Just six weeks ago, it looked like Carlton were down and out. Eight losses in the last nine had seen Michael Voss walk away, and all the chat was about how badly the Blues were going to suffer in the impending wooden spoon battle.
Then Josh Fraser picked up the whiteboard. Seven games later, he’s still unbeaten in the league, and Carlton are making a genuine run for a top six spot. A fortnight ago this Base writer would have said they’re in wildcard contention. Now they’re even eyeing up the ladder leaders.
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The revival has been so complete that the Blues now face a problem nobody at Ikon Park would have dreamed of having in Round 9: What to do about the man that can’t stop winning football matches?
On Fraser’s side, at least, he keeps batting away the question. He keeps getting asked, sure, but the 44-year-old isn’t paying it much attention yet.
Well, he may not be, but Carlton is definitely going to need to – and soon.
It makes sense, too, and that’s before you even look at the record.
Fraser cut his teeth with the Northern Bullants, reviving that historic Preston team (though they did eventually liquidate earlier this year).
After the Bullants, he commanded Collingwood’s VFL team and its development program under Craig McRae, before he eventually took up a Carlton job this season.
On field, Fraser now owns the best winning percentage of any caretaker to coach this many games since the turn of the century.
Here’s the run since he stepped into the caretaker job:
- 74–72 vs. Richmond
- 117–64 vs. West Coast
- 88–65 vs. Greater Western Sydney
- 72–67 vs. Essendon
- 88–84 vs. Geelong
- 92–58 vs. Port Adelaide
- 74–62 vs. Western
And, even more unbelievably, he has another nine regular season games (plus finals) to go. He’s winning, and beyond that, he’s given the Blues an identity again, leaning on big bodies down the line, using skipper Patrick Cripps as a target, and slowing tempo against the comp grain.
Awkwardly, Carlton’s powerbrokers have already been looking into options. Chief Graham Wright, football boss Chris Davies and president Rob Priestley enlisted West Coast premiership coach Adam Simpson to help, and nine names have surfaced as candidates.
Fraser’s, remarkably, is not among them, which simply boggles the mind. This Base writer understands he’s not been approached to enter the process.
(The only good reason, really, is David Teague’s shadow still hangs low.)
And look, maybe the Blues bosses have a better pick. Good on them if they do, power to them… but there’s one already in the hot seat.
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Worse for Carlton’s management, the win streak rolls on. It will be sorely tested against third-running Hawthorn on Saturday evening, but several losses before the end of the year won’t change the facts.
It’s impossible to ignore caretaker Fraser as legit contender for Blues top job.
He must be right in the mix – and he should get the gig.
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