Updated ,first published
Josh Fraser will be confirmed as Carlton’s new senior coach on Tuesday.
The Carlton board met on Monday to ratify the recommendation that Fraser be confirmed as coach and two sources with knowledge of the appointment confirmed to this masthead that he would be announced as the person to replace Michael Voss.
Former VFL coach Fraser, who was appointed as caretaker when Voss departed in May, has overseen a stunning transformation of the team, winning 10 games and drawing another from 13 matches in charge.
Final details of the length of his contract were being finalised, but a source with knowledge of the situation said it was likely to be a three-year deal.
Blues powerbroker Bruce Mathieson said Fraser had shown he can coach at the elite level.
“It’s a great appointment for Carlton. He has them back on track and he will do a great job,” he said.
The appointment comes less than 24 hours after the Blues capped their incredible in-season turnaround by locking in a wildcard spot with a draw against the Bulldogs.
The Blues had one win from nine matches when Fraser, 44, took over in May. The deadlock at Marvel Stadium on Sunday means Carlton have 10 wins and a draw from 13 matches with the former Collingwood and Gold Coast ruckman in the coaches’ box.
Fraser was asked after Sunday’s dramatic draw how long he had wanted to put his hand up for the position.
“It’s been crystallising in my mind that I wanted to go through the process, and the club approached me to see if I would be part of that,” he said.
“That timeline got pushed out a little bit, and then things happened pretty quickly around committing to going through the process and then presenting.
“But for me, it wasn’t like I was putting a presentation together in two days. This is a work in progress for anyone who wants to be a senior coach.”
Fraser was asked if the players were down on confidence when he took the reins.
“I think when you’re not getting results, you need to scratch the surface around why,” he replied.
“But the culture internally, I’ve felt, has been quite strong. Sometimes, when you’re not getting results, it’s hard to know a different way.
“But again, they had an identity that was attached to contests and stoppage, which held us in good stead, and we just wanted to build that out. And we’ve done that to a point.
“But again, I can’t stress [enough], there’s so much work in front of this group, and that’s not to diminish the work that’s been done. That’s just the understanding that the competition moves quickly.
“I think it’s pretty close, but we’ve still got to find the best version of ourselves that’s a consistent product on-field, and we’re working towards that.”
Fraser had initially insisted that he did not want the job full-time. But that stance changed recently.
He overcame a field that included Jaymie Graham, Corey Enright, James Kelly and Daniel Giansiracusa.
Fraser confirmed last week he had accepted an approach to be included in the process.
“A fortnight ago, the club came to me and asked me to be a part of this coaching process,” Fraser said.
“Then this week, I was in a position to go back to the club and accept that offer to go through the process.”
In May, the former Collingwood ruckman and long-time development coach said he was unsure if he would apply for the role.
“I’m ambitious, and I want to be a senior coach at some point. As we stand here right now, I probably don’t think I’m quite ready,” Fraser said after first taking over.
“But what this opportunity does give me is a chance to jump in the driver’s seat, learn a lot about myself, and hopefully at the end of it be better placed. I’m focused on how we collectively move this club forward.
“This is not my job. I’m an interim coach, but I’ve got a job to do, and that is help the club.”
The Blues will face Fremantle on Saturday in the final home-and-away game of the season before their wildcard clash the following weekend.
Fraser will become the fourth senior coach at Carlton since AFL coaching games record holder Mick Malthouse finished in 2015. Brendon Bolton, David Teague and Voss have followed Malthouse.
Michael Gleeson is an award-winning senior sports writer specialising in AFL and athletics.Connect via X or email.
Jake Niall is a Walkley award-winning sports journalist and chief AFL writer for The Age.Connect via X or email.
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
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