AFL 2026, Round 17 Talking Points

It was subtle, but it might’ve been the moment Carlton’s strange coaching search took a turn.

Plus the struggling superstar who may need to be saved from himself, and much more as the big issues from Round 17 are analysed in Foxfooty.com.au’sTalking Points!

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FRASER’S LANGUAGE ‘SHIFT’ IN BLUES COACHING CALL AS ‘SNOWBALL TURNS INTO MONSTER’

With each passing Blues win, it’s becoming impossible to ignore caretaker coach Josh Fraser as a legitimate contender for the role in 2027.

The confusing part, of course, is that Fraser is yet to declare his interest. But as the search ramps up, actions speak louder than words.

Fraser’s Blues have now won seven in a row in a remarkable resurgence not even the greatest Carlton optimist could’ve seen coming.

As subtle as it might’ve been, Fraser may gave given his biggest indication yet he thinks he’s building the credentials to be a senior coach.

“My answer has been really consistent,” he began on Fox Footy after Carlton’s seventh-straight win

“I do feel like I am learning a lot in the role, and that was probably what I hope I’d get out of it, apart from obviously helping the club move forward.

“At some point in time I’ll be able to take a breath and really consider we’re I’m at.

“At the moment I’m living in the moment and enjoying getting better with this group.

“The reflection piece I have had is, do you ever know if you’re really ready?

“I’ve got confidence in my ability to coach, I’ve got ambitions to do it. When the time is right, I’ll be ready to declare myself for a role.”

It’s comments that Kangaroos great David King thinks marked a “little shift” in Fraser’s language and “left enough wiggle room” for him to throw his hat in the ring.

To throw out an extreme hypothetical, if Carlton won the flag, Fraser would get the job.

So there’s clearly merit to the idea that what he’s doing for Carlton right now validates his overall prospects.

The elephant in the room — which, admittedly feels less relevant with each passing win — is that Carlton has been in this position before with the failed appointment of interim coach David Teague.

Teague only led the Blues to a 6-5 run, however, whereas this feels more real and the lift of vibes at Ikon Park has clearly extended off field.

Even if bigger tests will come ahead of clashes with Hawthorn, Collingwood and Brisbane over the next month.

King believes Fraser’s “greatest challenge” has been “proving he’s not David Teague” in a saga he says “scarred the footy club.”

But chief Herald Sun reporter Jay Clark argued Teague’s 2019 appointment “was a long time ago” and that Fraser has to be assessed independently from the caretaker coach tag.

“I feel like we unfairly reach back to that. I think you have to judge Josh Fraser on Josh Fraser and the current group,” Clark said.

“He’s working wonders at the moment and it looks fantastic. But I think we’re at a point where we’re starting to want some clarity from him surely.

“Does he want this or not? Is this something that’s going to motivate him? Does he feel like he’s ready?”

Untried assistants including Jaymie Graham, James Kelly, Daniel Giansiracursa, Corey Enright and Hayden Skipworth are among the names that are in the mix for Carlton as it kicks off its interview process.

The fact that the Blues have been most linked to unproven options surely helps Fraser’s outlook.

“Could you see a world where they give it to a first-year coach? Having just watched a first-time coach,” King added.

“Say they take a gamble to give it to Hayden Skipworth, who we haven’t seen in this environment.

“I almost think they gave (the caretaker job) to the guy they probably weren’t going to give the job to: ‘Put him in as the caretaker and let’s just get to the end of the year, regardless of what the losses are. Let’s build a bit of unity amongst the group. They all love him, they’ll play for him and we’ll see where it takes’.

“Now the snowball has turned into an absolute monster.”

Clark thinks it’s “what so incredible about this situation” specifically as Carlton gets closer to “judgement time”, with Essendon and Tasmania also in the market for a senior coach.

“We think Essendon is in a pickle with James Hird, the situation at Carlton is just as fascinating,” he said.

“They’re going to pass over a bloke potentially who hasn’t lost in two months to go for another untried coach?

“One thing that’s really clear is the players are right behind him.

“The connection, you can’t make this up, the energy you feel and the cohesion, brand and clarity you see on field.

“I think they’re all massive ticks for Josh Fraser.”

HOW TO SOLVE A PROBLEM LIKE JEREMY?

He’s the reigning All Australian captain and Geelong’s leading goal scorer for the past three seasons, but we now have a problem with star Jeremy Cameron.

The two-time Coleman Medallist, on $1 million a season, looked well off the pace in Thursday night’s dismal loss to Brisbane – and not for the first time this season.

Concern about his lingering arm issue, following the break in last year’s grand final, was flagged in the final erm when Cameron appeared to go one-handed in a marking contest.

“That right arm he cannot put into a contest at the moment,” dual premiership Roo David King lamented in commentary.

Cameron finished as the lowest possession getter on the ground with just four – despite spending 90 per cent time on ground.

“It’s only the third game since he’s been a Cat that he hasn’t had a shot at goal – two of those in the last three weeks,” King said.

