Carlton has won the contest to secure Fagan as its coach, with Herald Sun reporting that the club's "aligned" structure proved decisive in the race. The report, published on Saturday, frames the appointment as one the Blues felt was too good to pass up.
According to Herald Sun, alignment within the club was central to how Carlton came out ahead of rival suitors. The report does not detail the terms of the deal or the other parties involved.
The headline and summary from Herald Sun are the only confirmed details available at this stage, and the outlet's full account of the negotiations sits behind its own reporting. What is clear from that material is the club's view that the opportunity was one it could not decline, and that internal coherence was presented as the reason Carlton prevailed.
Coverage of the appointment is being tracked through Google News, where additional headlines and perspectives on the story are being collected.
What to watch next: official confirmation from Carlton and further detail from Herald Sun on the terms and timing of the appointment.