AFL greats David King and Leigh Montagna have taken aim at Carlton’s search for a new head coach after leading candidate Ross Lyon withdrew from the process.
Lyon, a former head coach with St Kilda and Fremantle, informed the Blues yesterday that he was no longer interested in the role despite reports Carlton chairman Luke Sayers had indicated to associates that the unsigned coach was his strong preference after the pair engaged in a lengthy conversation last week.
According to The Age, Lyon’s decision comes as the Blues look to make a last-ditch play for legendary coach Alastair Clarkson, who recently revealed he plans to take a year out of the game following his exit at Hawthorn.
King, who won two premierships with North Melbourne, said the Blues had “mistreated” Lyon after sounding him out for the role before taking a new approach.
“The end goal is to get the right coach for your football club,” King told Fox Footy’s AFL 360.
“Would Ross have been the right coach? He can definitely coach, we know that. Would he be the right fit for Carlton?
“They’ve decided to make it hard for him and go through a process he didn’t want to undertake. That’s his call, that’s his decision. I think the president sold him the pup.
“You can’t have a 45-minute conversation with someone about coming for the job without virtually offering the job. Just throw another one on the pile that has been mistreated in this. I hope they get the decision right now.”
Lyon’s storied history in the AFL is well documented. Joining the Sydney Swans in 2004 as the club’s midfield coach, he was instrumental in helping the club make back-to-back grand finals in 2005 and 2006. They won the premiership in 2005.
Having tasted premiership success with Sydney, Lyon joined St Kilda in 2007 for his first job as head coach, twice taking them within a whisker of a premiership in grand final losses in 2009 and 2010.
He then joined the Dockers in 2012, which started with four straight seasons of finals football including a grand final appearance in 2013. He was sacked in 2019 following four consecutive years out of the finals.
With Carlton last making the finals in 2013, Montagna said he was shocked the Blues opted against bringing in a coach with a resume stacked with finals appearances.
“I think they need a coach like Ross Lyon,” he said.
“I think they need someone that has that defensive mindset, creates a winning culture with high accountability, a strong performance culture. I think Ross would’ve been perfect for that group.
“That is why I’m so surprised. In my view, I think they’ve made a meal of it.
“From Ross’ perspective, he was thinking either you want me or you don’t. I think we’ve seen enough of Ross’ record over 13 years, three grand finals, a couple of other prelims, I’m not sure what else they needed to see.”
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