Posted this in the other thread, but going to leave it here so its easier for someone to bump when we are looking to give him the arse in 18 months.....
Fantastic news on the appointment.
Seems so long ago that many had fears that there would be no process, the board or outsiders interfering would be intent on getting in a 'name', or that no one would want to coach us, or that Barker would just be given the job and the whole "process" was a farce. Not the case.
In the end we may have on paper a guy who is the perfect fit for Carlton. Whilst it may have been seen by some as a flawed process, importantly it won't be seen as such on the outside.
He is what many wanted. A young modern coach from the best system around. From all reports there is no-one more driven, enthusiastic or passionate about his role. You get the feeling he'd already know more about the list than some other previous employees....
A genuine guy, who has worked his arse off to fulfill a dream. No jobs for the boys, just because he was a mate of a mate or a club legend.
His unique background will hopefully provide him with that point of difference that will separate him from purely the Clarkson clones. Learn from the best, and then add your own touch.
Even before the mass exodus of assistants at Hawthorn he was earmarked as the man to take over from Clarkson, yet he's chosen to take our role. It's reassuring to know that maybe the club is finally headed in the right direction that he saw enough in us to leave what seemed like a gift job, to take on one of the most challenging.
Word is he was keener on growing together as a young coach, with a young group rather than taking over from somewhere more established.
This is no "I'll do it for a million a year, and lose interest after 18 months" position. It's going to take a lot of hard work, from more than just a senior coach. The next appointments will be just as important.
Off -field he will sell this club like no other first time coach could. The media will run with the "Mr Happy" angle, but we know there is so much more to him. It will remove the staleness stigma over the club, and whilst ultimately success is results driven, some positive publicity can't hurt.
Of course, we've been done this path before and [REDACTED] it up just as many. There is the stigma of past failings, that makes it almost inevitable that things will go arse up, but until I see evidence of those signs I see no reason but to be anything but cautiously optimistic...
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