NORTHERN Blues senior coach Josh Fraser has sung the praises of Cameron O’Shea after the defender was drafted to Carlton.

O’Shea became the first Northern player drafted to the AFL Blues since 2006, and the first draftee from the club since 2013.

With O’Shea’s achievements in 2017 speaking for themselves, the senior coach said the new Blue made an immediate impact when arriving at Northern.

“Everyone that is connected to our club at the Northern Blues is absolutely thrilled for Cameron,” Fraser said.

“We couldn’t have asked for any more from him since day one: he invested in all areas of our club from the start and he backed it up with his performances each week.

“Centre-half back in the VFL Team of the Year, playing for Victoria and a best-and-fairest sees him back on an AFL list: it’s a great story.” 

Throughout the year, Fraser credited the “enormous” contributions of O’Shea, forecasting back in July that the defender was doing his chances of an AFL lifeline the world of good.

Fraser said the fact that O’Shea was making the move from Preston City Oval to Ikon Park made the news all the more significant.

“Of course, it’s better that Cam has made his way to Carlton: it’s the ideal scenario,” Fraser said.

“Both our coaching and recruiting staff are heavily invested in our VFL program. They’ve had a close eye on Cameron and a lot of our other boys over the course of the year.

“The fact he’s gone to Carlton makes it even more special, we’re rapt for him.”