June 16, 2026 — 1:09pmFormer Carlton star Brendan Fevola says the Blues must pursue an experienced senior coach, but has lavished praise on caretaker Josh Fraser for implementing a more attacking game plan.The Blues’ search for a new permanent coach continues, having parted ways with Michael Voss last month after a disastrous 1-8 start to the season.Top pick: Former Carlton ace Brendan Fevola says the Blues need to target John Longmire to be their new senior coach.Sydney Morning HeraldUnder Fraser, the Blues have won their next four games and are within striking distance of the top 10, but Fraser has ruled himself out of contention for the top job, declaring he does not yet have the required experience.Fevola, the two-time Coleman medallist and three-time All-Australian, said former Swans’ premiership coach John Longmire would be the ideal selection.“I would love to see Adam Simpson or John Longmire down there, just for their experience over the next couple of years. With Tassie coming in [in 2028], it’s going to be tough,” Fevola said at the launch of the Legends Game for Prostate Cancer on Tuesday.“We don’t want to be down the bottom. We need to get up, so an experienced coach is the way to go.”Simpson, the former West Coast Eagles premiership coach, has ruled himself out as a candidate at both Carlton and Essendon.But he, along with Blues’ chief executive Graham Wright, football boss Chris Davies and president Rob Priestley are on the four-man selection panel to find Voss’ replacement.Former club great and current board member Greg “Diesel” Williams is a consultant in the process, as the Blues continue to identify potential candidates.Longmire, who has a 63 per cent winning record and coached the Swans in five grand finals for four losses, is considered a prominent option for the Blues.Back in form: Carlton captain Patrick Cripps has been reborn under Josh Fraser.AFL Photos via Getty Images“I feel an experienced coach would be the best option, especially for a good young group. You want that older coach with a level head to get his charges in the right direction,” Fevola, an assistant AFLW coach at Richmond, told this masthead.Long-time AFL assistant coaches Hayden Skipworth and Daniel Giansiracusa are also likely to be spoken to by the Blues.Fraser, a long-time VFL, development and assistant coach, has installed a more aggressive, free-flowing game plan, and has re-energised skipper Patrick Cripps, who struggled for form earlier in the season.“I think Josh Fraser is doing a great job. The players are playing with more freedom. It’s an attacking game … you’ve got to handball the ball forward and run, and I think the boys are really adapting to that,” Fevola said.“Our DNA has been winning it at the contest, and then you try to muscle teams, but we’ve got a lot of great players who can run, so I think we’ve found the inkling of success that we need. Winning footy is good footy, and we’re a chance to make the top 10 now.”The Blues resume their season against Greater Western Sydney on Saturday.After defeating Essendon before their mid-season bye, Fraser was again asked whether he has any interest in becoming the permanent coach.“That’s a big hypothetical and my answer right now would be no,” Fraser said.Fevola had earlier this season said it was time for the Blues and Cripps to part ways. But the goal-kicking champion has now changed his mind.“I said earlier this year he needed to leave for himself, get out of there, get over to the west [Western Australia] where you’re from, but these last five weeks, he’s back,” Fevola said.“He’s playing with freedom. He’s carried the team on his shoulders for a long time … I just thought he was a bit stale with all the losses. But when we play well, we win, and he’s our best player, so he should stay.”Fevola will captain and Geelong great Joel Selwood coach the Victorian side for the Legends game against an All-Stars line-up at Marvel Stadium on August 27 to raise money for prostate cancer research.Keep up to date with the best AFL coverage in the country. Sign up for the Real Footy newsletter.Jon Pierik is a sports journalist at The Age. He covers AFL and has won awards for his cricket and basketball writing.Connect via X or email.From our partners