Josh Fraser enters Carlton coach search, Mark McVeigh hot favourite to be Essendon coach, Calsher Dear meets with Melbourne, latest news

Fraser has been consistently non-committal about entering the race, but Carlton footy boss Chris Davies confirmed last month the club had invited the caretaker boss to be part of the process.

Asked after the team’s win over St Kilda whether he’d nominate for the full-time role, Fraser said: “You’re going to get another straight bat!

“My preference tonight is not to make it about me, if possible … I do appreciate the questions around me, but right now I feel a lot of gratitude for the people that surround me.”

Fraser was given extra time and space to make a call following his father’s recent passing, with Fremantle’s Jaymie Graham, St Kilda’s Corey Enright, Geelong’s James Kelly and Hawthorn’s Daniel Giansiracus the finalists for the gig.

But Fraser has emerged as a strong favourite after the Blues’ stunning rise from 1-8 to 10th spot on the ladder and a likely finals appearance.

‘HOT FAVOURITE’ FOR ESSENDON JOB

Former GWS interim coach and Bombers champion Mark McVeigh appears to be the “hot favourite” to be named next Essendon coach.

While ex-coach James Hird, Fremantle assistant Jaymie Graham and Crows coaching director Murray Davis are also in the hunt, Swans assistant McVeigh is widely expected to replace Brad Scott according to veteran journalist Caroline Wilson.

Sydney plays Essendon this weekend and she believes McVeigh would leave the Swans immediately if appointed.

Perhaps not coincidentally, the Bombers had been expected to name their next coach this week, but have delayed the decision until next week – after the Sydney game.

“Mark McVeigh seems to be the hot favourite … senior journalists are saying he’s the favourite, and AFL HQ, they seem to think he’s getting the job,” Wilson said on Seven.

“This creates a dilemma for the Sydney Swans, who are playing Essendon this weekend.

“The fact that we’re now hearing that Essendon might not make an announcement about their new coach until next week is perhaps another pointer to the fact that it is going to go to Mark McVeigh.

“If he’s appointed in the next few days, or immediately after, it’s my understanding he’ll leave Sydney immediately or pretty much immediately.

“If in fact Essendon take another few weeks … I think Sydney would be happy for McVeigh to stay, but the view is if he’s appointed immediately, he really should go and start working with Essendon.

“You’ve got Simon Goodwin and Nick Malceski, and I think Ben Matthews in the VFL, a much more bolstered footy team of assistants than they had this time last year.”

HAWKS YOUNG GUN MEETS WITH RIVAL CLUB

Calsher Dear has reportedly met with Melbourne as the club continues its chase of the young Hawthorn forward.

Foxfooty.com.au’s Will Faulkner reported last week the Demons and Geelong are the 21-year-old’s most aggressive suitors while Carlton, Collingwood and St Kilda have also tracked him at VFL level.

But now Seven’s Tom Morris reports the Demons have met with Dear “exploring a serious play for him in the trade period”.

Dear’s chances of playing time have reduced over the past 12 months with Mitch Lewis having a career year, and signing on until 2030, and 2025 draftee Aidan Schubert extending until the end of 2029.

Jack Gunston and Mabior Chol are contracted for next year, and Gold Coast free agent Ben King wants to join in 2027.

“I saw him (edited) in a Melbourne jumper; that made me feel uncomfortable during the week, I must admit,” Hawks coach Sam Mitchell said last week.

“We get along; we’ve had good chats all through this process. Understandably, contract-wise it’s taken a bit longer because he obviously wanted to get into the side and show what he could do.

“And that hasn’t come to fruition just yet, but there’s contracts there and talks there, so still very hopeful.

“But this is a tricky time of the year for everyone, so understand that … who knows what will happen?

“But we’ve had very open communication about all these things. Box Hill have a bye this week, unfortunately, but his form in the past month has been exactly what we’re after, so expect to see him.”