He failed to lay a tackle and took just one mark for the minutes he played.

“This issue dates back to the grand final where of course he had the badly broken arm and tried to play on heroically,” Fox Footy’s Jon Ralph explained.

“He had the plate inserted and it never really just stuck.

“He had all those issues leading through the State of Origin game which he didn’t play in.

“The plate I think was put in too small – that’s my understanding. And the bones in the arm have never really been set. So the issue is a nerve related issue.

“He gets shooting pain down the arm – his arm goes numb at times. If they wanted to rectify it, it would be three months (sidelined).

“As (Geelong assistant) James Rahilly said… he has really good days and really bad days. They thought he was going really well – he was as bad as that one-armed game against Adelaide… then came out and kicked 3.5 against the Gold Coast. Kicked a couple before the bye against Freo.

“I don’t see them saying season over… but how do you win three or four finals with him in that form?”

AFL great Jason Dunstall described Cameron’s woes as a “tough one”.

“I’m always going to back Jeremy in because he’s done it so often and he can find his way in big games,” he said.

“He had a quiet one (against Brisbane).

“I think he had four possessions, didn’t have a shot at goal which is extraordinary.

“There’ll be times where he’s got to battle through soreness in it. If the way you (speaking to Ralph) explained that, that pain does come into his arm, but I’m still going to back the player.

“I’ll back the player in confident he’s going to do the job for me in finals.”

King agreed there was not much that could be done without putting a line through Cameron.

“He’s in great medical care – they are not taking any risks with him. They aren’t gambling with it,” he said.

“This is a calculated, clear decision to give the player the best opportunity to be his best at some point this year.”

Speaking in his post-match press conference, Cats coach Chris Scott was adamant no risk was being taken with their five-time All Australian.

“He’s going through a bit of a flat spot, there’s no doubt about that,” Scott said.

“But I do remember getting these questions the week before he kicked 11 so… if he doesn’t kick at least 10 next week I’ll be flat.

“I don’t think anyone other than him knows that for sure (if it’s his arm affecting his form).

“But the feedback we’re getting is he’s well and truly good enough to play. And I think you can take it as read that we do not play players that we don’t think can perform.

“I’m sort of making a habit of saying this because I feel more strongly about it than say I did even four or five years ago. The fact that a player can get out there to play doesn’t mean that he should.

“So in that context, we are quizzing the medical staff and Jeremy and he’s saying look you know I’m not perfect but I’m well and truly good enough to perform.

“We tend to give our champions a little bit more room than maybe some others. And we’re really confident that he’ll find his way through it.

“And if he can’t in the short term, then we’ll think about how we help him through it even more.

“It’s a strange situation for us to be in… given how good he’s been for us.”

One of Scott’s comments in particular there – “the fact that a player can get out there to play doesn’t mean that he should” – is notable. It feels, much like Scott discussing Tyson Stengle’s situation by saying the club is “not a charity”, he is speaking to his player through the media.

In a sense Scott could be telling Cameron he needs to make the call on his season, because the Cats either can’t or won’t.

Cameron has never gone goalless in more than three games in a single season since arriving at the Cats – and he’s already at that mark this year (Rounds 3, 13 and 17).

He went goalless in five games in his debut AFL season back in 2012 and goalless four times while in his final year at the Giants in 2020.

DAICOS IMAGE THAT SUMMED UP PIES ‘PASSION’ IN KEY SELL TO TRADE TARGETS

There’s been questions on if Collingwood would be better off getting a higher draft pick than playing in a finals wildcard.

But what price do you put on the club selling itself as a destination club that’s still in the mix for trade targets and free agents?

Even if the majority of the footy world no longer sees the Pies as a bona fide contender, they’ve clearly not given up hope yet.

The spirit and desire to keep winning was as clear as ever in Saturday’s spicy win on the Gold Coast, with Brayden Maynard in the thick of it.

Nick Daicos celebrating a free kick that secured the win moments before the final siren summed it up.

It was about as passionate as we’ve seen the little champ and showed how much it meant to him, along with the rest of his teammates with the celebrations that followed post-match.

Not only was it a massive win in the context of Collingwood’s season to stay in the finals hunt, it was an emotionally charged game after Ben Long’s hit on Maynard sparked an all-in brawl and fiery clash.

Triple premiership Lion Alastair Lynch said to Daicos in their post-game game interview he “looked as passionate and emotional” as he’s seen him.

Daicos said Collingwood had “build this game up” and that he “viewed it as a final”.

“We set ourselves for this game, it’s a huge win for our season,” Daicos told Fox Footy.

“We know it’s four points, at the end of the day, but we’re competing with these teams around us.

“It’s massive… hopefully we can get some momentum now.”

Tigers champion Jack Riewoldt described the interview as “fascinating” and said it was “the first time I reckon I’ve seen Nick Daicos see red”.

“It was because (Gold Coast) attacked Maynard, they went after the spiritual leader of the football club. That ignited something in Nick Daicos,” Riewoldt said.

