Source :- THE AGE NEWS
In today’s AFL Briefing, your wrap of footy news:
- Interim Carlton coach Josh Fraser will throw his hat in the ring for the full-time role.
- Former Melbourne skipper Jack Viney is preparing for his long-awaited return from injury.
- Nick Larkey has opened up on his goal-kicking troubles.
Interim Carlton coach Josh Fraser will present for the club’s vacant coaching position after accepting an invitation to join the process.
The Blues have won 10 of their 12 games under Fraser since he took over as interim when Michael Voss departed after the club won just one out of their first nine matches for the season.
Fraser said he would not be a candidate for the full-time position when he accepted the interim role, but recognised in recent weeks he needed to give it serious consideration as the Blues showed extraordinary form under his leadership.
According to two competition sources, speaking on condition of anonymity, Fraser has communicated his decision to take part in the process.
The Blues now sit inside the top 10, and with two games remaining are in a good position to at least reach the wildcard finals round.
The club invited Fraser to be part of the process about a fortnight ago and the 44-year-old said he needed time to consider whether the timing was right.
He then delayed his decision further after his father Bill died on July 30, with the funeral held on Monday.
Fremantle’s Jaymie Graham, Hawthorn’s Daniel Giansiracusa, Geelong’s James Kelly and St Kilda’s Corey Enright are already on the club’s shortlist, with the Blues adamant a selection process is still required to determine the best candidate to take the club forward.
Fraser has been determined to make sure the club could keep the performance of the team for the remainder of 2026 separate to the coaching search, which is being led by CEO Graham Wright and football boss Chris Davies.
The Blues face the Western Bulldogs and top-of-the-ladder Fremantle in the final two rounds of the home-and-away season, with one win needed to guarantee them a spot in the wildcard round after they knocked off St Kilda and the Brisbane Lions in the past two games.
Essendon are also yet to fill their vacant coaching position, with their selection panel considering Sydney’s Mark McVeigh, Graham, Adelaide’s Murray Davis and Bombers great and former coach (current Port Melbourne coaching director) James Hird to fill the spot. Interim Bombers coach Dean Solomon, a former teammate of both Hird and McVeigh, has ruled himself out of the process.
– Peter Ryan
Demons welcome back a favourite son
Oliver Caffrey
Melbourne vice captain Jack Viney will play his first game in almost a year as he tries to be part of the surging Demons’ finals campaign.
Having dealt with complex back and Achilles injuries, Viney hasn’t played a match at any level this season.
The strong-bodied midfielder’s most recent game was Melbourne’s round 24 loss to Collingwood last August, before Steven King took over as Demons coach.
But the premiership hero will return via the VFL on Sunday when the Casey Demons face Box Hill.
“He’s been full training now for nearly a month … so we finally get a game into him,” King said on Tuesday.
“He’s obviously chomping at the bit, vice captain of our footy club and the ultimate competitor and the type of player you want to run out with.
“We’ve got to make sure that we do what’s right for Jack and right for the footy club.
“But if he can get through that game, then he’ll put his name up in lights and make himself available and see what happens from there.”
After a stunning four-point win over premiership favourites Fremantle last Saturday, Melbourne locked in their finals spot.
Having an experienced player like Viney slot into a September campaign makes the Demons a dangerous prospect.
But King has cautioned against expecting too much from the 32-year-old.
“We have to respect what he’s been through,” King said of Viney.
“But I feel like you can’t just get given a game on reputation and your standing.
“The first thing is just to get through a whole competitive game, and make sure he pulls up OK.
“I want him to actually make sure of the long term as well and that he leaves this year well, ready for next season.”
Complicating any AFL return for Viney, Casey’s VFL campaign will come to an end this Sunday as they have not qualified for finals.
King expressed his frustration at the inconsistent scheduling of the VFL, with numerous byes during the season making it hard for reserves players to build momentum.
“We’ve got professional athletes that need to play games and develop, and that’s what I feel like the VFL competition is for – it’s for us to develop young men to play and be ready to play AFL,” King said.
“For every week they have off, that’s a missed opportunity where they get to develop and grow and learn.