Dear, the son of late Hawthorn champion Paul, has played 31 career games but just five of them this season.

BLUES GREAT STOPS WILD FIGHT IN ITALY

For the second time in two years, a Carlton figure has performed a citizen’s arrest, this time club champion Marc Murphy.

Seven’s Xander McGuire reports the former club captain “broke up a brawl that hospitalised two men while his family watched – all just hours after landing in Italy off the back of a long-haul flight from Melbourne”.

In the process he saved a chauffeur from an alleged unprovoked assault.

“Bystanders cheered and applauded Murphy for the heroic act,” the report states.

“A 22-year-old homeless Tunisian man accosted the group, allegedly screaming at the driver before punching him in the face, causing significant injury.

“The confrontation then descended into a street brawl.

“Murphy, who played 300 games for Carlton, sprung into action – protecting the driver by breaking up the fight, before putting the Tunisian man in a headlock, wrestling him to the ground and performing a citizen’s arrest while a passing pedestrian sought the police.

“The Tunisian was taken to hospital to be treated for medical issues and injuries. He went on to assault a security guard at the hospital before being arrested by police.”

Murphy told Seven: ““It certainly wasn’t the start to the holiday we were expecting.”

DEES ‘ADDRESS’ FORWARD AFTER ALCOHOL MISSTEP

It’s been revealed Melbourne livewire Latrelle Pickett admitted to drinking alcohol in the aftermath of his concussion almost three weeks ago.

According to the Herald Sun’s Jay Clark, the Demons “addressed” Pickett after he consumed alcohol in the 48 hours following his head knock in Round 20 against Geelong.

The report states Melbourne “reached out to support” its young forward “to help educate him on the need to look after himself”, as well as “affirm professional standards after sustaining a brain injury”.

Alcohol is a neurotoxin that interferes with brain tissue repair, thus why experts recommend complete avoidance after concussive incidents.

Clark adds that the Dees have “dealt with” the issue, opting not to sanction Pickett, who is available to return at either level this weekend.

But it’s a difficult Melbourne team to crack at the moment, particularly after Steven King’s mob knocked off premiership favourites Fremantle last Saturday.

Still, the former Glenelg star has burst onto the AFL scene this year after arriving at the Dees as the 12th pick in last year’s draft, playing 16 games for 10 goals.

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BOMBERS COACH CALL TIMELINE REVEALED

Essendon’s coaching finalists are going to have to wait another week to “work through this process” and come to a decision.

James Hird, Mark McVeigh, Jaymie Graham and Murray Davis make up the final four as the Bombers prepare to make an appointment.

“Essendon has told its four coaching applicants it’s going to need another week to work through this process,” the Herald Sun’s Jon Ralph told Fox Footy’s On the Couch.

“It might end up whittling those four candidates from four down to two, and certainly one might end up meeting the board.

“Of course, this is in a week where Sydney assistant Mark McVeigh coaches against Essendon on Sunday night.”

Seven’s Mitch Cleary reported the Essendon panel, led by president Andrew Welsh, “will meet in the coming days to dissect the interviews from late last week”.

It comes as Ralph revealed Hird had “personally contacted” GWS captain Toby Greene and Brisbane dual Brownlow medallist Lachie Neale to pitch the idea of going to Essendon if he’s appointed coach.

Three-time Richmond premiership forward Jack Riewoldt endorsed Essendon reinstalling Hird, arguing the 18th-placed club needs a “galvaniser” more than anything.

“I think in terms of contacting other players, this just shows the aura that James Hird has,” Riewoldt told On the Couch.

“I think this is what this club is starved of at the moment; they need a galvaniser, and it has to be one of their favourite sons.

“(McVeigh) hasn’t got the star power that James Hird’s got, and I think the Hird factor will sit right behind Mark McVeigh if he is to get the role.

“And that’s going to happen for anyone that doesn’t get the role … a club on its knees needs a galvaniser, and I think James Hird is the man.”