Carlton is reportedly hunting outgoing Geelong CEO Brian Cook as they look to amend a decade of struggles.
Cook, who finishes up with the Cats at the end of this season, has built winning cultures at both Geelong and West Coast.
Carlton meanwhile has had three CEOs in the last decade, moving on Greg Swann and Steven Trigg, while the future of Cain Liddle in question.
Essendon great Tim Watson believes Cook could turn things around at the Blues.
“It would be an amazing appointment for Carlton because you’ve got somebody there who has the experience in football to just stare a board down and say ‘okay, you got me here to do a job, I know what I’m doing, I’ve already demonstrated that over my career at two clubs the West Coast Eagles and Geelong’,” Watson told SEN Breakfast.
“‘I know what I’m doing, do not interfere with our football department. I’ll come to you, you’re the board, you have to run the football club, but you got me here for this reason, I know how to build culture, I know how to build success, I know all the appointments and the types of people we need at our club to have success, let me do my job’.
“And he’s one of a few people who is capable of being able to do that in football.”
Current CEO Liddle is still in place, though new president Luke Sayers has not guaranteed the jobs of anyone at the club.
“They’re not worried about his feelings right now,” Watson added when asked about Carlton’s pursuit of Cook.
“If you get Brian Cook in there as the number one person and he then builds the culture of the club around himself and the decisions he makes, then you’re on the road to recovery.”
Garry Lyon added: “And if they don’t (get Cook), you’re left with a CEO going, ‘what about this joint? I’m only here because they couldn’t get someone better’.”