Hawthorn great Jordan Lewis has implored Carlton to orchestrate a coaching succession plan to gear the club towards its first premiership in over 30 years, declaring an untried coach walking into the role would be “career suicide.”
The resignation of Michael Voss continues a line of short-lived coaching runs at the Blues this century.
Carlton has tried just about everything at this point.
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From Voss, one of the most respected leaders and overall figures in the industry in his second coaching reign.
To Brendon Bolton — a highly-regarded assistant who worked in a successful, premiership coaching structure under Alastair Clarkson at Hawthorn.
To experienced premiership coaches in Mick Malthouse in Dennis Pagan.
To a favourite son in Brett Ratten.
To a successful caretaker coach in David Teague who showed his chops and had runs on the board with the group.
Michael Voss resigns as Carlton coach | 01:40
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None lasted more than six years.
Carlton has also turned over every key pillar at the club during that period and had small windows of success — including a preliminary final appearance under Voss in 2023 — but nothing sustained or meaningful.
Voss’ 103 games in charge since 2022 marks the longest tenure since Ratten, who coached in 120 games from 2007 to 2012, before he was sensationally axed for Malthouse.
So where to here for the Blues?
Lewis thinks the problems at Ikon Park “run deeper” than the revolving coaching door.
“When I look at this situation, whether it’s Voss or previous coaches at this football club, you really have to look at the whole club,” Lewis told foxfooty.com.au.
“I know Voss is the public figure and the one who has lost his position. But when a side like Carlton time and time again end up in the same position and same result and sacking of another coach, it has to run deeper than just the coach itself.
“There are clubs in the AFL that there is a certain element of volatility around the organisation. Carlton is absolutely one.
“You could have the greatest football people involved at your club, but there is a certain level of pressure and volatility that happens at these certain clubs around the AFL.
“That’s the challenge. I think you would be very wary of the position if you were going into it.”
New contender in Devils coaching race | 01:03
A SUCCESSION PLAN?
An advantage of Carlton moving in a new direction is that the club is first to the coaching market.
That comes with Tasmania also assessing candidates for its vacancy, while Essendon could follow suit with rising pressure on Brad Scott.
There’s arguably never been a better best pool of senior coaches available including the likes of John Longmire, Ken Hinkley, Adam Simpson and Nathan Buckley.
Along with several highly-regarded assistant coaches such as James Kelly, Hayden Skipworth, Brendon Lade, Shaun Grigg, Daniel Giansiracusa, Corey Enright, David Hale and Brett Montgomery.
But for Lewis, history shows a first-time coach would be walking into a deathtrap at Ikon Park.
“I honestly think, and I may be proven wrong, if you’re a first-time coach, this would be career suicide,” he said.
“I just don’t think you could put your hat into the ring, knowing the club and list, and think you will survive any longer than three to four years.
“History suggests you won’t.”
‘It’ll happen more often’ – Buckley | 01:29
Lewis thinks Carlton’s issues are “no quick fix” and that the next coach needs time to mould the list.
The four-time premiership Hawk believes the Blues need to play the long game and organise a succession plan like Melbourne did with Paul Roos and Simon Goodwin.
“Hire a really experienced, premiership coach that takes the reins for the first three years. Then whoever they think might be the best candidate after that comes in,” Lewis said.
“The club needs time. The club will not win a premiership over the next three to five years.
“So how do you buy yourself time? How do you give the coach a chance to build a list you think will take you to your next premiership? Then let the coach you think will be your next premiership coach take over.
“Any coach that comes in and looks at Carlton’s list and thinks it’s going to be a quick fix, you can cross their name off the list. Because it’s not.
“They haven’t won a premiership for 31 years. To come in and think it’s a quick fix is laughable.”
Carlton interested in Joel Amartey | 01:20
LIST CALLS
Among Carlton’s list decisions moving forward revolve around the futures of their leaders in what could be a wider reset.
It’s a similar position Melbourne was in this time last year after the club’s premiership window closed and it let go Simon Goodwin and traded Christian Petracca and Clayton Oliver.
And we know Blues chief executive Graham Wright isn’t afraid to make hard calls.
A reboot already began last off-season with the Charlie Curnow trade.
Now the likes of Patrick Cripps, Jacob Weitering and Harry McKay could also be on the move ahead of “open and honest conversations” with those favourites.
Lewis calls for more Josh Daicos | 01:51
“Alastair Clarkson always said you owe the club nothing and the club owes you nothing,” Lewis said.
“These conversations need to be open in a sense that if Patty (Cripps) or any other player is wanting to achieve success in what is left of their career, the club should give them the opportunity to do so.
“What you get back in return is always the sticking point.
“These players have given enough to this football club, they’ve earned the right to go and explore other options to hopefully get that ultimate success.
“At the end of the day, if the new coach comes in and talks about their hopes and dreams, it’s all words. That won’t play out for the next two to three years.
“They can come in with the grand plan around what’s going to happen, but the proof has to be in the pudding. Those players have heard it all before and should be given the opportunity to explore their options.”
It’s a balancing act with how aggressive Carlton wants to get in rebuilding its list.
Putting its high-end stars on the trade table could net the club the draft assets or otherwise to make meaningful change.
For example, a Jacob Weitering trade could net the club multiple first-round picks. Whereas a return for Adam Cerra mightn’t be as attractive.
Could Pies list calls come back to bite? | 01:55
It comes with the backdrop of Blues fathers-son prodigy and potential No. 1 draft pick Cody Walker waiting in the wings. And clubs will have to pay a higher price for father-son and academy-linked players than ever before under the AFL’s draft changes.
The likes of Jagga Smith and Harry Dean won’t be going anywhere. Lewis thinks Sam Walsh is also an “untouchable” after the potential captain-in-waiting signed a long-term deal and as an “integral part of their team and culture.”
But he thinks everything else should be on the cards.
“I still think Weitering is important. It’s really important to have that defensive end relatively stable. So he would be probably question mark for me,” Lewis said.
“It’s more players like Patty and McKay (they should consider moving). But these guys won’t command much in return, so it’s probably more about opening up an opportunity for a young kid to come and play some senior football.”
Lewis ultimately doesn’t see the current Blues list taking it to a “long period of sustained success,” saying it lacks the “talent and depth.”
It’s partly why he thinks reports stated Collingwood premiership coach Craig McRae rejected an approach from Wright last off-season in seemingly the first sign that change was inevitable at Ikon Park.
“I think Craig McRae may have looked at it and gone: ‘Well, if I was to change from Collingwood to Carlton, what am I going to achieve?’,” Lewis added.
“I’d imagine it would’ve been an easy decision for him to say, thanks, but no thanks.”
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