As injury ravages the Magpies, it’s former ruckman Josh Fraser’s job to make sure that when the chance comes for a VFL player, he is ready.
It’s often said that the worst job at a cricket club is the captain of the seconds because no one wants to be there.
“Some of them have been ready for opportunity before now, but the health of our list has dictated that they’ve been playing VFL. It’s exciting to see them get opportunities at AFL level and stand up in our system really well.”Now on King’s Birthday they meet a Melbourne team doubly goaded, by a narrow loss to Collingwood in a qualifying final last year,
Fraser said the key was regular and honest conversations. “Everyone’s journey is different,” he said. “Some players get an opportunity before others, but it doesn’t necessarily mean they’re more ready. Sometimes , they’re not quite ready, but they get a taste and they can come back to VFL and apply those learnings and be better for it as well.
Sometimes, a footballer simply has to wait. Fraser says Harvey Harrison, taken at No.52 in the 2021 draft, was one. “I felt Harvey’s been ready for a little while,” he said. “But because our high forwards have been so strong, he’s had to bide his time for a little bit.”
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