Carlton caretaker coach David Teague has reportedly won the race to be the club’s full-time coach, with the Blues expected to make the announcement official at a press conference on Thursday.
Teague took over the side mid-season after Brendon Bolton’s departure and his arrival has coincided with a marked reversal in the Blues’ performance. After just nine games in charge of the team, Teague has overseen five wins, more than Bolton managed in his last season and a half.
Carlton have been more competitive in their losses under Teague, too, with their four defeats (against the Bulldogs, Demons, Tigers and Eagles) coming by a combined 60 points. Their last four losses under Bolton were by a combined 166.
The news that Teague has landed the Blues job comes just a day after captain Patrick Cripps gave a ringing endorsement of the 38-year-old.
“The board are doing such a thorough process that if Teaguey gets the job he’s done it in his own right and not just because the players really rate him … it will be because he’s actually a bloody good coach,” Cripps said on Tuesday.
“I know that if they get someone else then he’s going to be a really good coach too. We’ll have to see how that pans out but what Teaguey has done so far has been really impressive.”
With Teague on board and Carlton reportedly closing in on landing prized free agent Stephen Coniglio, the Blues’ future is suddenly looking promising, with Cripps lauding the potential impact the Giants midfielder would have if he did make the move south.
“Anyone would be rapt to have Stephen Coniglio come to your door. He’s a sensational player and if he did come I would be over the moon, but we’ll see how that all pans out.
“When you’re at a big club like Carlton once you do become attractive people do want to come and play for you, so that’s what I’m really excited about over the next couple of years.”
There was some slightly more sombre news at the club today, though, with reports emerging that veteran Blue Dale Thomas won’t be offered a new contract at the club. Thomas had been one of the more consistent performers at Carlton over the past couple of seasons, but it now appears there won’t be a place for the 32-year-old at the side next year.
Alchemist
Roar Rookie
Sam Docherty
anon
Roar Pro
You're playing silly buggers now. We all know Judd was talking about Teague.
Macca
Roar Rookie
How many assistant coaches have coached their own VFL side? How many have been coaching 11 years? How many have been head coach of an AFL side? Also when Judd made those comments Teague had been “head coach” of an AFL side for 4 games for a 2-2 record. He has now been “head coach” for 9 games for a 5-4 record. Perhaps that extra 5 weeks “experience” was enough to see there were no training wheels.
anon
Roar Pro
Virtually all assistant coaches have "experience". Judd was clearly talking about head coaching experience because they were trying to fill their head coaching vacancy.
Macca
Roar Rookie
Teague’s coaching history: Northern Bullants Playing coach — 2008 VFL senior coach — 2009, 2010 West Coast Assistant coach (defence) — 2011-2013 St Kilda Assistant coach (defence) — 2014 Adelaide Assistant coach (forwards) — 2015-2017 Carlton Assistant coach (forwards) — 2018-2019 Pretty decent amount of experience there. But lets just say Judd did want someone lime Lyon or Roos when he made those comments, is it not entirely possible that as they went through the process and Teague presented well, handled the press & pressure well continued to get great results on field and people like Clarkson, Roos and Lyons showed no interest that he changed his mind? Shouldn't the ability to change your opinion as the facts change be celebrated rather than denigrated?
anon
Roar Pro
Judd's lying. He said he wanted an experienced coach without training wheels. Clearly a shot at Teague. He's saying he wants a coach with previous experience like a Paul Roos, Lyon, etc. Judd also backed Bolton to the hilt earlier in the season. Dug his heels in when anyone questioned whether the Bolton appointment was wrong. Did a complete 180 within weeks. He's a footy director that continually puts his foot in his mouth. He's the one with the training wheels still.
Nolzie
Roar Rookie
I guess we can all only speculate until it all goes down
Macca
Roar Rookie
I have been impressed with him this year and I agree on his experience but with SPS looking great across half back, Newman & Plowman being solid, the return (hopefully) of Docherty & Marchbank and the possible elevation of Williamson, Schumacher and possibly even Stocker (although hopefully we see him in the midfield more than half back) it will be harder and harder to keep Thomas and Simpson in the side.
