Edmund’s Eleven: Caretaker coaches we fell in love with

From cult heroes who steadied sinking ships, to caretakers who sparked unlikely revivals, interim coaches have given fans some of their most unlikely best footy memories.

In 2026, Josh Fraser has been a prime example for Carlton Fans, turning the club’s season around and reminding us just how quickly a stand in coach can captivate a fanbase and become the favourite to coach the club moving forward.

Amongst Josh Fraser there have been 10 other interim coaches that clubs have fell in love with Sam Edmund ranking them from 11-1.

“It doesn't mean it worked, and it ended in divorce a lot of the time,” Edmund told SEN's Locked In.

See Edmund's Eleven below:

11. Brett Ratten (Carlton)

“Didn’t they fall in love with him!

“2007, Dennis Pagan is sacked. Ratts takes over. He lost the final six games of that season, but they fall in love with him. They appoint him full time for '08 and beyond.

“History says he did a reasonable job, took the club back to finals after a long absence.”

10. Mark Harvey (Fremantle)

“4-3 after Chris Connolly was marched after Round 13, got a 3-year contract, didn’t quite work out.

“Then he was knifed really when Ross Lyon came in in that was dramatic, almost a coach trade in the end.”

Kane Cornes: “One of the best footy stories ever.”

9. Jeff Gieschen (Richmond)

“Unleash the Giesch!

“The Tigers fans was chanting it behind the goals! Final five games in 1997, 4-1 he went, including denying Carlton in the last round.

“He coached in '98, he coached in '99, they missed finals in both seasons and he was gone.”

8. Matthew Primus (Port Adelaide)

Cornes: “Inspirational captain stepping in as coach. Good run home, 5-2.”

Edmund: “5-2 from seven games, two of them came against inform teams. Praise from you, the staff, the supporters for the job and he was for three years.

“Didn't quite work out.”

7. Peter Rohde (Western Bulldogs)

“How’s this for falling in love!

“One game, one win, contract.

“One win in 2002 after Terry Wallace resigned. He coached for 2 seasons; 16th, 14th, done, you’re out.”

6. Rhyce Shaw (North Melbourne)

“Had 12 games to work with after he took over from Brad Scott.

“They loved him! The infamous lap with Glenn Archer of Arden Street gave him the job.

“2019, he won four of his first five. He eventually went 7-5, got the full-time contract.

“3 years; he would last one year. Resigned at the end of 2020, the COVID year. 3-14 they were, second bottom, gone.”

5. Grant Thomas (St Kilda)

“2001, mid-season, the dramatic sacking of Malcolm Blight. This was the man that Grant Thomas helped convince the club in the first place.

“Grant ends up taking over. Thommo only went 1-6, but the club and the players fell in love with his style, which was a bit out of its time in terms of its man management focus.

“Three seasons later they're in a prelim and a prelim in the next year too. They just couldn't quite get over the hump.”

4. Neil Craig (Adelaide)

“He did it twice, 'Pass more'. One more successful than the other - we're going to ignore the Melbourne experience - he went 1-10 there.

“We're going to Adelaide in 2004 after Gary Ayres left. Craigy goes 4-5, the next year he takes the Crows to the top of ladder if you don’t mind, and a prelim!

“They played off in a prelim in '06 too.”

3. David Teague (Carlton)

“AKA the Teague-Train. He had to be there. The tsunami of support for the Teague-Train!

“2019, Mick Malthouse had endured a miserable run. Brendon Bolton had coached only 16 wins from 71 games. Enter Teaguey, and love blossoms.

“6-5 he went, which was just like honey after the Blues were 1-10 when he got the keys.

“Unfortunately it was short lived. Appointed and the misery continued thereafter.”

2. Josh Fraser (Carlton)

“We're living Josh Fraser at the moment. 1-8 under Michael Voss, seven game winning streak, 9-2 record, thus far a Wildcard spot.

“Smashed Brisbane, beat Geelong, results that were just unconceivable a few months ago.”

1. Paul Roos (Sydney)

“At number one, the caretaker we fell in love with and history says that the romance continued to blossom.

“2002 at the Swans, Rodney Eade departs with Sydney having won only three of their first 12 games.

“Roosey comes in and goes 6-4, gets the job and wins the flag three years later and its happily ever after at the Bloods.”