"THEY'RE THE moments and opportunities that will help our Club move forward."
Friday night footy, big occasion, outstanding opposition - and Carlton got the job done.
In one of the games and finishes of the season so far, the Blues made it three victories in a row with a four-point triumph over Geelong in the 2026 AFL Carlton Respects Game.
With a team containing six players who have played 12 games or less, the baby Blues stood up alongside senior teammates once again, with captain Patrick Cripps providing the standout moment with the winning goal in the final minute.
Speaking post-match, here's what Interim Coach Josh Fraser had to say.
On how the final stages played out:
"You can look at the last minute and that’s really pleasing, but I thought there were other times throughout the game where they had momentum at different stages and we were able to manage it reasonably well. That’s part of our game that has grown.
"To be able to have some composure and stay well-connected and execute to come away with the result, that should keep building belief for the players."
On Patrick Cripps' impact:
"He’s always carried a big burden as captain of the Carlton Footy Club. I’d like to think we’re starting to take away some of that burden with the introduction of different players and the way we’re trying to set the game up differently.
"He’s got such a high character and you’ve always got confidence he’ll take the moment when it presents. The most pleasing thing about him is how he’s making others around him better - maybe that’s taking some pressure off his shoulders as well."
On how the game was set up, and what the Blues have gone after:
"Acknowledging the contest element of our game and what ‘Vossy’ has been able to do in that sense, he’s been incredible at setting that up. The players are really familiar with that. We’re trying to evolve what happens away from the contest, how we provide shape and how that helps us defend and how it helps us attack.
"We’re not the finished product and we’ve got a lot of work to do: even tonight, there were opportunities for us to play the way we wanted to offensively, but we didn’t quite take those chances. At times, we forced it and made some errors, but we were able to get shape around that next contest and provide support defensively. We’re building it out from the contest as much as we can, while also trying to introduce some new players to different roles as well.
"My mantra is around controlling the game where we need to, and when the opportunity presents, take the option that’s presenting. That’s part of our game we’ll keep growing. We’ve been trying to do that for most of the year: it seems like it has taken some steps forward in recent weeks.
"We need to be really deliberate about how we want to play while also giving the players the tools to play the way they need to out on the field. They’re the ones doing it."
On giving love to his fellow coaches:
"It’s not me alone. Our coaching group is doing an incredible job.
"Leigh Adams, with the way he managed the midfield tonight, he was all over what Geelong was trying to do which is a big ask. Ash Hansen, the way he set the boys up defensively, plus Timmy Clarke who has jumped up and done the forwards, he’s doing a great job with them.
"The extension of that is our development team and the performance pressure coming from underneath. It’s a real collective approach."
On the midfield battle:
"One thing we’ve been mindful is we’ve been a good contest and stoppage team - when that part of our game isn’t stacking up, how else can we impact the game through our offence and the way we defend? We still want to lean into our strengths.
"Marc Pittonet in the ruck was important, Harry McKay went in there and it’s given him something different to focus on. We know the guys who are going through there in the middle are playing important roles. Geelong has a quality midfield, so for us to stay to task was important."
On Sam Walsh:
"He’s a Carlton man. I think he typifies what it means to be a Carlton person. The work he puts in, the way he drives others to be better, the standards he sets - in some ways, he’s assumed that leadership mantle where he’s making himself better through that.
"To have someone as reliable as he is, given everything he’s been through, I think it gives players around him a lot of comfort. We need to keep supporting him as much as we can to support the load through the midfield, but he’s having really important moments. Sometimes it’s through offence and ball in hand, but some of his pressure and the way he’s organising our midfield, he’s taking some big steps forward."
On where things can go:
"We’ve kept our focus really narrow, and that’ll be another challenge for us: stay really process-driven throughout this time. I’d like to think we’re focused on getting better rather than what that might lead to.
"It’s important with where we’re at as a club and the foundations that have been building with what we want to take this, that we don’t get too far ahead of ourselves. I’ve got confidence in our group that we won’t. Getting to work will be important, we’ve got a lot of work to do."
On more impact from the Blues' emerging youth:
"I’ve loved the fact that we’ve been able to bring some youth into the team, and have them on the big stage against a great opposition with a big crowd on Friday night footy. They get the chance to taste that. They’re the moments and opportunities that will help our Club move forward.
"We’ve got some other players that have been chipping away at VFL level, working on their craft throughout the week that moving forward, we’d love to be able to expose them as well."
