Ross Lyon says he’d ‘take the call’ if Carlton hit him up to take over as head coach, while confirming he rejected an approach from Collingwood.
In a revealing interview on Footy Classified, the former Fremantle coach spoke openly about speculation linking him to both jobs for the first time.
Lyon made it clear that he expected Alastair Clarkson to take over from David Teague at Carlton next season, and Lyon was previously reticent to return to coaching after a disappointing end to his time at the Dockers.
But he said a discussion with Leigh Matthew had helped him come around to the idea of coaching again sooner than he expected.
“Carlton have been strong with Mark LoGiudice, they’re going through the process and they’ll review and then make a decision, I believe that’s the way they’re going,” Lyon said.
“Me personally, I have shifted a little bit, that did happen with Leigh, it had me thinking.
“It didn’t end super well at Fremantle although I felt I coached really well in the last year, we were fifth or sixth on the ladder with seven wins and five losses and then we fell away.
“I look at some of that vision and I looked about 800 so why would you go back into it, but it did stimulate my thinking.
“If an opportunity arose, and I say that with the greatest respect to Carlton, and they rang me, I would entertain it, but I also understand that I haven’t got tickets on myself, it’s a red-hot field, Alastair Clarkson is available.
“With all the intelligence that I have within the marketplace, I think that they’ll speak to Alastair at the right time, which is next week.
“If I was the Carlton board and I could get Alastair Clarkson I don’t think you could go past that.”
(Photo by Paul Kane/Getty Images)
Clarkson is the strong favourite to take over but has hinted he might take a year off to freshen up after leaving Hawthorn.
If the job is available Lyon said he would “certainly take the call and consider it.
“I am aware, there’s enough Carlton people, famous Carlton people, premiership players, coaches, ex-champions that are advocating because they’ve worked with me or know me personally and understand their club and there’s those sort of connections, so I do know that’s occurring as well.
“It makes you feel good – to be honest if Leigh Matthews says you should coach again and then you read his article, there’s no one else in the AFL that’s coached two different clubs and taken them to grand finals, you can’t fluke that so we all do need some affirmation and it probably just lit the fuse a little bit.
Lyon was also asked if Collingwood had spoken to him.
“I don’t think Graham Wright would mind, he reached out to a friend to get my number and I was aware and just said respectfully I wouldn’t entertain that for a variety of reasons,” said Lyon.
“It’s hard to articulate. Sometimes it’s just chemistry.
“If you get a headhunter ring you and you go and meet them and you go for the job, if you haven’t got that chemistry, that happens pretty quick, well it doesn’t happen or it shouldn’t happen.”
He was asked if his decision to ignore the Magpies was because of unrest at the club.
“I think it‘s instability,” said Lyon. “I think Nathan’s a bit unlucky. I don’t know Nathan, Nathan’s not a friend, but just from the outside … I think if you see misalignment it’s a red flag.”
Brendon the 1st
Roar Rookie
That's a good get
Macca
Roar Rookie
Dunstan dropped by the Saints after averaging 25 touches in the last 3 weeks (and 25.2 for the year) – perhaps the rumours of him going to the Blues re true.
Bangkokpussey
Roar Rookie
...And dont coach Carlton. What top coach would want to coach a team that changes coaches with such a history of insecure tenure. They have had six coaches and possibly soon to be a seventh in the time Hawthorn has had one and Geelong two. Carlton is not a coaching destination but a coaching graveyard. With a Plethora of high draft picks and coaches that include two premiership coaches, they need to be looking elsewhere to fix the problem rather than continually sacking coaches.
C
Guest
On Clarkson to Carlton only 4 words - Ian Aitkin = no thanks!
Macca
Roar Rookie
WA press is reporting Cerra is out of Freo and likely to request the BLues.
Bangkokpussey
Roar Rookie
Jordan clark to Freo. Cerra to the Cats.
2018 and 2019 might suggest otherwise. Buckley has never had the luxury of a McKay.
Chanon
Roar Rookie
That’s a bloody disgrace can’t stand Lyon he has clearly undermined Teague while he is still coach a complete drop kick & personally Teague hasn’t been given any time to build his team because of internal displeasure an outside noise. If l was a Carlton supporter l would demand that Fu.king board Pi.s off!
Macca
Roar Rookie
Buckley would be a disaster, McKay would be wasted
Macca
Roar Rookie
I really don’t get why we persist with Newnes, does really dumb stuff
Chanon
Roar Rookie
Bizarre bewildered & shocked by Bevo sudden U-turn on turn over policy! He may have had a tap on the shoulder regarding player disharmony?
Chanon
Roar Rookie
Gee mate what’s going on Bevo got me stumped, early in week they suggested Martin was given the green light but here we are with no insight into why? Also our performance was abysmal last week & usually Bevo would slam the inept & drop 6 or 7 but like you said he brings on plodder Smith, l’m scratching my bald head. I guess he has no choice with reserves cocooned with no match fit replacement being a concern or he doesn’t want to break the teams low spirits with dumping players prior to finals. Mate it’s a conundrum l’d love to be a fly on the wall in the team selection meeting!
Pumping Dougie
Roar Guru
I know. Bummer eh. He should have at least brought Sweet in. Instead he brings in Roarke Smith - another pet.
Chanon
Roar Rookie
Lyon would want someone to take over another FF turned FB with aplomb. Tell me Chuck kicking out from FB can you snap it to a mate on the HB line :silly:
Charlie Keegan
Roar Guru
He’d still be pretty good as a full back if I’m being perfectly honest
Chanon
Roar Rookie
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
How did Buckley get that team to a 5 goal lead?
Chanon
Roar Rookie
If Lyon coached Carlton he would turn Big H into a FB, hahaha!
Kane
Roar Rookie
That's where you are wrong Dougie, the AFL investigated all of this and found that they didn't cheat the cap in 95 it was later than that. Essendon were found to have cheated it in their premiership year of 93 yet had no punishment.
Charlie Keegan
Roar Guru
Yeah I’ve listened to a couple interviews with sheeds on the lunchtime catch up pod cast and I do notice him being a bit of a old bloke.