Caroline Wilson is of the opinion that Alastair Clarkson could take over and be the saviour for Carlton in the coming years.
Wilson feels that the four-time Hawthorn premiership coach may depart the club to take over at the Blues if current coach David Teague does not perform.
Clarkson, who is contracted with the Hawks until 2022, is a strong candidate to become Carlton’s next coach according to Wilson who explained her thought process on Channel 9’s Footy Classified.
“I think David Teague is under as much pressure as any coach going into this year,” Wilson said.
“What you’ve got is a captain (Patrick Cripps) coming out of contract, the champion of the side. 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 is seen as very close to the coach.
“I think you’ve got a board, the Carlton board, looking for some credibility and I think they see Alastair Clarkson as their salvation.”
Kane Cornes asked: “He’s gettable, Clarko? 2022 he’s contracted to at Hawthorn.”
Wilson replied: “Yep, I think he is.
“If things don’t work out with David Teague, and I’m fast forwarding I know, but if I had to pick a club where Alastair Clarkson might go if he left Hawthorn, Carlton would be my numero uno.”
Craig Hutchison posed a further question to Wilson: “Is this your opinion or are you saying the board have already…? You mentioned the board there.”
Wilson said: “I think there are people on the board there who are already casting their minds (that) in the event of the coach departing, and it might not be this year, Alastair Clarkson is the next coach of the Carlton Football Club.
“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.
“We’ve seen the (Jon) Patton and the (Tom) Scully stories which have hurt the club. I think Alastair’s at odds with a lot of his administration.
“He was initially frozen out of the choice to select the new footy boss (to replace Graham Wright). In the end he was part of the decision making process. I think initially he looked like not getting his way with the Shaun Burgoyne re-signing, which he pushed for.
“I think he’s got a bigger say at AFL HQ at the moment than he does at Hawthorn.”
Wilson concluded: “I don’t think he and Justin Reeves, his CEO, were really plain sailing last year, nor do I think he and Jeff Kennett are plain sailing.
“I’m sorry, but I think it’s probably time he did go to another club if things don’t work out again at Hawthorn this year.”
"If I had to pick a club where Alastair Clarkson might go if he left Hawthorn, Carlton would be numero uno."
— Footy on Nine (@FootyonNine) March 15, 2021
Caroline Wilson believes this season could be Alastair Clarkson's last at Hawthorn, and the Blues would be a good fit.#9FootyClassified | Watch @channel9 pic.twitter.com/8o8Ig5zQX2
