How Fraser’s Blues will handle the finals; Saints axe No.3 draft pick

If you want something encapsulating how Carlton coach Josh Fraser has calmed the storm around his young Blues, his thoughts ahead of Saturday night’s wildcard final against Melbourne tell the story.

The Blues have gone from a 1-8 start under previous coach Michael Voss to win 10 of their last 13 games, along with a draw, under the newly appointed Fraser, and they will take to the MCG with the belief that they can beat the Demons in front of a bumper MCG crowd.

As he calmly spoke to the media on Thursday morning before training, dressed in shorts and a jacket with his now trademark hood, Fraser was asked how his young guns like Jagga Smith, Harry Dean, Talor Byrne and Billy Wilson will handle the pressure moments inside the MCG cauldron.

“They’ll be fine. They’ll be completely fine,” Fraser said without skipping beat.

“We have some good young kids with calm heads on their shoulders, and they are well-supported by experienced players. And this is a space we’ve grown in over the last four to eight weeks.

“We will stay well-connected and no one’s felt like they’re alone out there. I expect that to be the same.”

There is something telling in Fraser recognising the possibility that his players could feel isolated on a ground that’s surrounded by more than 90,000 fans – most of them likely Blues diehards.

He sees an upward trend in what the Blues are getting from their least-experienced players and what they could do in finals.

“There are those guys who’ve had Rising Star nominations, but there’s a lot of others that we’re really excited about. Jack Ison has played some football this year that I’m excited for,” Fraser said.

“Jagga has had a really consistent season, you see what you see on the weekend, but he’s a terrific young man and he’s going to be a great leader for this football club.

“Harry Dean has already attached himself to our supporters with the way he plays, he’s become a bit of a cult hero and we love having him at the club.”

Smith sounded the furthest thing from nervous when he spoke on Thursday following his Rising Star win on Monday night. Dean was runner-up, and named the AFL Players’ Association’s best first-year player.

Smith’s stellar season comes after he missed all of last year due to a knee reconstruction.

“We’re so focused on Saturday against Melbourne, I feel that if you are looking too far ahead, then you’ve not focusing on the right things,” Smith said.

“I just can’t wait for Saturday to play in my first finals match, it’s so exciting.”

Blues skipper Patrick Cripps has already worded up his fellow midfielder ahead of the Demons clash.

“Crippa has told me that the level steps up a bit, so I look forward to testing myself out there,” Smith said.

On the injury front, the Blues had forward Will Hayward and defender Nick Haynes test out their injured ankles during their main session on Thursday with Hayward completing some run-throughs before training and exchanging high-fives with teammates.

But Fraser will only select them if they can stand up to a full match.

“There is fit to play and there is fit to perform, and they need to be fit to perform,” Fraser said.

“The load and toll that it puts on the rest of the group if they are not able to get through is too great, particularly with the way the game is played at the moment.”

Much has been made about the impact of Fraser and fellow former ruckman turned Melbourne coach Steven King have had on their sides this season. Fraser admits he has watched King’s work with pride.

“I’ve really enjoyed watching Kingy’s journey this year,” Fraser said.

“We are both Goulburn Valley boys; he’s from Shepparton and I’m from Mansfield. I guess I followed his pathway into the AFL having the career he had and then move into coaching. He’s a great fella and I wish him all the best, just not as much this weekend.”

Former No.3 draft pick among St Kilda departures

Roy Ward

Former Carlton No.3 pick Paddy Dow is among three St Kilda players who won’t return to the Saints in 2027.

The club announced on Thursday that Dow, Isaac Keeler and Patrick Said would not be offered contracts for next season.

Dow, the No.3 pick in the 2017 national draft, played 73 games for the Blues between 2018 and 2023 before he was shipped to St Kilda as part of a four-team trade.

Dow played 10 games for the Saints in 2024 before a serious staph injection plus knee and collarbone injuries limited his availability, although he averaged 26 disposals per game for the Saints at VFL level this season.

Keeler, a ruckman, was drafted by the Saints with pick 44 in the 2022 draft, and he played 13 games for the club with only two this season.

Said was drafted by the Saints with pick 60 in the 2024 draft and didn’t play a senior game for the club. But he kicked 20 goals in 25 games at VFL level for Sandringham and St Kilda in the past two seasons.

Those three players join the retiring Dougal Howard in departing the Saints.

Saints football general manager Lenny Hayes thanked them for their work.

“Isaac, Paddy and Patrick are popular members of our playing group, with each making a valued contribution to our football club,” Hayes said.

“The players, coaches and staff at the Saints will miss them, and we wish them and their families every success for the future.”

Keep up to date with the best AFL coverage in the country. Sign up for the Real Footy newsletter.