ANDY Maher will swap The Front Bar for the Princes Park bench next year, with the highly respected journalist and television presenter accepting a role as Carlton's AFLW runner.
With the team in need of someone to deliver messages at training and on game day, Carlton coach Daniel Harford called his long-time friend and former radio colleague to gauge his interest in helping out with the club's women's side in the days after accepting the job.
Maher, a lifelong Blues supporter, was more than happy to oblige.
"I've actually never done it at any level anywhere before," Maher told AFL.com.au.
"Harf rang me after he got the job and he wanted to put his staff together. He just asked if I wanted to run for the team and, yeah, bloody oath I did."
A welcome and a welcome back!
— Carlton FC (@CarltonFC) November 9, 2018
We've announced our 2019 AFLW coaching panel with the appointments of Brad Fisher and Steven Salopek as assistant coaches.#BoundByBlue
Despite his inexperience in running, Maher is slowly picking up the technical coaching vernacular at Carlton's pre-season training sessions, which started a fortnight ago.
But while he remains in good nick, he does harbour some worries going into next year.
"The big concern I've got is being in the wrong place and costing us a goal," Maher said.
"The other one is breaking down – doing a hammy or pinging a calf or something."
But is his relationship with Harford strong enough to withstand a significant mistake?
"It would certainly test it," Maher said.
"I feel like we're on reasonably solid ground at the moment. But that could be the straw that breaks the camel's back."
Carlton's AFLW side is looking to respond from a disappointing 2018 campaign next year, having ended last season with five straight defeats and a last-place finish on the ladder.
According to Maher, the energy within a new-look women's group is upbeat and is helping to revitalise the entire club, which remains in a rebuilding phase going into 2019.
"The footy club's a more whole, more sound and a better place for the AFLW side," he said.
"It's filled in a piece of the club that the club itself probably didn't even know needed filling until it arrived.
"I see it here on training nights, in the way the VFL boys and the girls interact in the crossover. Just three years in, they're truly part of it.
"It's hard to put it into words – it's a feel thing – you get a real sense that this is an important part of the club that has arrived. It's made it a better joint."
