Hinkley: Fraser only doing 30-40% of the work of an AFL coach

Josh Fraser is only doing 30-40 percent of the work of a regular AFL coach, accordingly to Ken Hinkley who made the revelation when asked how much more the interim Carlton boss has to do before his role is made permanent.

The Blues held on to secure a two-point win over the Tigers at the MCG in Round 17 to make it seven consecutive wins under Fraser since he took from Michael Voss.

Carlton were 1-8 and staring down the barrel of another wasted season when the change in coach happened and they are now 8-8 and have moved from 16th on the ladder to 10th.

It was by no means a pretty win against the Tigers with the Blues trailing by 18 points after the first term, but their stunning resurgence under the interim coach continues with Luke Hodge asking the SEN Crunch Time team just how much more he must do before he is anointed.

“It’s usually a sugar hit (when a coach steps down), they play with freedom again,” Hodge said on Saturday. “That normally lasts two weeks. How much more does Josh have to do before he is top of the list?

“They got rid of Curnow for draft picks for future, Fraser has changed the mindset with the Blues, he has changed the way they play.”

While acknowledging the freedom with which Carlton players are performing under Fraser, Hinkley pointed out that the 44-year-old is yet to be stress tested in the role and did not endure the immense workload of a senior coach in the pre-season.

“They are playing for him at the moment that is clear,” Hinkley said. “But the key is that the best players on Carlton list are back playing footy.

“They nearly beat Lions at the Gabba in Vossy’s last game. If they had two or three of those wins that almost looked like wins we wouldn’t be having this conversation.

“Josh is doing 30-40 per cent of the current job of an AFL coach. That’s probably what he is doing by stepping in as an interim.

“The actual size of the job in-season is not that big once it’s all organised and ready. Youve done all the preparations, staffing, planning and recruiting. All that stuff when it’s going on is a lot more to do with the coaching.

“Everyone thinks it’s turning up at the match, tossing the coin and hoping it works out for you. It’s so much more than that.

“So much happens after hours. There’s so much you have to do to make sure you can handle the situation. Then you have to be stressed and stress tested; Josh at the moment is not being stress tested.”

Carlton have a huge test ahead of them with Hawthorn, Collingwood, Gold Coast and Brisbane their next four matches.

When it comes to naming a permanent coach, Hinkley is not convinced any decisions will be made before finals.

"None of these decisions will be announced before the end of the season," he continued. "Maybe Tassie is different because they have no one to answer to next season.

"But Carlton and Essendon – no way they announce until at least the finals. They will string it out. They will do three of four different processes. They will know who they’re going to appoint."