Carlton legend Robert Walls has suggested that Carlton should consider moving on from coach David Teague should if miss finals in 2021.
The Blues have not played finals since 2013 and missed a golden opportunity to break that run last year after losing four of their last five games.
Speaking to The Age, Walls said the Blues were due to return to their past glory and feature heavily in finals football.
“If they made finals, they have got to continue with David Teague no doubt. But if they didn’t, they will probably have to cast the net and look at what’s about,” Walls said.
“This will be his third year. The team promises a lot but hasn’t delivered a lot the last few seasons. So it’s time.“
It's in that point above that Walls makes his first mistake - 2021 won't be Teague's third full season in charge.
It could be argued it isn't even his second year, as Teague took over half-way through the 2019 season and his first season in the role officially was spent in hubs and under COVID restrictions.
The Blues have shown rapid improvement under Teague, if they were to part ways with the 39-year-old now, where do they go?
The lure of Alastair Clarkson may be tempting but the Blues have previously attempted to lure the master coach on big money and he refused.
Walls, who returned to Carlton as a mentor of Brendan Bolton's in 2018 when the Blues won just two games, lamented the time it has taken to build this list.
“I think they need to play finals, that’s where they are at. It’s been a very slow, gradual build but the time has come."
Walls called for the Blues to show more flare in attack, which seems again an outdated opinion.
“I would like to see them play more attacking football. I think they started off doing that under David but it wasn’t to be seen a lot last year. Play with a boldness, and I think [Zac] Williams and [Adam] Saad will help them do that. They are pretty attacking players."
The Blues scoring has been far more prominent under Teague.
Carlton were ninth for scoring last season after finishing 15th in 2019, 17th in 2018 and 2016 and last in 2017 during Bolton's tenure.
Carlton showed an ability to kick quick goals last season and their forward line looked dangerous, despite missing Charlie Curnow all season, Jack Silvagni played only three games while Mitch McGovern, Zac Fisher missed significant parts of the season as well.
Walls also all but wrote Eddie Betts off. While he may be right that Betts' best footy is behind him, he very well may not be Carlton's number one small forward.
"Eddie [Betts], is he just about done? Looked like it last season. Hopefully, he can show a bit. They need to kick a decent score. That’s been their problem.”
Zac Fisher looks set to take over that role and has impressed all pre-season, he was a standout in the recent scratch match verse Essendon.
Walls then took aim at the lack of support for co-captain Patrick Cripps, an issue that has been well documented and well addressed by the Blues hierarchy.
The addition of Zac Williams as well as Sam Walsh moving into the heart of midfield should take a load off Cripps, while the hopeful improvement of the likes of Will Setterfield, Paddy Dow and David Cuningham will likely share the load in the Carlton engine room.
But say the Blues do miss the eight, it's unlikely they'll miss it by a long way and to suggest that Teague has had a fair shake at it would be reminiscent of the old Carlton.
It would harp back to the days of sacking a coach in a bid to bring in the big name, and while that at times has worked (Ron Barassi), it has also broken the club down and brought it to its knees (Dennis Pagan and Mick Malthouse).
Walls, while a Carlton legend, has missed the mark on his evaluation of his former club's 2021 season.