Caretakers could be in for the long term

WILL the AFL coaching merry-goround come to a halt without a single caretaker hopping off ?

When Brad Scott (North Melbourne), Alan Richardson (St Kilda), and Brendon Bolton (Carlton) left their respective posts, a frenetic scrap for jobs was supposed to occur.

Big names such as Michael Voss, Sam Mitchell, Robert Harvey, Justin Longmuir, Scott Burns, James Hird, and even Mick Malthouse were set to throw their hats into the ring.

Brad Scott seemed a shoo-in to land a job somewhere, and it was set to be a race between the rest for the other two gigs. But the caretakers are doing such a good job that it’s becoming increasingly harder to budge them.

Rumours are rife that North Melbourne are set to offer Rhyce Shaw the full-time coaching role on a two-year deal, with an option for a third.

Although the Kangaroos have now lost three straight games – including Saturday’s 49-point loss to West Coast – his impressive start in the caretaker role earned him a groundswell of support.

David Teague’s hopes of landing the Carlton gig full-time seemed next to zero following comments from footballer director Chris Judd that the Blues didn’t want anyone with “training wheels on”.

But Carlton’s form revival under Teague has been so stunning that it’s become almost impossible to overlook him now.

The Blues have won five of their seven games under Teague.

And their two losses? By three points to the Bulldogs, and five points to Melbourne.

Not bad for a team that started the year with a 1-10 record before Bolton got the axe.

There was some thought that Ratten might return to Carlton. But if Teague does indeed lock up the spot there, then Ratten looms as a perfect fit at St Kilda.

Ratten has led the Saints to wins over the Western Bulldogs and Melbourne since taking over from Richardson.

A strong end to the season would make it hard for the Saints to overlook Ratten for the full-time gig.

So will there be any movement at all? Possibly, but it may come from elsewhere.

Adelaide coach Don Pyke and Port Adelaide mentor Ken Hinkley are under huge pressure following recent form slumps.

Both coaches are contracted until the end of 2021, but the frustration is starting to rise to alarming levels among the clubs’ respective fan bases.