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The Blues have surged into finals contention with a perfect 6-0 run under Fraser, after only one win previously in 2026, in a shock resurgence following Michael Voss\u2019 departure in early May.<\/p>\n
While Carlton remains committed to running a proper process in its search for a new coach, the club\u2019s revival under Fraser has forced the interim boss\u2019 name into the conversation, despite him repeatedly saying he won\u2019t go for the role on a permanent basis.<\/p>\n
So would Cripps want to see Fraser coach Carlton in 2027? <\/p>\n
\u201cThis is probably the most asked question I\u2019m getting at the moment,\u201d Cripps told foxfooty.com.au.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe\u2019s done a great job. The way he carries himself is first class, his composure on game day and in the media is really solid.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe whole reason they got the process going is for this exact reason \u2014 you let the key decision makers go to work.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve talked about it a bit, but we\u2019re pretty keen to keep focusing on this year and see how far we can go and all that other stuff will take care of itself. <\/p>\n
\u201c\u2018Frase\u2019 will be the one that makes the call if he wants to go into the process.\u201d<\/p>\n
Patrick Cripps is a Kayo Sports ambassador.Source: FOX SPORTS<\/p>\n
The next five Carlton games are exclusively live in Vic on Fox Footy, available on Kayo Sports.<\/p>\n
Cripps is a Kayo Sports ambassador and means many things to Carlton and its fans as the club\u2019s much-loved, long-time captain.<\/p>\n
But he said hasn\u2019t been involved in any decisions on the coaching selection process after the club assembled its four-person panel for the hire, which includes chief executive Graham Wright, president Rob Priestley, president footy boss Chris Davies and Eagles premiership coach Adam Simpson.<\/p>\n
\u201cWith footy clubs, you back the key decision makers in to make the right call to take the club forward,\u201d Cripps said. <\/p>\n
\u201cWith \u2018Wrighty\u2019 and \u2018CD\u2019 (Davies), they\u2019ve both been at footy clubs for a long period of time and have a great track record of making great decisions. <\/p>\n
\u201cAs players, that gives you great confidence that they\u2019ve been around long enough and know what success looks it and they\u2019ll make the right decision.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd to be honest, you don\u2019t want to get caught up in that stuff. You just want to keep focusing on footy and this year and creating the right environment for the boys.\u201d<\/p>\n
While the Blues are flourishing under a new coach, the gun skipper said the energy around the club had been \u201creally high\u201d since the pre-season and that he believes their 1-8 record \u201cwasn\u2019t a true reflection of our ability.\u201d<\/p>\n
But there\u2019s no such \u201csilver bullet\u201d for the sudden jolt in form.<\/p>\n
\u201cI know everyone is thinking: \u2018What\u2019s been the massive changes?\u2019 But I think it\u2019s just a lot of micro changes and a bit of momentum that\u2019s helped,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
\u201cI feel like the foundations of what we were trying to achieve we started in pre-season and we made a fair few tweaks to our game plan from last year. That takes time.<\/p>\n
\u201cPlus, you add a lot of new personnel into the side \u2014 we lost some key pieces and added some great experienced players, combined with some of the young guys coming in. <\/p>\n
\u201cI think it\u2019s just a sum of a lot of little things. And the one thing you can\u2019t really measure sometimes is players\u2019 confidence and belief. Sometimes you need a win every now and then to feel that.<\/p>\n
\u201cI know everything thinks there\u2019s this big silver bullet, but I think it\u2019s been a work in progress over a fair bit of time.\u201d<\/p>\n
Josh Fraser and Patrick Cripps (Photo by James Wiltshire\/AFL Photos via Getty Images)Source: FOX SPORTS<\/p>\n
Cripps has very much embodied Carlton\u2019s turnaround under Fraser in a blistering stretch from the star midfielder.<\/p>\n
Ahead of last week\u2019s win over West Coast, Cripps had been the AFL\u2019s No. 12 ranked player over the last five-game run<\/a> after sitting No. 90 previously this season. <\/p>\n Despite that, the 31-year old thinks his form had been \u201cpretty consistent\u201d since Round 6 and that the loss to St Kilda in Round 8 was his \u201conly mulligan.\u201d<\/p>\n