Carlton’s Head of Football Andrew McKay is buoyed by the experience in the panel assembled to help recruit the Club’s next senior coach.
For the first time in its history, Carlton has appointed a five-man selection panel to help in the recruitment process.
CEO Steven Trigg will chair the panel alongside Carlton premiership player and former St Kilda coach Ken Sheldon, recruitment specialist David Campbell from Egon Zehnder, Socceroos coach Ange Postecoglou and recently retired Blues’ champion Chris Judd.
Speaking to SEN on Wednesday, McKay said the Club will take whatever time necessary to make a decision.
“We’re not setting any hard and fast timelines, we just need to make sure we do the best possible job around this and make sure we get it right,” McKay said.
“We feel with this outstanding committee we’ll choose the best candidate possible.”
Carlton has agreed to new AFL protocols to avoid interrupting other clubs during the second half of the season.
McKay said there will be open communication between all parties if a candidate from another club is being considered.
“We’ll be notifying the clubs through the CEOs,” McKay said.
“Steven (Trigg) will be speaking to those CEOs to make sure they are comfortable with the process and we’ll keep them in the loop as well.”
It was also announced yesterday that Dale Thomas requires a season-ending shoulder reconstruction.
The Blues decided it was best to have the operation now so that the star midfielder will be right for the next year.
“We thought rather than getting four or five scratchy games out of Dale, lets get it fixed up .. so he can get a good preseason under his belt and go again,” McKay said.
“If we’d waited another month or so that would have inhibited his preseason and he’d be behind the eight-ball for next year as well.
“We’re really hopeful and really believe he’ll be back to what his was pre season this year.”