“It’s something I feel like the AFL certainly needs to look at aligning the seasons.”
Youngster Latrelle Pickett will also return via the VFL this weekend after recovering from a concussion.
Pickett was spoken to by Demons leaders after consuming alcohol days after suffering the head knock in a defeat to Geelong three weeks ago.
King called the counselling of Pickett a “non-story”.
The Demons this week confirmed the impending retirement of their football manager Alan Richardson, as foreshadowed by this masthead last week. It ends a four-decade career in the AFL for the former Collingwood player and St Kilda coach.
– AAP
North skipper discusses his yips in front of goal
Scott Spits
North Melbourne skipper Nick Larkey admitted he’s been battling the yips after returning 39.27 in front of goal so far this season.
In comparison, three years ago, he booted 71 goals – getting within sight of the Coleman Medal won by Charlie Curnow – and snagged a combined 87.29 across seasons 2024 and 2025.
“It’s been challenging,” Larkey said at North’s Arden Street base on Tuesday.
“It’s been something that’s so strong in my game, and it’s held me in good stead for my career.”
Larkey spoke about his frustration at watching his goal kicking “drop away”.
“For it to drop away … I’ve always really prided myself on being able to finish off the work for the team,” he said.
“We do a hell of a work to get the ball there, and it’s my job to finish the goals.
“For a six-game period there, they just weren’t going through. It’s tough navigating your way through it, because you don’t want to over-think it, but then when everyone’s got suggestions on how you’re going to fix it, you sort of adjust little things here and there.
“Is it technique? Is it a handling the moment thing? Is it being present? It’s a combination of things.
“What I have been happy with myself about is my ability to work through it. I think I’ve become a lot mentally stronger, and more resilient, and more present with the way I handle those situations.
“It doesn’t guarantee I’m going to kick everything through the middle. No player in history has. But it’s a matter of handling those moments better, and trusting a good routine.
“And [it’s] also a lot of repetition at training. I’ve got a commitment for the end of the year to have as many shots that I possibly can.”
Larkey said the Roos still have plenty to play for in 2026, as they cling to a “mathematical” chance of reaching the AFL’s wildcard round.
And there’s also the chance ahead of them to defeat Geelong for the first time in 11 years when the two clubs clash at Marvel Stadium as part of an AFL/AFLW double-header on Saturday.
The Kangaroos have improved considerably this year, holding a 9-12 record to sit two games and percentage outside the top 10. They’ll have to rely on Carlton falling at the final hurdle to snatch the last spot in the AFL’s rejigged finals format. North haven’t extended their season beyond home-and-away games since 2016.
“I don’t think I’ve ever beaten the Cats – VFL or AFL – in my time,” said the 28-year-old Larkey.
“The teams we’re playing are really quality opposition, Geelong [and] Sydney.
“We came really close to the Swans, and we held the Cats for three quarters last time we played them. And we’ve improved a lot since then.
“Our footy as it’s best, we’ve got the belief that it could beat anyone. It’s just a matter of doing it consistently for as long as possible.”
In the last contest between the teams, Geelong won by 49 points at GMHBA Stadium in early May, thanks in part to a nine-goal final quarter as the Kangas fell away.
“We were really good in the contest,” recalled first-year captain Larkey.
“The midfield got on top for three quarters, and then the Cats threw a few changes around the ball, and I don’t think we adjusted as well as we could have.
“Their running power it felt like on the day took over in the fourth [quarter]. We just fell away.
“Geelong historically have been really good at adjusting, adapting when things aren’t working. So we’ll be better prepared for that this week.”
North AFLW star Ash Riddell said the chance to unfurl the club’s latest premiership flag in front of a bumper Marvel crowd will be “really special”.
“Crock [coach Darren Crocker] always talks about enjoying the journey, so it’s something that we’ll look at and be really proud of,” said Riddell as the Roos look to extend their 27-match winning streak and chase a hat-trick of AFLW premierships.
“Obviously knowing this is a new season, we’re pretty eager to get stuck into things.
“Well move on pretty quick after that.”
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