Veteran journalist Caroline Wilson has declared that Hawthorn mastermind Alastair Clarkson could be in line take over as Carlton's senior coach in 2022.
Wilson believes the four-time premiership coach is "gettable" and that Blues board members will make contingencies around their head coaching position if the 2021 season is deemed unsuccessful.
David Teague is entering his second full season in charge at Carlton and expectations have never been higher at Ikon Park - coming off a successful off-season coup where they landed Zac Williams and Adam Saad to add to a list seemingly primed to deliver.
Speaking on Channel 9’s Footy Classified, Wilson thinks Clarkson could be Carlton's "salvation".
“I think David Teague is under as much pressure as any coach going into this year,” Wilson said.
“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.
“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.
“I think he is gettable. 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.“
Both Clarkson and Teague come out of contract at the end of 2022 and the Hawks could be looking to move in a new direction with a rebuilding list.
Wilson believes Clarkson, who has coached 342 games at Hawthorn and is one of the greatest coaches of all time, is "at odds" with club administration.
“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 and Jeff Kennett are often on a collision course, 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 he does at Hawthorn.”
The Blues open their 2021 season against Richmond at the MCG on Thursday night, while the Hawks face the Bombers at Marvel Stadium on Saturday night.