Revered footy journalist Caroline Wilson has made the bold call that long-time and highly successful Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson will take over as Carlton's coach at the end of 2022.
Wilson's prediction is based on her beliefs that Carlton coach David Teague is "under as much pressure as any coach", the Blues' board sees Clarkson as its "salvation" and Clarkson is "on a collision course" with Hawthorn.
The contracts of Clarkson and Teague are also both set to expire at the end of 2022, in an indication that a seamless transition is feasible.
The thought of Clarkson leaving Hawthorn, the club at which he's coached since September 2004 and has led to four premierships, is a bizarre one.
But Wilson suggested exactly that on Nine's Footy Classified tonight.
"I think David Teague is under as much pressure as any coach going into this year … I think that what you've got is your captain coming out of contract, the champion of the side (Patrick Cripps), a long-term injury again to (Charlie) Curnow and I think there was a bit of disenchantment from some players about the re-signing of Eddie Betts, who's seen as very close to the coach," Wilson said.
"Disappointing last year and, dare I say it, Alastair waiting in the wings and clearly at odds with people at his own club … I think you've got a board – the Carlton board – looking for some credibility and I think they see Alastair Clarkson as their salvation.
"If things don't work out with David Teague – and I'm fast-forwarding, I know. But at the moment, if I had to pick a club where Alastair Clarkson might go if he left Hawthorn, Carlton would be numero uno."
Teague had a positive impact on Carlton from the beginning of his reign as caretaker coach in 2019, spearheading the hapless Blues to six wins from their last 11 games of the season.
But while that promising turnaround landed him a three-year deal from 2020, he led Carlton to just seven wins from 17 games in 2020 and his side only finished in 11th on the ladder.
Hawthorn are struggling too – North Melbourne great David King has tipped them to again finish in the bottom four this season – and four-time premiership Hawk Jordan Lewis last year raised doubt over whether Clarkson has the drive to again rebuild the club.
"I think there are people on the (Carlton) board already casting their minds in the event of the coach departing – and it might not be this year," Wilson said.
"I think Alastair Clarkson is the next coach of the Carlton Football Club at the moment.
"It's been a really tough off-season and it was a really tough season for Hawthorn last year.
"We know that Alastair Clarkson is often on a collision course with (president) Jeff Kennett, I think (former chief of football) Graham Wright who's now left and Justin Reeves the CEO became a real bond at the hub last year, we've seen obviously the (Jonathon) Patton and the (Tom) Scully stories that have hurt the club.
"I think Alastair is at odds now with a lot of his administration. He was initially frozen out in the choice to select the new footy boss. In the end he was a part of the decision-making process. I think initially he didn't look like getting his way with the Shaun Burgoyne re-signing, which he had pushed for.
"I think he's got a bigger say at AFL HQ at the moment than at Hawthorn."
That comment from Wilson referred to Clarkson's ability to persuade the AFL into adopting new rules and interpretations. The 368-game coaching legend was last year outspoken about his views on congestion, which triggered multiple rule changes for season 2021, and he even had a coffee with AFL chief executive Gillon McLachlan in 2018 to express his concern over the Sydney Swans' tactics in defence.
Wilson sees the 2021 season as a crucial campaign for Clarkson.
"I think it's probably time that he did go to another club, if things don't work out again at Hawthorn this year," Wilson said.
"And you can't say things are looking all that positive at the moment."
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