Brendon Bolton as its new senior coach." If you still don't realise that he has been appointed senior coach after that I am not sure how much clearer I can make it.
Macca
Guest
Rick – “That’s the main question I posed to you. So after that ramble – yet again – you still don’t know.” If you lack the comprehension skills to see that I have numerous times stated very clearly that Bolton was appointed as the senior coach then I can’t help you. See the above post as to why I know that was what he was appointed as and why your belief otherwise is foo lish.
Macca
Guest
Rick - "That’s the main question I posed to you. So after that ramble – yet again – you still don’t know." If you lack the comprehension skills to see that I have numerous times stated very clearly that Bolton was appointed as the senior coach then I can't help you. See the above post as to why I know that was what he was appointed as and why your belief otherwise is foolish.
Macca
Guest
Rick - I can understand exactly what you are saying - it is just that you don't realise how ridiculous what you are saying is. Of course the blues can't tell Trigg to answer the phones - that is because despite him being on "staff" he has been employed to perform a specific role for specific remunerations with specific conditions. This is exactly the same as Bolton. Bolton is staff but IS employed as the head coach (I know this because that is the role he applied for and the role he was announced as being appointed to) and just like the blues can't make their CEO perform another role without breaking his contract they can't make their head coach do it either. As I have said numerous times to believe that Bolton would sign up to an agreement that didn't specify what his role was is making the assumption that Bolton and those advising him are simpletons - as this clearly not being the case it can not possibly be true. As I have said you are entitled to your opinion but don't think that your opinon is a valid or logical as mine.
Doc Disnick
Roar Guru
"I’m interested in what capacity he is employed. Is he a permanent member of staff and if so what is his specific role? or Is he contracted as the senior coach." That's the main question I posed to you. So after that ramble - yet again - you still don't know. Dalgety was right when he pulled you up on your liberal use of the word 'buckle'. You don't have any idea a lot of the time when it comes to the meaning of words and how that can change depending on the context in which they are written.
Doc Disnick
Roar Guru
"Do you think the Blues could go in tomorrow and tell Trigg that he is no longer CEO but instead answering phones in the membership call centre?" I'm not indulging you on this any further Macca. If you don't understand what I'm saying, that's your problem, not mine. Using that as an example just shows how childish you are now getting in this conversation. If the bulk of your response awaiting moderation is anything like this last comment, then we are done here.