Josh Fraser’s glorious seven-game winning streak as caretaker coach may be done after Carlton’s soggy 63-point loss to Hawthorn on Saturday night – but it may ultimately help him step into the hot seat on a permanent basis.
Fraser has maintained he is not in the running to replace Michael Voss, but support, from fans and internally, for the former Collingwood ruckman grew through a stunning resurgence where he reshaped a stagnant game plan.
That run came to an end under drenching rain at the MCG, but it need not be a major issue.
He said through the week his time in the interim role had strengthened his beliefs, having been a senior coach at VFL level.
Blues’ bosses, including chief executive Graham Wright and football department boss Chris Davies, have seen him in the good times, now they get to see how Fraser reacts to defeat, not just on game day but how he sets up the week ahead leading into a Saturday night blockbuster against Collingwood.
If he handles this well, it could really round out his initiation, and aid any private hopes he has to officially be in the coaching mix, with Wright having begun informal chats with prospective contenders.
Despite a stunning start to his time in charge, Fraser said he was ready to deal with losing.
“Yeah, so in my coaching journey, I’m not immune to losing. I’ve been in enough situations where I’ve lost as coaching my own side. We’ve had to learn how to handle winning over the last seven weeks, and I think it’s really important we don’t catastrophise a result, but we get back to work, and that’s been our process over the past seven games,” he said.
“[We] certainly haven’t been getting carried away with the results. It’s been very process-oriented and, off the back of tonight, it will be the same.”
After a stinging loss to Melbourne last week, and a middling month, the Hawks needed this win.
They set up well defensively, co-captain James Sicily and fellow backman Tom Barrass having a wall-like influence, the Blues restricted to only five goals – by far, their lowest score of the campaign.
The robust Blake Hardwick was arguably best on ground – and typically tough in the wet. His intercept skills at half-back were elite – he had 10 midway through the third term.
Lloyd Meek, rucking solo and desperate to atone for last week’s poor showing against Max Gawn, was superb, capitalising on the absence of injured Blue Marc Pittonet. He ensured midfielders Josh Ward, Connor Macdonald and Will Day, the latter running into top form, were active.
Jack Ginnivan had three goals and 15 disposals to half-time, although his second goal was contentious, as Adam Cerra conceded a 50 metre penalty for breaching the mark – after appearing to hear umpire Matt Stevic declare “play”. Broadcast replays picked up Stevic’s “play”, prompting AFL great Jack Riewoldt to lambast the penalty on Kayo Sports: “That’s a disgrace”.
As they continue to pursue Gold Coast forward Ben King, Mabior Chol reminded the Hawks of his skills – a towering speccy over Nick Haynes in the goal square late in the third term brought a sodden crowd to life.
Care of Sydney’s loss on Thursday night, the Hawks – with Richmond next up – remain in the frame for a top-two finish.
The young Blues were disadvantaged by the loss of George Hewett (back) through the second quarter, but they lacked the overall intent to attack they had shown recently.
That, in part, was due to how the Hawks set up, for they often had a spare man in defence.
Harry Dean competed all night, and will challenge for the Rising Star award, while key midfielders Sam Walsh and Cerra were busy. Skipper Patrick Cripps didn’t have the influence he would have wanted.
That the Blues had a whopping 98 tackles – 44 more than their season average – was testimony to their endeavour, but also to the fact they spent too much time chasing.
While the Blues’ streak is over, Fraser’s future remains firmly on the agenda. If he is not in the race, St Kilda assistant coach Corey Enright is a definite candidate. Saints coach Ross Lyon jokingly declared on Saturday he had even told the Geelong great he would be happy to drive him to any interview – should he need a lift.
Former Blues co-captain Sam Docherty said Enright would be a worthy candidate.
“I’d love to see Corey Enright coach the club,” Docherty told 3AW.
The former defender said he understood why the Blues were unlikely to plump for an experienced coach, including John Longmire and Ken Hinkley, as the list profile of the Blues was young, and an untried senior coach could develop with the players.
“Chris Davies is getting a first-hand look at what Josh is doing, how he is implementing, what he is doing with the players, and how they are feeling. He is getting all of that information he needs. He doesn’t have to waste time presenting that part of the selection process,” Docherty said.
“The bit you then have the conversation about, if it becomes real, is around that direction of the footy club – what would you do if you moved forward? What would be your plan?
“Even if you take on an interim role, you can tinker, but you can’t fully shift.”
For Fraser, his focus is now on shifting the Blues’ thoughts to downing their arch-enemy.
