Former Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson is said to be open to entertaining Carlton's mammoth head coaching offer.
After initially claiming he would take a 12-month sabbatical after departing Waverley Park late last week, Fox Footy reporter Tom Morris has claimed that the four-time premiership coach may be persuaded to alter his plans.
Despite the Blues yet to make a call on the embattled David Teague's future, Morris believed that Clarkson's odds of succeeding Teague had strengthened.
“Alastair Clarkson is more open to coaching next year then perhaps he was even a week or a few days ago,” Morris told SEN Sportsday listeners on Tuesday night.
“On that basis, he would have to be firming for the Carlton job. We know that things can changed and this can move pretty quickly, but if Clarkson wants that Carlton job, it is his.
“I’m told Clarkson is now more open to it than he was [previously]. It may not be the best news for David Teague, but clearly it’s what Carlton is gunning for.
"If they can get Clarkson, it might mean the last few weeks of pain are worth it.”
Clarkson's long-term position at Hawthorn came to a close last Saturday afternoon following a draw against reigning premiers Richmond, whilst Teague's tenure at Princes Park was placed under further strain in the wake of his side's 14-point loss to the Giants later that night.
Carlton are yet to reveal the findings of their highly criticised external review and are also still to sever ties with Teague, despite several media members suggesting that the 40-year-old's papers had been stamped some time ago.