Carlton legend Greg Williams says he understands the frustrations of the club’s long-suffering fans and has promised to drive better standards in his new role
Williams spoke publicly for the first time this week since being installed as Carlton’s Director of Football. He is currently one of the members of the club’s coaching subcommittee that is deciding on its next coach.
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While the Blues’ process to find its next coach has attracted heavy criticism after the rejections from Alastair Clarkson and Ross Lyon, Williams said he anticipates a coach being named “in the next few weeks”.
“The process is different for different people, for different levels of coaches,” he told Carlton Media.
“It’s a short list, we’ve picked a short list of quality coaches and we’re looking forward to – in the next few weeks – coming up with the right person.
“The football department, there’s been some changes there with assistant coaches and such. We’re all over that. We’ve got great people on the panel, David Parkin has been unreal already.
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“The group that we’ve got there have done a lot of work behind the scenes.”
Williams admitted that his frustration surrounding the Blues’ lack of success since its last flag in 1995, where he was the Norm Smith Medallist, was a key reason behind his return to an active role at the club.
“I love everything about Carlton. I must say I understand everyone’s frustration since that 1995 grand final: we haven’t [won a premiership] since and we’ve been an average or below average team since then,” he said.
“I really understand everyone’s frustration, I understand Kernahan’s frustration, Marc Maclure’s, David Parkin’s, John Nicholls’ frustration: all the great players who have played here. I know the members and supporters are frustrated as well. I’m making that clear, I understand it.
“I think we’ve got a lot of great people here at the club: we’re going to make some changes and get this place going again. I’m really confident that will happen.”
The two-time Brownlow Medallist explained that “serious, open” conversations surrounding the club’s direction had already taken place since his arrival.
“I’m really confident with the people here already, and the new ones that we’re going to bring in, that the football department is going to be in good hands,” he said.
“It’ll be made very clear that the standards are going to be a lot higher than they’ve been. The players know that — they’re all so excited, they all want to be here.
“I know we can get the football department going and I know the talent on that board is going to get a lot of other things going. It can turn quickly.
“But, at the moment, we’re 13th — and that’s the way I’m treating it.”