REGROUP and galvanise.
It was a big week at IKON Park, so for Carlton to return to winning form against the Western Bulldogs was the perfect tonic, according to Interim Coach Josh Fraser.
On a night where the Blues had their best defensive performance of the season, the home side then took the game away from the opposition with a scintillating final term to emerge 12-point winners.
Here’s what Fraser had to say.
On the win as a whole:
“I’m really proud of the group, and more broadly the Club. We’ve had a reasonably tough time of it lately, and the effects of this week impacted a lot of people - particularly the playing group, who were so connected to ‘Vossy’, and the staff who have so much admiration for him.
“For us to regroup and galvanise and perform the way we did, I think it’s a big step forward for the Club.”
On the Blues’ commitment to the contest:
“When you look at our best football, that’s been us. We’ve spoken this week around when the game is not looking the way we want it to look, what do we fall back on?
“It really relied on our pressure, and our appetite to close down their time and space, to take away their inside-out game - they’re elite at it, so it tested our ability to do that over four quarters. I thought when the game wasn’t quite flowing in the way we wanted, we had a cornerstone to fall back on around our pressure. I thought it was terrific tonight.”
On the message at the final change:
“At three-quarter time, we doubled down on our pressure and our ability to close down time and space. We had a heightened awareness of them wanting to take the game on, and their key players can activate pretty quickly and turn a game for them.
“A lot of our messaging and our focus was around how connected we could stay, being able to stay as present as possible and connected to each other and manage momentum shifts. We’ve been working away at that for a little while, and that’s probably the best we’ve been able to execute it.”
On Patrick Cripps’ leadership:
“He’s been under a fair bit of pressure, there’s been a lot of commentary around ‘Crippa’ as there always is. He’s just an incredibly impressive guy: the way he leads, the way he led tonight, the way he was able to execute his role but also organise and drive others to do so.
“It’s been a tough week for him, but the support he has given me and the way he’s led the playing group, he’s been outstanding.”
On how he saw the Blues’ transition game:
“That’s a part of our game we’ve been working really hard at, and we’re still far from a finished product in that space. We’ve still got work to do.
“It’s been a part of our game that has grown, the next part is for us to connect a little bit more centre-forward. We’re definitely working hard on our ability to transition off turnover, that part of our game looked pretty good tonight.”
On Matthew Carroll’s performance:
“He’s having a terrific year, he really is. He’s elite in the air for the position he plays, plus his running capacity and ability to turn up in contest - he’s having a terrific season for us. That’s a credit to the work he’s put into his game. He’s someone that has been really reliable for us, that’s for sure.”
On different players rolling through the middle:
“That’s something we’ll continue to explore, the mix of players throughout a game. We’ve got an opportunity to try some different things, have a look at players in different roles.
“Ollie Hollands spent some time through the midfield in the last quarter, Benny Ainsworth had more time through the middle. That’s where we have to get to, we have to keep exposing personnel through that part of the ground. The guys that were in there all stood up really well for us.”
On Jack Ison’s impact:
“We had a focus tonight around the way we wanted to play tonight, to really connect with the crowd and our supporter base. That was an important part of the way we wanted to play. Jack added to that. It was really exciting to see him get his opportunity, he’s a great story.
“He’s going to excite a lot of Carlton supporters over the years, and the way he was able to stand up in the last quarter, I think he had seven or eight possessions when the game was quite hot. He’s a bit of a cult figure already which is fantastic, and his game is only going to continue to get better.”
On how he found the week:
“On quick reflection, I’m really proud of how we were able to galvanise quickly as a group, how we were able to prepare and plan for tonight, and the way we were able to execute. Our challenge will be to make that a habit.
“I want to reiterate that we’ve got so much growth in front of us. What we produced tonight, we haven’t proven to be consistent yet. We’ve got to double down on what that looks like. Whether emotion played a part, I’m not sure - that’s our challenge to make sure it becomes habit and part of our game.”
On dominating territory in the final term:
“It was pleasing to watch. At times this year when we’ve taken territory, I don’t think we’ve been able to maintain it and build pressure on the opposition.
“We were quite connected behind the ball tonight. All our lines contributed to the way we defended, and then we were able to play the game in our front half late. Over time, it builds energy and zaps a bit of the opposition’s energy and you get a chance to create scoring opportunities. But we need to continue to be able to do that consistently.”
On the Western Bulldogs’ late flurry:
“I wasn’t comfortable. What gave me comfort was looking down and seeing how well the players were connected on-field, that’s something we’ve been focusing on. Travis Boak and all our assistant coaches have made a real point of emphasising that part of our group.”
On a strong second half after early-season lapses:
“The game has changed a bit too. Momentum shifts in the game happen really quickly, and experienced groups that have been together for a long time, they can manage it reasonably well. We’ve been in some positions where we haven’t managed it well, our learning has taken longer.
“Because of the way the game is set up, you can transition ands get speed on the ball quite quickly and score and get territory from stoppage. We haven’t managed that, but tonight, being able to win contests and get territory plus the way we set up behind the ball, it was so much better. That’s our challenge to maintain that.”
On how he found his first game as coach:
“This for me was a huge learning opportunity. I need to acknowledge our coaching group: our assistant coaches - Tim Clarke, Ash Hansen, Leigh Adams plus Jordan Russell managing the bench, our analysts. It was a really collective approach. In some ways, it allowed me to be myself.
“We’ll reflect on this, I learned so much from the opportunity. I don’t consider this my job, it’s an interim role that I feel as though I have a job to do. Like the playing group and like our footy club, I’m going to continue to get better as we move forward.”
On any injuries from the game:
I think we got through unscathed, we were able to manage some guys at different stages of the game which was great. I think we’ve got a clean bill of health.
