Port Adelaide assistant coach Josh Carr says the club would receive scrutiny regardless of whether they announced their succession plan ahead of the 2025 season.
Carr will take over from long-time standing coach Ken Hinkley at the completion of the current campaign, which began with a 91-point drubbing against Collingwood in Round 1.
Critics from far and wide have added their two cents, suggesting that if the Power's top dogs don't think Hinkley is their man they should've parted ways following last year's preliminary final loss.
However, Carr, speaking on Friday, said that it wouldn't matter what decision the Alberton club made regarding the coaching configuration, the criticism would always come for the contending club, especially after a poor performance.
"You can look at all aspects of that and think about if it's not announced, what that looks like, and what it has been in previous years," Carr said, according to Channel 7.
"I have probably been asked a lot more questions in previous years than what I have been asked this year so there's always a distraction, no matter what.
"You guys (media) have a job to do which is important and you have got to dig and make news and ... do whatever you have to do."
Heading into Round 2 and a chance to play in front of the home crowd at Adelaide Oval against a youthful Richmond, the Power have an opportunity to respond, like they've done consistently in Hinkley's tenure.
Carr was questioned, given the coaching handover, whether there was confusion over who was calling the shots, to which he responded: "I'm really comfortable with understanding what my role is and what our role is at this footy club and where we're at.
"So when there's noise outside, it doesn't bother me and I don't think it bothers anyone internally, because we understand what our jobs are.
