I don't think it's fair to suggest that the turnaround in form is due mainly to the fixture. Essendon, Richmond and West Coast we would have all started favorites for however the Wins against Geelong, Bulldogs, Port Adelaide (Away) and GWS (Away) are a significant change in fortunes.
"https://www.tiktok.com/@carlton_flaggers2026/video/7657892411057720594"
"Carlton on track at round 9 to be one of the worst pressure rating teams on record..."
Our pressure and match day energy regardless of the opponent which requires no talent have been remarkably better under Fraser than Voss.
https://x.com/RileyBev/status/2051182183340253489
"Carlton's pressure rating of 152 against St Kilda was its lowest of the season, but that's no surprise. The Blues are the only team in the AFL yet to have a single game this year where they've recorded a higher pressure rating than their opposition."
Fraser has put Hewett back into the middle and Cerra (53% CBA's) on the Wing (0 CBA's). Credit too him I didn't think that Cerra could play Wing. Jagga is up 15% CBA's. McKay into the middle has turned his season around and Fraser has used Ainsworth in the middle to pinch hit up to 15%.
Call me Shawny Nostradamus
Carlton wins:
Voss Sympathisers: Hawks had injuries and were prime for the taking. Win is good but still the real tests are to come.
Non Voss believers: We may never lose again. We could win the flag
Carlton loses:
Voss Sympathisers: First test and we failed. Told you sacking Voss was a mistake.
Non Voss believers: Going great. 7-1 to 1-8 is a massive upgrade.
I’m going to back us in although it could be a very tough one. Hopefully the fitness gods will smile on us.
An interesting factoid:
On at least five separate occasions from 2017 to this year, and including during meetings with German heads of state, Taco has stated that his father was born in Germany. In fact, Fred was born in New York and it is Taco's grandfather, Friedrich, who was born in Germany and emigrated to the USA. Each time Taco has made that claim about his father's birthplace, he has been corrected and even shown copies of his father's birth certificate. However, he continues to state that his father was born in Germany.
As a passionate family historian, I find it hard to fathom how someone can get a parent's birthplace wrong but I accept that not everyone has an interest in their family history. However, to repeatedly claim the wrong birthplace for a parent despite being corrected is not just a misunderstanding or mistake, it's yet another cognitive glitch by the bloke with the nuclear codes.
Ironically, Fred tried to hide his German ancestry and claimed to be Swedish.