Opinion Brian Cook - Carlton's rebuild still has a fair way to go

[Cyclops]

Hawthorn is not and has never been a racist football club.

 

[Taper]

Brian Cook still works at the club?

Brian Cook has never sacked a coach and that's not about to change despite the pressure on Voss from the supporters.
I remember when Mark Thompson was under similar pressure in 2006 and Cook held firm and kept him, look how that turned out.

 

[carlton_99]

Carlton should have listened to Brian Cook.
The man knows what it takes to win premierships having overseen successful eras at West Coast and Geelong.

Can you give an example of something Cook has said/advised that Carlton has "not listened to"? He is quite literally the CEO - pretty sure if he wanted something done he has the power to do it.

 

[Taper]

Can you give an example of something Cook has said/advised that Carlton has "not listened to"? He is quite literally the CEO - pretty sure if he wanted something done he has the power to do it.

Sayers wanted Voss gone in 2023 but Cook held firm and kept him.

 

[boncer34]

Sayers wanted Voss gone in 2023 but Cook held firm and kept him.

So Carlton did what Cook wanted? So they listened to him?

 

[carlton_99]

Sayers wanted Voss gone in 2023 but Cook held firm and kept him.

And Voss is still the coach. So how did we not listen to him?

 

[carlton_99]

So Carlton did what Cook wanted? So they listened to him?

Thank you. I thought I was going crazy.

 

[WalshistheGOAT]

Thank you. I thought I was going crazy.

Same here

 

[Taper]

So Carlton did what Cook wanted? So they listened to him?

Carlton took short cuts in their list build despite Cook saying the rebuild has a long way to go.

 

[randyzany]

Cooky has a very narrow criteria for hiring coaches, namely very good to superstar players that have played in multiple Premiership teams (Bomba, C. Scott, Crazy Vossy) that's worked thus far at Geelong. But I have always being a little suspicious whether luck has played a significant part in the success achieved by applying that fairly narrow restrictive criteria for picking a senior AFL coach.

 

[Taper]

Cooky has a very narrow criteria for hiring coaches, namely very good to superstar players that have played in multiple Premiership teams (Bomba, C. Scott, Crazy Vossy) that's worked thus far at Geelong. But I have always being a little suspicious whether luck has played a significant part in the success achieved by applying that fairly narrow restrictive criteria for picking a senior AFL coach.

I admit Cook got lucky with Ayres leaving us to take the job at Adelaide, imagine an alternative timeline with Ayres staying to coach us for the 2000 season and seeing out his contract.

 

[Red Black and Blue]

Carlton took short cuts in their list build despite Cook saying the rebuild has a long way to go.

Huh? Since he said that theyve still been going to the draft. They’ve taken 10 players inside the first 3 rounds the last three drafts.

Couldn’t predict Jagga Smith doing his ACL. Could definitely have drafted a little better though but the tactic has been right.

 

[fnerd]

So is cooky talking about the current rebuild or the future one that’s soon to have to be embarked on?

 

[doppleganger]

The playing cattle make the coach.

A good / great coach with a poor list won't get results.

Carlton's list just ain't that good, Cook was right.

Voss did well to get them to peak at 5th and a PF in 2023. But that was when a bunch of fragile players who were always injured all got on the park.

Their 2025 list is much poorer compared to the 2023 squad.

 

[Freomaniac]

Brian Cook still works at the club?

Who cares. Your team has a long way to go.

But I might get banned for hurting Carlton mods feelings lol

 

[Freomaniac]

The playing cattle make the coach.

A good / great coach with a poor list won't get results.

Carlton's list just ain't that good, Cook was right.

Voss did well to get them to peak at 5th and a PF in 2023. But that was when a bunch of fragile players who were always injured all got on the park.

Their 2025 list is much poorer compared to the 2023 squad.

Incorrect. At Port Adelaide... Ken Hinkley is a genius for guiding a struggling Port Adelaide playing list to top 2 last season lol

 

[Red Black and Blue]

The playing cattle make the coach.

A good / great coach with a poor list won't get results.

Agreed but you need the coach to identify who can and can't execute his vision. Mitchell had the advantage of the VFL era, but that's what you need to do when you get to a club. One year of grace to work out what you have and then cut hard.

 

[Sarcoidevo]

Cook brought in Dean Robinson & his good mate Dank to Geelong .... no need to change the coach

Not sure The Weapon & Dank are available currently

 

[doppleganger]

Incorrect. At Port Adelaide... Ken Hinkley is a genius for guiding a struggling Port Adelaide playing list to top 2 last season lol

Not sure what your deal is with Ken?

He is a solid coach who has got the most out of an ok Port squad.

If any Port fan rates their list as up there with Brisbane, GWS, Collingwood over the last few years they are delusional

 

[Cyclops]

Hi key has deve

Incorrect. At Port Adelaide... Ken Hinkley is a genius for guiding a struggling Port Adelaide playing list to top 2 last season lol.

Ken Hinkley has developed decent second string players.

Wright will find Voss decent assistants.

Trading TDK might be Carltons Grundy moment, painful, gets them mocked, then from the ashes.

 

[Sqotty from office works]

Hi key has deve

Ken Hinkley has developed decent second string players.

Wright will find Voss decent assistants.

Trading TDK might be Carltons Grundy moment, painful, gets them mocked, then from the ashes.

Harry and Walsh should've been traded out last year. To late now as everyone knows about the influence thier injuries have taken.

Cook checked out of hard work 3 years ago and is collecting his retirement pension from a stupid board that lacks leadership

 

[dees arent rabble]

Carlton have peaked.

Made a preliminary final.

Need a rebuild.

Not every rebuild is going to win a flag.
Any player 28 and older won't be winning a premiership for Carlton.

We thought we would win a few but only got 1.

That's footy. Not easy getting a rebuild perfect

 

[Matrix10]

Hi key has deve

Ken Hinkley has developed decent second string players.

Wright will find Voss decent assistants.

Trading TDK might be Carltons Grundy moment, painful, gets them mocked, then from the ashes.

Wright doesn’t rate Voss as a coach .. after first coach interview at Pies , Wrighty said , thanks for your interest .. there will be no follow up interview..,

 

[CarmenSandiego]

Not sure what your deal is with Ken?

He is a solid coach who has got the most out of an ok Port squad.

If any Port fan rates their list as up there with Brisbane, GWS, Collingwood over the last few years they are delusional

I agree with this. The Hinkley hate to me is pretty odd.

He's had an absolute mid list to coach with every year, and he's either performed just to its ability or slightly above.

The biggest flop was 2020, but they were unlucky to run into a fire breathing Richmond going for a last hurrah.

 

[CarmenSandiego]

Carlton have peaked.

Made a preliminary final.

Need a rebuild.

Why rebuild?

Don't you think there's enough currency on the list to trade/recruit their way out of it over a couple of off-seasons?

I thought rebuilds were only for ageing lists that are about to have a bunch of retirements.

I'd be disappointed if we went for a scorched earth rebuild because we have a few key players that are 28 or slightly older, that's over the top.