Blues to pursue Scott brothers as coaching shortlist narrows

Carlton have begun the process of moving on from Alastair Clarkson and Ross Lyon, and have Chris and Brad Scott high on their shortlist of potential candidates to become the club’s new coach.

Amid public commentary that they have mishandled their coaching hunt, it has emerged the Blues’ sub-committee is close to finalising a list of prospective applicants, including Michael Voss, Adam Kingsley, Justin Leppitsch and Jaymie Graham. Interviews could begin as early as this week.

Clarkson, the four-time Hawthorn premiership coach, has made it clear he will have next season off and perhaps head to the US to further his coaching resume. The Blues will only pursue him now if he unexpectedly approaches them.

Cats senior coach Chris Scott in the zone during finals. Credit:Getty Images

The Blues had wanted Lyon to go through a deep and extensive interview process and stress it was his call to pull out of the running, on the back of learning he would not walk into the role.

They are awaiting an answer from Brad Scott as to whether he wants to coach again. The former North Melbourne coach, who led the Kangaroos into two preliminary finals, is in charge of AFL Victoria and is on the shortlist of candidates to take on the vacant AFL operations manager role.

The Blues may have to wait until Geelong’s finals campaign is over before there is clarity on Chris Scott’s future through either Scott himself or his manager, Craig Kelly. Kelly did not respond for comment on Saturday.

The Blues admire Scott’s ability to have the Cats in the top four for much of his time at the club – next weekend will be his seventh preliminary final since joining in 2011 – and say it would be “remiss” of them to not ask if he would consider a move, if the Cats again fell short of a flag this season.

Scott is contracted for next season but the Blues’ interest in Cats chief executive Brian Cook, perhaps replacing Cain Liddle, could encourage Scott to make the move.

Waiting for the Cats’ season to finish encompasses the 30-45 day process Blues president Luke Sayers last month said he had in mind before a new coach would be announced.

One source with knowledge of the process said by the time this is completed the Blues will know what their coach “eats for breakfast and lunch every day”, for they know just signing a big name does not guarantee success.

Desperate to become the on-field power they had been through the 1970s until 2001, the Blues will closely follow the interview process used by Collingwood in their hiring of Craig McRae and North Melbourne in taking on David Noble last year. The Roos having Paul Roos provide significant input.

The process will include psychological testing, how the applicant plans to establish a culture of high-performance and respect, and an in-depth assessment of the playing list and game plan.

Former North Melbourne senior coach turned head of AFL Victoria Brad Scott.Credit:Paul Jeffers

Sayers said David Teague, sacked last month, had been an overly offensive coach and not focused enough on defence, as detailed through this season’s woes in the wide-ranging review conducted by Matthew Pavlich, Geoff Walsh and Graham Lowe.

The Blues have not found the right on-field balance since 2011 under Brett Ratten when they had a top-five ranked defence and offence.

David Parkin, the three-time Blues premiership coach and one of six on the sub-committee, has already tapped into his vast network of contacts and will play a key role in the process. Football director and dual Brownlow medallist Greg Williams, fellow board members Tim Lincoln and Patty Kinnersly, football department head Brad Lloyd and Liddle are also on the panel.

The Blues would have been interested in Nathan Buckley but his manager Kelly said the former Collingwood coach wants the year off.

Leppitsch, a former Brisbane Lions coach who is likely to be McRae’s right-hand man, said on Saturday the Blues had a “good” playing list, but one focus for a new coach would be healing a club that has been in a state of flux for months. However, he said the Blues would have to convince applicants “there is a long-term path there” in lieu of the coaching turnover of the past 20 years.

Lloyd is no certainty to retain his job, with Blair Hartley, the Tigers’ general manager football talent, linked to the club.

Voss, a highly respected Port Adelaide assistant after a tumultuous time as Lions’ coach, interviewed with the Blues in 2019 but reportedly was left frustrated by a process where Teague won on player support.

Kingsley, who spent time as an assistant at three clubs and is now Damien Hardwick’s right-hand man, was one of the finalists for the Magpies job. Graham, a West Coast assistant, is less heralded but is highly rated by the Blues.

Sayers said the Blues expect to be firmly in the finals frame next year, having underachieved this season.

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