Carlton urged to consider handing Sam Walsh full-time captaincy over Patrick Cripps
Carlton has been urged to consider making young gun Sam Walsh it's captain as the club embarks on an external review following another failed season.
Despite having finals hopes coming into the season, the Blues have failed to flatter, currently sitting 14th on the ladder with a win-loss record of 4-8 after 12 rounds.
While it has been a disappointing season for the team, Walsh, the 2018 No.1 pick, has enjoyed a stellar individual year and is averaging a team-high 30.2 disposals per game.
Port Adelaide great Kane Cornes, who had previously been one of Walsh's harshest critics, praised the 20-year-old and suggested he should take the captaincy off Carlton's current co-captains, Patrick Cripps and Sam Docherty.
Sam Walsh (R) has enjoyed a much stronger season than his more-seasoned skipper, Patrick Cripps (C) Getty
"I just watch Sam Walsh, and people will have a crack at me for the comments I've made about him, but he impresses me more and more every week," he told Nine's Footy Classified.
"Is it time to do what Wayne Carey did and lead the club as a young player, or what Stephen Kernahan did, what Joel Selwood did and get everyone on the back of him?
"He's the one that I watch that gives effort unconditionally every week. I think everything is on the table, from a change of coach, to a change of captain, to fitness, to the board, everything is up in the air."
Cornes was backed up by Essendon champion Matthew Lloyd, who said the club's failures should also fall at the foot of the players and not just the coaching department.
Matthew Lloyd believes Cripps is a 'big part of the problem' at Carlton Getty
"I think Cripps is a big part of the problem," he told Footy Classified.
"We all look at coaches, but we've also got to look at players. The players have got to fall on this. The players are making a lot of errors and not working hard enough.
"With Cripps, would you say he works defensively as hard as he could? I'd say no. A part of it is a lack of running power he's got, a lack of speed.
"I think (the captaincy) should be up for discussion at the end of the year. Whether Teague stays or doesn't, these are the decisions that need to be made to try and turn Carlton around for next year."
