Ross Lyon has pulled out of the running to become Carlton’s new AFL coach.
The former St Kilda and Fremantle coach has told Blues hierarchy he does not intend to take part in the club’s search for David Teague’s replacement.
Lyon had seemed a near certainty to be declared Carlton coach after Teague’s sacking last week, with four-time premiership winner Alastair Clarkson opting to take a year out of the AFL following his exit from Hawthorn.
It comes after Carlton on Wednesday announced a sub-committee to appoint their new coach, involving Blues legends David Parkin and new football director Greg Williams.
Chief executive Cain Liddle and Blues football boss Brad Lloyd are also part of the selection committee.
It is anticipated the process could take up to 45 days, with Lyon not willing to put himself through that and will likely remain working in the media instead.
Lyon was the frontrunner to coach the Blues in 2022, even before Teague’s axing was official.
New Carlton president Luke Sayers stated he had a lengthy conversation with Lyon last Thursday, creating suspicion the 54-year-old could be announced as Blues boss as soon as this week.
But Lyon was caught off-guard by the Blues’ decision to conduct an official interview process for the position.
“I was watching the news and what was being released so I reached out to Luke today and we connected and said ‘just want some clarity’,” he told Nine’s Footy Classified on Wednesday night.
Lyon coached St Kilda to two losing grand finals and one drawn decider between 2007 and 2011 before moving to the Dockers in 2012.
He was sacked by Fremantle in 2019 and remains the only coach to take the club to a grand final – in 2013.
Carlton could now turn their attention to untried assistant coaches who went through the interview process for Collingwood’s senior position.
Three-time Brisbane Lions premiership player Craig McRae was confirmed as the Magpies’ new coach on Wednesday.
Richmond assistant Adam Kingsley and West Coast’s Jaymie Graham were among the candidates to sit down with Collingwood’s coaching selection committee.
Former Lions coach Michael Voss, who is now a senior assistant at Port Adelaide, also interviewed for the Magpies job and was linked to Carlton before Teague was appointed in 2019.
Teague coached the Blues in 50 games for 21 wins and was ousted after Carlton’s external review into the club’s football department.
AAP
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