“Even post game, he was still bubbling away. It was really interesting, I loved seeing that from Daicos.”

Beyond Daicos, Maynard and Steele Sidebottom said it was one of the best wins they’d been a part of including one of the stronger renditions of the song in the rooms.

With all that in mind, maybe it’s just something of a tribute year at Collingwood with its champions in the twilight of their career.

A ‘Last Dance’ of sorts as they look to send out those greats in style and maximise this window.

But you’re also championing your club fabric, culture and what you stand for every week, which is just as valuable as the four points in the bigger picture.

Which is critical for Collingwood in yet another pursuit of stars on the market.

The biggest club in the land is looking to double downing on what’s gotten them to this point, despite fears of a looming cliff, in a bid to maintain their run of success.

That can include bringing in younger players from other clubs, like Jed Walter, in a strategy Geelong has been the masters of.

Even if Tasmania is set to compromise future drafts, what’s more important to the Magpies; having Pick 5 instead of Pick 10 in this upcoming draft? Or marketing itself to the likes of Zak Butters, Lachie Neale and Walter?

What would those guys (one of whom was ironically in the opposition camp?) be thinking watching Collingwood players come from everywhere to defend Maynard?

Or Daicos’ passion? Who’s simply Collingwood’s best recruiting tool at this point.

It’s much easier to sell that dream and a club that plays finals nearly every year, than it is to sell a sinking ship with a better draft position.

A high draft pick is great and Collingwood needs it more than most. But a winning culture and being a destination club is better.

DOGS SEARCH FOR BIG ‘UPGRADE’ IN BUTTERS QUESTION

For the second year in a row, Buku Khamis’ future will be a point of contention as the Western Bulldogs continue in their pursuit of a key-defensive upgrade.

It teases out an intriguing relative discussion about the club’s Zak Butters pursuit.

Unlike last year, when Khamis was first linked with a move to Carlton, the flexible 26-year-old is an unrestricted free agent at season’s end.

And as a three-year deal from the Dogs remains unsigned on the table, the Blues are expected to come calling again.

But as Midweek Tackle’s Jon Ralph notes, the Bulldogs aren’t likely to be willing to pay Khamis the “industry figure”.

“His manager, Ray Purcell, is trying to get him a four-year deal … there’s a three-year deal being offered at the Western Bulldogs,” Ralph told Friday Night Footy on Fox.

“The industry figure … maybe $800,000, $900,000 — it’s a lot of money. He’s not getting that at the Western Bulldogs right now.

“He has met with Carlton. When he’s amazing against Liam Ryan, you think, ‘He’s worth something like that’. When he plays like he did tonight, you think, ‘That’s a lot of money for a player who can get exposed very easily’.”

Khamis was far from his best on Friday night against a red-hot Charlie Curnow, who repeatedly beat the Dogs’ stopper one-on-one en route to nine marks and six goals.

He’s had his good moments this season, but it’s hard to argue his total body of work justifies close to seven figures per season.

Thus, Khamis is no guarantee to be at Whitten Oval next year as the club’s list management crew assesses rival options for a key back upgrade.

“He’s had 13 goals kicked on him against Charlie Curnow in two games this year,” triple premiership player Jack Riewoldt said of Khamis.

“$900,000 is a very, very big price to pay for an undersized key defender – and those are Luke Beveridge’s comments in the press conference (on Friday night).

“I don’t think I’d be paying Buku Khamis $900,000 for four years. He needs help, though. It can’t be on Buku to be the man down there.

“They need to go and find a key back to shore up this defence, to try and win another premiership … they need a key defender.”

And the club knows it remains a position that needs to be addressed.

It entered Round 17 sitting 17th for opposition marks on the lead, 15th for opposition shots at goal, and 11th for points against.

The Dogs have canvassed the likes of fringe Adelaide pair Jordon Butts and James Borlase, while Charlie Ballard could be a gettable name come October.

But club list boss Michael Regan just days ago said any pursuit of a defender wouldn’t just be for the sake of it.

“We are at a point where if we’re going to pursue a key defender, it needs to be a marked upgrade on what we have,” Regan said.

But as Ralph alluded to in the panel’s discussion, is a “marked upgrade” in the realm of possibility when the Dogs are expected to fork out roughly $1.6-1.8 million per year for Butters?

“Where do the priorities lie, though?” Riewoldt asked on Fox Footy on Friday night.

“I understand Zak Butters is a generational player, but is he going to take them closer to a premiership, or is a key defender – a really good key defender – going to take them closer?

“It’s my belief that it’d be a key defender over Zak Butters.

“They’ve already got Ed Richards, Marcus Bontempelli and Sanders – who hits game 50 and is evolving – I just think a key defender is exactly what that club needs.”

In the end, the Dogs might have to settle for less.

“The issue is they’ve had a crack at (St Kilda’s) Cal Wilkie, they’ve had a crack at (Adelaide’s) Mark Keane, and they keep saying no,” Ralph added.

“So a Borlase or a Ballard or a Butts might not be a great improvement. That’s the issue right now.”