John Barker Biography

John Barker announces his resignation from his coaching role at the Blues, calling an end to 10 years of service at the club as an assistant coach.

"I've absolutely loved my time in footy, and most of all I've loved the relationships I've built during my time in the game," Barker said.

"However, over the past 12 months I've been able to take the time to reflect on what's most important to me and given the nature of the role and all it commands, I've made the decision to explore other avenues outside of football, and most importantly with my family at the forefront of this decision."

John Barker has been promoted to Carlton's head of strategy and performance in a reshaped panel under Brendon Bolton.

"The appointment of John into his new role is a reflection of his strengths in strategy and people management," Blues football manager Andrew McKay said.

The Suns have narrowed their search for a head coach down to leading assistants John Barker, Stuart Dew and Scott Burns.

As one of the candidates for the vacant head coach position at Brisbane, John Barker says being part of the AFL's Level Four accreditation course has primed him for the role.

"It is a great testament to the course and the content that a lot of the scenarios they challenge us with are what senior coaches face," Barker said.

"I got the opportunity last year when I sat in the chair (as Mick Malthouse's replacement) and all these scenarios start appearing and you have to deal with them.

"I'd done a lot of the thinking about those scenarios already, and it showed me that the Level Four is going to prepare coaches who are looking to take senior roles."

Carlton interim coach John Barker hasn't indicated if he'll stay at the Blues beyond this season after missing out on the full-time position to Hawthorn assistant Brendon Bolton this week.

"Right now I've got two weeks to coach and I'm looking forward to getting that done," Barker said.

"What I know is I'm going to work really hard on growing as a coach but also just as hard to keep growing as a person.

"Carlton's really handed me a great opportunity and it's been invaluable experience, and I think I've grown as a coach through that period, and I've enjoyed every minute of the last 12 weeks."

Carlton has pledged to take care of unsuccessful coaching candidate John Barker after he "restored the club's competitive spirit" during his 12 games as interim coach.

CEO Steven Trigg said Barker had been hit hard when the news was delivered on Monday night that he had not won the full-time position, but he had returned to work on Tuesday upbeat.

The 40-year-old will coach the Blues' final two home-and-away games this season before discussions on his future under new coach Brendon Bolton, who won a tight race for the position.

Trigg said Barker hadn't put a foot wrong since taking over from Mick Malthouse in round nine and the club "couldn't be happier" with his performance.

"He was sat on his backside last night, clearly, and it's a very difficult thing for him," Trigg said.

"But as a mark of his character he bounced in this morning determined to finish off the season in a caretaker role.

"He has done a mighty job and football clubs need to care for people like that.

"[If he stays at Carlton] is a decision for after the season, but ... he gets our care in return."

John Barker's coaching mentor, the former Australian cricket coach John Buchanan, warned the Carlton candidate of the dangers of taking on an interim role with the club back in May.

Two weeks before Mick Malthouse was sacked and Barker was confirmed as the caretaker coach for the rest of the season, Buchanan and Barker caught up as part of the AFL's Level Four Senior Coach program.

Buchanan, who has worked with Barker this season in his career development, mentioned the brand damage that can be done to an aspiring coach when he takes on such a role.

He also advised the 40-year-old, who has a 2-8 record while in charge of the Blues, that he would have little scope to change the way Carlton is playing and operating away from game day this season.

"John was keen to have a run at it and my conversation with him was around being well aware of both the pros and the cons of what it can do for your career," Buchanan said.

"As an interim coach there are only a few things you can possibly do, so you can't go about clearly demonstrating everything you can do and everything you can bring.

"All you can do is maybe fine tune and polish up a few key things, and even if that translated into results, it's still difficult for people to see you as a head coach.

"The upside obviously is it puts you in the running and people see you in a different light."

Carlton captain Marc Murphy is the latest Blue to endorse interim coach John Barker as a candidate for the full-time job, saying he's enjoyed football more in the last few months under his guidance.

On the eve of the skipper's 200th game, Murphy said Barker had been a positive influence on the players since he took over from Mick Malthouse in May.

"I'd love to see Johnny get the job. The club's got to go through the process of trying to find the best man for the job and what he's done over the last six or seven weeks has been really good for the footy club," Murphy said.

"My opinion gets asked, but in terms of what sort of percentage that holds with the whole scheme of it, I'm not too sure.

"Personally, Johnny has been great for me and I'll support him as long as he's here and whether that's beyond this year, that will play out over the next few months.

"He's putting a great case forward to the selectors but I'm sure the club will go through a process."

Carlton CEO Stephen Trigg says caretaker coach John Barker is in pole position to take over the full-time job at the club.

"He is in a unique and ideal position to be able to audition really strongly," Trigg said.

"To be having the steering wheel is a valuable thing for a candidate.

"In his last five weeks the coaching panel have done a really wonderful job and we're really pleased with the way they're going."

Carlton president Mark LoGiudice lauds the efforts of caretaker coach John Barker but insists there are "no predetermined outcomes" in the search for a long-term replacement for Mick Malthouse.

In his third game in charge last week, Barker took the Blues to an upset win over Port Adelaide at the MCG, the club's second win of the season and first in Australia.

"John Barker has immediately stamped his authority on the playing group, and has received strong support from his assistant coaches, led by Rob Wiley," LoGiudice said.

"There is no doubt – absolutely no doubt – that John's positive impact is being noticed."

Interim Carlton coach John Barker doesn't expect the embattled club's on-field fortunes to "turn around overnight", but he will demand improved effort from the Blues in the post-Mick Malthouse era.

The long-time assistant is excited by the opportunity to showcase his credentials in the top job over the next 14 games, but said his first task would be to galvanise the Blues players and get them playing with some spirit.

"We know that there's been some issues with our effort and we know that it's one of the core components of footy," Barker said at Melbourne Airport.

"So really just to drive some spirit and some energy back into the players – obviously we've got a big task ahead of us tomorrow night – but that will probably be the main message.

"We need to keep the messages simple, I know that, it's been a big week for the boys.

"We don't think things are going to turn around overnight. We're realistic about that."

Interim Carlton coach John Barker says he will use rest of season to evaluate the state of the Blues' list.

"We're looking to have a real once-over of our list to see where we're at and where certain players are at, and we need to try some things and learn some things," Barker said.

"We're under no illusion of the hard work that needs to take place, and it's not about any individual that needs to work hard, it's about all of us working hard as a collective. We need to grow and drive our way through this."

John Barker is instated as interim coach of Carlton following the sacking of Mick Malthouse.

Assistant coach John Barker departs after two years as an assistant to Alastair Clarkson.

"Johnny has been a great servant of our club as both a player and an assistant coach," Clarkson said in a statement released by the club.

"I would like to thank him for his contribution to the Hawthorn Football Club and wish him and his family well as he looks to pursue other opportunities."

Hawthorn remains confident that Trent Croad will play a part in its flag defence, with the injured defender resuming low-level training this week.

"Croady has worked hard to overcome his foot injury and this is another big step in his long rehab," Hawks assistant coach John Barker said.

"We are hopeful he will play a role in the second half of the year at some stage. "