COACHES don’t like to individualise, but you could sense the excitement that new Carlton assistant coach Josh Fraser has to link up with Harry McKay once again.

Before McKay had become a Coleman Medallist with 140 games in Navy Blue, he was pick No.10 in the 2015 AFL Draft and just starting out his career as a young, developing key forward.

A development coach and the VFL coach at the Blues during that time was Fraser, who coached McKay in the VFL over his first three seasons when McKay was paving his way after initial injury struggles.

Sharing a close relationship during that time, Fraser couldn’t help but break into a smile when linking up with the Blues big man once again was mentioned.

Of course, as forwards coach, Fraser will be spending a lot of time with McKay, who looms as a focal point for Carlton in what will be quite the new-look forward line in 2026 and beyond.

“I love ‘H’ as a person and I love him as a player, so I’m excited to work with him again.

“I think he’s got enormous talent scope, and I still believe he’s just scratching the surface of the player he can become.

“I’m excited to get to work him and others in that forward line. There’s certainly an existing relationship with Harry, so I’m keen to sit down with him and get to work.”

There’s still a number of players at IKON Park from Fraser’s first stint, with players old and new reaching out to Fraser after his appointment was announced last month.

In Fraser’s eyes, it was a very positive early indication of a group that is keen to get into it from the outset when pre-season begins in just a few weeks.

“I’ve had some great messages already from a number of players reaching out. That says a fair bit about the character and environment here, with people wanting to reach out early and get to work.

“There’s some existing relationships which I’m keen to rekindle and run into some familiar faces. One of the great things about football clubs are the people, and there’s some fantastic people here.”