Blues leaders set to answer culture questions as Lyon hits back

Carlton’s powerbrokers are set to face tough questions about the club’s culture and its treatment of David Teague when the Blues release the findings of an external review and finally confirm the coach’s fate early this week.

Meanwhile, Ross Lyon has hit back at comments from Teague’s manager Liam Pickering, with the former Fremantle and St Kilda coach denying he had already made moves to replace Teague.

Blues coach David Teague expects to learn his fate on Monday.Credit:Getty Images

Teague yet again made pointed comments about the club’s leadership â€" including what was seemingly a subtle dig at co-captain Patrick Cripps â€" when speaking on Saturday night after his side’s loss to Greater Western Sydney, almost certainly his final game in charge of Carlton.

Teague said he expected to learn his fate by Monday.

The coach, who has been widely tipped to be axed after a review of the club’s football department, remained dignified as he conducted a post-mortem on an injury-interrupted campaign and a series of losses that could cost him his job.

“I am guessing it’s going to be Monday,” he said when asked post-match when he thought his fate would be resolved.

Patrick Cripps was subbed out of the game on Saturday night with an injury.Credit:Getty Images

“I had a chat this week, and they said after the game they will get together, the board and have a look at that.”

He reiterated that he was not happy with the way his future was put under public scrutiny but says the club has learned from that.

“I love this club. When the review gets announced through the media that’s not high-performance. I am going to call it out, this footy club have got some areas to improve and I think even in the last three weeks I have seen an improvement at a level I haven’t seen in the past.”

Industry sources have suggested Teague’s relationship with some players was not as strong as it needed to be, but Teague was adamant he broadly got on with most of the group.

“It hurt when people said I had lost relationships with the players. That one probably dug a little deep because it’s not true. Certain players don’t love what I say all the time but that’s what a high-performance environment is. Guys getting challenged are not always going to love the feedback.”

He said once again that he would have liked to have had more public backing as the criticism mounted.

Cripps endured injuries during the season but Teague hinted that the star midfielder may not have been up-front about his condition.

Before going off injured, Cripps had 17 handballs and no kicks, but Teague said he wasn’t aware of any problem heading into the game.

“He had a sore left quad last week and being a right-footer that wasn’t something he carried into the game. I don’t know exactly when it hurt but we could see he was limited,” Teague said.

“He chose to handball, so I am guessing there may be something, but it wasn’t something I was aware of going into the game. He kicked the ball at training this week.

“I don’t know if he hurt it early ... a little bit of that hurt us around the contest at times. I thought our mids’ ability to win the ball was good but our ability to get distance off it that hurt us. That’s something from a leadership point of view and a group point of view we have got to get better at.”

Speaking on SEN on Saturday, Pickering took aim at Lyon over a “pretty grubby” interview during the week on Channel Nine, owner of this masthead.

Lyon responded on Sunday on Triple M.

“All I did was answer the hypotheticals put to me. I haven’t canvassed, rang. All I’ve done is my media and my property group, and I’ve been thrown into the cauldron of any job or any coach that’s under pressure and as best as I can I’ve pushed that back,” Lyon said.

Despite bracing for the boot, Teague said he was grateful to have had the opportunity to coach a club he loved and believes that despite finishing the season in 13th place with an 8-14 win loss record, Carlton are poised to bounce back sooner than many think.

“I absolutely believe in this group. I think they will be a very good side. I think they have got the ability, if they get all the players back, get some cohesion together to be right up there in the top four next year,” Teague said.

He has no regrets over how he has sought to change the club’s culture and playing style in his two years in charge.

“I understand the club is going to make a decision [and] let’s be honest, it doesn’t look as though it is going to go in my favour, but in terms of what I have done and what I have been able to control I know who I am, and I know why I have done it and I am really happy with that.”

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Daniel Cherny is an Age sports reporter.

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