DAVID Teague has been named the new Senior Coach of the Carlton Football Club.

Having coached nine games for Carlton as interim coach, Teague has signed a three-year contract after being unveiled in the role on Thursday.  

While this is Teague’s first senior coaching role at AFL level, he is no stranger to the demands of the top role.

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Back in 2008, Teague took over the reins as senior coach of the Northern Bullants (now Northern Blues): Carlton’s VFL side.

He attributed his successful coaching stint at Carlton as a direct result of the opportunity he was given at the Bullants over 10 years ago.

“I was very lucky to get that opportunity, for Carlton to give me that opportunity because I wanted to keep playing so they let me do it as a playing-coach for a year,” said Teague.

“Maybe I got my ambitions and limitations confused, because after one year of that I just went straight into coaching and I’ve loved it.”

The three years Teague spent as coach at the Bullants included one year as playing-coach, before he led Northern to two consecutive Grand Finals in 2009 and 2010.  

That 2009 appearance was the Bullants’ first Grand Final since the premiership of 1984.

“I probably learnt more in those three years than any other period, because I got to make so many mistakes and learn from them,” he said.

“The drills I did when I started coaching the Northern Bullants -- if I did them now, the boys would walk off the track. You grow.”

Teague returned to Ikon Park prior to the 2018 season, having enjoyed stints at West Coast, St Kilda and Adelaide in assistant coaching capacities.

While there has been a lot of varying coaching experience for Teague in the past 10 years, the coaching he did at the Bullants - out of the limelight - was his greatest learning experience.

“Obviously it’s not under the microscope of AFL intensity,” he said.

“I really do enjoy coaching and that three years was pretty important for my learning.”

Teague's coaching history

Northern Bullants
Playing coach — 2008 
VFL senior coach — 2009, 2010: led the Club to consecutive Grand Finals

West Coast
Assistant coach (defence) — 2011-2013

St Kilda
Assistant coach (defence) — 2014

Adelaide
Assistant coach (forwards) — 2015-2017

Carlton
Assistant coach (forwards) — 2018-2019
Interim coach — 2019
Senior coach — 2019-present