Analysis of Chris Fagan joining Carlton Blues, Josh Fraser, Graham Wright, Chris Davies, latest news

Carlton coach Josh Fraser will have the infinite wisdom of Chris Fagan by his side in 2027. Could a first (full)-year coach ask for a better mentor?

A fantastic get for the Blues that continues a line of masterstroke off-field additions to try and lift one of the league’s most famous clubs back to powerhouse status.

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The Blues beat out multiple clubs in the race to secure Fagan as director of coaching in a major coup and huge addition to their footy department.

Hard to recall when there’s been a more valuable footy department free agent on the market than Fagan, coming off a third-straight Lions premiership.

After all, the 65-year old stepped away from the Brisbane for personal reasons while he was at the peak of his powers.

And with the greatest respect to one of the greatest coaches of the modern era, Fagan’s greatest super power is his man management skills and ability to create a culture where players thrive as a grandfather figure. Not necessarily coaching X’s and O’s.

It’s what makes Fagan an ideal sounding board and mentor to Fraser and the rest of Carlton’s coaching staff. There’s arguably no better set up.

History suggests hiring an untried coach — not turning to an experienced head that’s been successful in the past — is the most proven method. Yet still surrounding that first-time coach with ample experience and proven winners.

Fagan ticks both those boxes and then some. Don’t forget he was Alastair Clarkson’s right-hand man during Hawthorn’s golden era last decade.

Therefore, Fagan has been part of seven of the last 19 premierships including an additional two grand finals. Yes, Fagan has been involved in nearly half the last 19 grand finals. He knows what it takes to win at the highest level and the habits required to get there.

There’s been a few false dawns since Carlton’s last grand final appearance in 1999, having not claimed premiership success since 1995.

Sadly, this century can only be remembered for a coaching carousel with brief glimmers of hope. Coaching greats Dennis Pagan and Mick Malthouse couldn’t save the Blues.

The Chris Judd era delivered a finals run but nothing meaningful.

It felt like Michael Voss’ Blues were the real deal and bound for glory before things quickly came undone.

But for all the ups and downs on field and inability to truly course correct and make Carlton a genuine bona fide once again, they’re making all the right moves off field.

To be the best again, you’ve got to beat the best. Or, get them.

The Blues lured Brian Cook away from Geelong in 2021 to be their chief executive before he handed the role over to Graham Wright, who they poached from arch rival Collingwood.

Wright is widely regarded as one of the best football administrators in the business, having also been in Hawthorn’s brain’s trust during that golden age with Fagan and Clarkson and setting up Collingwood’s 2023 premiership under Craig McRae.

With Wright pulling the strings in the background, Blues fans should be optimistic. Just look at his two big off-field moves since taking over the role.

Fagan is Wright’s second major off-field hire over the last year after the club landed footy boss Chris Davies from Port Adelaide. Again, Davies is highly regarded as one of the best in the business.

Wright joined Carlton to be a CEO. But for Davies and Fagan to pick the Blues when they would’ve had interest from multiple shows the power of Wright and what the club is building.

There’s a reason there wasn’t a pressing need for Carlton to fill its list boss vacancies with the highly experienced Davies and Wright in the chair.

Though finding that next head of list management looms as Carlton’s next big off-field move after it parted ways with Nick Austin and Mick Agresta earlier this year.

Turning over basically a quarter of the list this off-season tells you where they thought the list was it, notwithstanding that super, fairytale run to finals under Fraser that uncovered some gems.

Maybe the list wasn’t that bad?

It’s a list that’s well placed after a reset last year when the club sold high on Charlie Curnow to free up salary cap space and bring in a plethora of draft picks.

They largely preserved that draft hand this off-season, despite the additions of Lachie Whitfield and Joel Amartey, while father-son prodigy Cody Walker is set to follow next month and add to a promising young crop featuring Jagga Smith and Harry Dean.

So, now you have a promising young coach, who’s already showed serious chops, surrounded by Chris Fagan, Chris Davies and Graham Wright… it mightn’t get much better than that.

We know how crucial it is to get the off-field right and the importance of clubs’ key leadership pillars.

It crucially comes in a time where there’s rightful questions of Carlton off-field following misdemeanours to Will Hayward and Wade Derksen.

Which is plain horrible timing for Fraser when he’s trying to build his own culture and set elite standards to become the new benchmark.

Again, they have the right people in the people to address whatever needs to be addressed.

And while there’s been plenty of talk that Carlton’s trade moves signal it should be going for it in 2027, they’re simply reproducing the blueprint of all successful clubs in recent years; addressing the now and the future. Clubs can’t afford to sit still anymore with some fanciful five-year plan when teams like Hawthorn and Geelong are getting better every year.

Carlton will also try and do just that while hoping a young nucleus sets them on a path for sustained success. They have the best council behind them.

Blues fans should rest assured that, while there’s no guarantees of success, the club is pulling all the right levers to deliver it.