Northern Blues coach Josh Fraser wants exciting VFL talent to lead rise up the ladder in 2019
Northern Blues coach Josh Fraser doesn’t want to rely on Carlton hand-me-downs to help his club rise up the ladder, confident the exciting young talent developing at VFL level can achieve success.
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Josh Fraser knows he can’t afford to rely on Carlton’s fringe players to make the Northern Blues a more formidable side.
After winning six games last season, Fraser is confident the Blues are on the rise thanks to development of VFL talent and strong recruiting.
Carlton’s influx of young talent should help the Blues’ cause but Fraser is more excited about his team’s young talent.
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“We’ve been really surprised — pleasantly surprised — with the development of some of our players that recommitted and some of the new players that we’ve brought in can do,” he said.
“We’ve also brought in some really exciting young talent. We brought a kid down from Echuca in Noah Wheeler, who’s played senior footy at Goulburn Valley league level.
“We’ve got some kids from Northern Knights — Sunny Brazier and Oscar White — we think will add to the mix and are excited about what they can bring to us.
“We’re not relying on Carlton and the trickle down effect because you never know what that will look like.
“In previous seasons it hasn’t helped us at all because of the high injury list, so we’re really focused on being the best we can be as a VFL outfit and whatever we get back from Carlton is a bonus.”
The Blues have also secured delisted AFL duo Jono O’Rourke (Hawthorn) and Kieren Collins (Western Bulldogs), while Alex Johnson has signed from Sydney but won’t be rushed back from a sixth knee reconstruction.
After a 12th-placed finish in 2018, Fraser is not setting any expectations on the Blues’ season but he is confident of an improved showing.
“No expectations. I think at our best we can be as good as anyone. I think we’d like to be more consistent,” he said.
“I’m not putting a number on wins because the VFL competition changes from week to week, particularly with clubs that are (AFL) aligned depending on injuries and changes at AFL level.
“Six wins wasn’t a bad result when you consider the amount of (AFL) listed players we fielded last year. I think we averaged 10.
“As an example, last week in the practice match against Richmond, they fielded 19 listed players, we fielded 10 and you lose by six goals.
“We lost three games by under three goals, so we think that’s where our improvement will come from.”
Northern Blues have failed to contest finals since 2011.
The Blues had a bye in the opening round of the VFL season and will face Geelong at GMHBA Stadium on Sunday.
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