Interim Coach Josh Fraser Steps Down from Full-Time Role
Josh Fraser, the interim coach of Carlton Football Club, has confirmed that he is not seeking the full-time position that Michael Voss previously held. Although Fraser has long harbored ambitions of coaching his own AFL team, he feels he is not yet ready for the immense pressures of the role.
At 44 years old, Fraser will make his debut as the head coach of the Blues when they face the Western Bulldogs at Marvel Stadium on Saturday night. He has previously coached Carlton’s VFL team and brings over a decade of experience within the club’s system.
“I’m ambitious, and I want to be a senior coach at some point,” Fraser said during a press conference at Ikon Park on Friday. “As we stand here right now, I probably don’t think I’m quite ready.”
“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.”
Voss’s departure was officially announced on Tuesday, just four days after he decided to step down before Carlton’s match against Brisbane at the Gabba. The news came as a shock to many, especially given his close relationship with captain Patrick Cripps.
Cripps, who has been with the club for several years, has experienced the exits of four different full-time coaches throughout his career: Mick Malthouse, Brendon Bolton, and David Teague. Now, with Voss’s departure, questions have arisen about Cripps’ future with the Blues, especially after turning 31 recently.
“I couldn’t speak highly enough of our leaders, and ‘Crippa’ is at the forefront of that,” Fraser said. “The support that he’s shown myself and everybody else in the footy department, his desire to drive and take the club forward in the next 14 weeks. The way he spoke in front of the group around Vossy’s departure and the love and respect, and acknowledging what Vossy has done for this club in his time. Our leaders have been outstanding, and they’re in a space, like all of us, where we want to encourage them to continue to grow.”
Despite their current standing at 16th on the ladder with a 1-8 record and having lost their last seven matches, Fraser remains optimistic about the club’s prospects for the remainder of the season. The Blues have been competitive in most games this year, though they have struggled to maintain momentum in the second half.
Carlton showed signs of improvement in their recent match against the Lions, where they started poorly but managed to mount a strong second-half comeback, only to lose by 11 points.
“There’s still so much to be gained,” Fraser said. “We’ve got time on our side, and the messaging has been around how we do get better collectively and individually. I’ve seen a really galvanised playing group and galvanised club.”
In terms of changes for the upcoming match, Carlton has made one adjustment, selecting Indigenous debutant Jack Ison to face the 5-4 Bulldogs.
“Jack is worth celebrating his debut,” Fraser said. “Sir Doug Nicholls Round is also pretty significant for him, and we’re really excited to see what he can do.”