Macca
Roar Rookie
Just wondering whether you think Buckely and McGuire's realtionship is "unworkable" given this public exchange? "McGuire said this week Carlton should be trying to sit down with four-time premiership coach Clarkson, as the Blues board of directors prepares to meet to discuss Bolton’s coaching tenure. It was suggested earlier this week that the Blues’ board’s confidence in Bolton would have been rocked by the manner of the loss to the Kangaroos. McGuire’s inflammatory suggestion was out of line, according to Buckley. The Magpies’ mentor said it is not in line with the club’s values to be speaking about another club’s coaching circus."
Will Cuckson
Roar Rookie
That makes sense. I hope that's the case rather than Carlton getting rid of him altogether. I think his experience will be integral next year, even just to the playing group as a whole if he isn't playing consistent games in the 1s.
Macca
Roar Rookie
From what I have heard he has been offered a contract but it is pretty small and he has been told he will be in a similar position to Levi this year, not option A and likely to play a lot of VFL but opportunities may present themselves. It is basically up to Thomas how bad he wants to stay in the system.
Macca
Roar Rookie
When did Judd publicly question Teague? “Judd: Well it was reported I said those comments about David Teague, that David Teague has training wheels on and that he’s been ruled out of the coaching race — and that just wasn’t said.” https://www.news.com.au/sport/afl/afl-2019-chris-judd-clarifies-training-wheels-comments-says-he-needs-to-become-a-better-media-performer/news-story/f74140d2fd5a952a63e48abc50455743 As for it not being “workable” – “Teague said he had no issue with the comments, but Judd revealed on Monday night that he reached out to Teague personally to assure him he hadn’t necessarily been ruled out.” “I speak to Chris regularly and I’m very comfortable with where the club’s at,“ Teague said on Friday. “I think we’ve got the right people in place to make that call and I’ve got no issue at all there. “He did mention that there was some conversation around what he said on the Monday night but he didn’t really need to clear it up with me.” Seems my slip of the tongue (once again you show a rare ability to miss the actual point) isn’t the only “manipulation of history”.
Macca
Roar Rookie
$900k is apparently more than $300k shy of what the blues are offering and he rules himself out of a lot of media gigs.
Nolzie
Roar Rookie
From what I've heard, albeit happy to admit club rumour, is they have enough for an offer around 900k a year. Hawthorn in their glory years consistently kept players and attracted players to come for unders for a chance at success. So not impossible to say WC will be able to lure locals back in the same way. Having said that, I think he's more likely to end at Hawthorn or stay with GWS than go to Carlton though. Just my opinion.
Birdman
Roar Rookie
....so they are like that on purpose? struth!
Birdman
Roar Rookie
not sure how much is in that salary cap. Coming off a flag and a chance for back to back with no major retirements oe wantaway trades on the horizon. Coniglio may yet dons Eagles colours but not until 2025-6 when he will be in his twilight years
Nolzie
Roar Rookie
We'll see, I think you'll find WCE have enough cap space to land one of them. Albeit WC won't be able to offer the monster deals of some of the other clubs. Family, home state, playing for the club he grew up supporting, brand new stadium, best training facilities in the country at Lathlain and a higher chance at success that the other teams in the race can offer. Might be enough to get a lower offer accepted.
Birdman
Roar Rookie
nah - salary cap would be very tight - doubt they could land either Coniglio or Kelly.
Will Cuckson
Roar Rookie
Hoping the Thomas news isn't true, has been consistent this year and deserves another contract. If not, could definitely find a home at the Suns for a couple of seasons
Maxine
Guest
Macca,Judd may have been on the panel but he was also the only one on the panel,that I'm aware of,that was publicly questioning Teague. I just don't see how it's workable. Maybe the Blues can replace him with someone more professional,who doesn't need to clarify the things he says in public. And nice manipulation of history by suggesting Bolton "quit".