Carlton CEO Greg Swann summed it up on 3AW last night, saying “there’s no point in hiding” in the wake of the weekend’s disappointing loss to Melbourne. The Blues certainly haven’t done that, with Carlton players and officials on the front foot with the media this week.
Here’s a snapshot of what’s in the media today:
Carlton’s embattled leadership group deserves better, so stay out of the blue, Bruce Mathieson
Herald Sun – Mark Robinson
Bruce Mathieson has to learn to play a team game.
At 0-4, the club is already destabilised and he is destabilising it even more and, at the same time, treating some decent men with disdain.
One of them is president Stephen Kernahan. Another is chief executive Greg Swann.
Carlton coach Mick Malthouse to ditch defensive style in bid to trigger response from Blues
Herald Sun – Mark Robinson, Jay Clark and Grant Baker
Carlton coach Mick Malthouse is set to abandon his ultra-defensive philosophy in a bid to trigger a response from his players against the Western Bulldogs on Sunday night.
It’s believed Malthouse plans to release the shackles and drop hard taggers against the Dogs.
It’s a plan he hopes will boost a return of run and adventurous football — and deliver a first win for 2014.
Tom Elliott could run for Blues' top job
The Age – Jon Pierik
Tom Elliott, the son of former Carlton president John Elliott, has not ruled out challenging for the Blues’ presidency, as club powerbrokers agitate publicly and behind the scenes for change.
In the wake of the stinging winless start to the season, with questions over the club’s recruiting and on-field leadership, there is a growing call for a fresh start in the key club posts.
Blues' messy board handover close to completion
The Age – Caroline Wilson
Stephen Kernahan’s reign at Carlton for all intents and purposes has finished. Within a fortnight one of the messier and more protracted board handovers will finally be completed when the relatively unknown but remarkably well-connected Mark LoGiudice becomes president-elect.
LoGiudice not only comes with the strong backing of the Pratt family but also the club’s recently vocal and influential gaming benefactor Bruce Mathieson. In addition, he counts Stephen Silvagni as a close and long-time friend and if you are unaware of the concerted push to bring SOS back into the fold, then you don’t know Carlton.
Mick Malthouse says he has utmost faith in Blues
The Age – AAP
Coach Mick Malthouse says he has unshakeable faith in Carlton as the club reels from its worst start to a season in 25 years.
The Blues are under fire following Saturday's upset loss to Melbourne, a result that left them second-last with a 0-4 record.
But in his second season at the club, Malthouse, a three-time premiership coach, backed his players to turn their fortunes around.
Should Carlton let Bryce Gibbs go?
The Age – Michael Gleeson
Bryce Gibbs recently asked to sit down with Carlton to discuss its plans for the future so he could better decide his own plans. Carlton’s prospectus has since changed. So too has Gibbs’.
Where Gibbs was a coveted urgent re-signing, Carlton should now pause to consider.
The dynamic has shifted, the questions have changed, and the prospectus now reads differently. Carlton’s rebuild might better be expedited by Gibbs leaving.
Carlton Blues could reboot the Elliott era, with John’s son Tom
The Australian – Patrick Smith
Carlton is like a 1970s Rolls Royce. It still has the look, style and feel of something grand but the paintwork is faded and chipped, the leather well worn, bluetooth there ain’t, and the engine hasn’t purred since John Elliott stroked his ego as president.
All that will change. It must because the club, which still considers itself an elite football vehicle, has won just a single premiership since the parochial VFL became the major Australian national competition in 1990 when the AFL was formed.
Greg Swann admits his time at Carlton is coming to an end
The Australian – Courtney Walsh
Carlton chief executive Greg Swann last night conceded his tenure is uncertain following the Blues’ disastrous start to the season. With Carlton enduring its worse start in a quarter of a century, Swann, club president Stephen Kernahan, coach Mick Malthouse, captain Marc Murphy and other senior players addressed the Blues’ plight on various forums yesterday.
This followed a stinging critique of the club by former board member and club benefactor Bruce Mathieson, a poker machine king who has invested heavily in Carlton.
Blues mired in slump
Triple M – AAP
Carlton's stunning loss to Melbourne shows the confidence of their players is shot.
The Blues had two more scoring shots than the Demons on Saturday, two more inside 50s and also led in contested possessions and clearances.
But they kicked a wasteful 7.16 and slumped to a 23-point loss.
Carlton are in a massive hole with a 0-4 start - their worst opening to a season in 25 years.
"There's no doubt we're low on confidence," said captain Marc Murphy.
Carey: Mick is the man
Triple M
The Duck believes Carlton should lock Malthouse away for next five years.
AFL legend Wayne Carey has told Triple M’s Rush Hour that Mick Malthouse is the best man to oversee Carlton’s list rebuild.
Carey said Malthouse was not the issue at the Blues and he was much better suited to the predicament they find themselves in than a rookie coach would be.
Carlton coach Mick Malthouse rejects suggestions stress of senior coaching is too much for him
ABC – AAP
Carlton's AFL season needs intensive care, but coach Mick Malthouse insists he is in excellent personal shape.
Malthouse, who turned 60 last August, has fiercely rejected any suggestion that the stresses of senior coaching might be too much for him.
Winless Blues 'not in disarray', says Mick Malthouse
AFL Website – Adam McNicol
Carlton coach Mick Malthouse says he has no doubt that the club's embattled players are right behind him.
Malthouse insists the Blues' form slump is due to a loss of confidence rather than a lack of faith in his coaching.
"I'm very confident that I have the player group going in one direction," the veteran coach told Channel Nine's Footy Classified on Monday night.
Sticks turns pressure back onto Carlton players
AFL Website – Nick Bowen and Adam McNicol
Carlton president Stephen Kernahan has turned the blowtorch onto the club's players, challenging them to stand up in the wake of the Blues' worst start to a season in 25 years.
Nearly everyone and everything at Carlton has come under criticism in the past two weeks as the Blues have slumped to an 0-4 record, with an 81-point capitulation to Essendon in round three followed by a huge upset loss to a downtrodden Melbourne on Saturday.
