Watson: Why Carlton is the best landing spot for Chris Fagan

Tim Watson believes that Carlton is the best destination for Chris Fagan to commence life post-Lions.

Hanging up the coaching boots after three straight premierships, Fagan has confirmed that he is eager to remain in football, looking to step into a role outside of direct coaching in 2027.

The Tasmanian has stated his desire to pursue work in Victoria, opening the door for all 10 Victorian based clubs to take on the best coach in the modern era.

Having considered each club, Watson believes that the Blues would be the best landing spot for Fagan going forward, working alongside Josh Fraser to lead Carlton into a new era.

“There are so many clubs out there who could be benefitted by his assistance at their club,” Watson told SEN Breakfast.

“I look at Richmond – Richmond immediately came to mind, but they’ve just appointed Brett Ratten for a similar type of role.

“Melbourne, there’s a history. He’s been there – it’s a bit like; how many times can a souffle rise? Horse (John Longmire) is at Essendon.

“North Melbourne has got Todd Viney, so that would mean that Todd Viney effectively would have to give up his post or maybe they’d make a new position there with Jaymie Graham. He would be very, very good there.

“I think Carlton would be the number one – I think they’d be in the box seat too.

“I think they would be a major attraction for Fagan in experiencing a football club as big as the Carlton Football Club.

“As he sees himself, and he articulated about himself, one-out, one back. I think where Carlton is at now… they’ve had that bump under Fraser for the back end of the year.

“They made the top 10. We know that they’ve recruited Joel Amartey, I think they might get Lachie Whitfield as well. They are loading up; they’ve got some good talent.

“I think the great thing with Fagan is the experiences of his football life now, and being able to build a team – pretty much his own team at Brisbane – and then being able to handle and juggle the nuances of being able to handle players under different circumstances.

“Where Josh Fraser might find himself after that great period of winning and the joy and optimism of that, and the challenges that will come at different times for him… I think having somebody like a Fagan there alongside him just guiding him will be a great, great asset for Carlton.”

Garry Lyon can’t imagine what an acquisition like Fagan would do to a club the size of Carlton.

“If he goes to Carlton, they might just scooch straight past Collingwood and Hawthorn as the biggest membership in footy,” he said.

“The momentum that they built in the back half of last year on the back of the Fraser train – if Fagan comes in on top, the hottest prospect since the furnace of the AFL world, that will blow the lid off the joint!

“They won’t be able to handle it!”