‘Clearly the standout’: Carlton reveals why Fraser got the job
Updated . First published
Carlton has announced current caretaker coach Josh Fraser as full-time senior coach for 2027 and beyond, revealing in a statement the boxes he ticked that ensured he got the job.
The Blues’ board met on Monday following their qualification for the Wildcard Round to tick off the final elements of the decision, before making the news public on Tuesday morning.
Josh Fraser is the new Carlton coach. Getty Images
He has signed a contract tying him to the club for three years.
Under Fraser, the Blues have won 10 of 13 games, plus a draw with the Western Bulldogs on Sunday that locked them into the top 10.
Before that, they were 1-8 and sitting 16th on the ladder. Coach Michael Voss quit following a loss to Brisbane.
Carlton put together a panel to appoint their next coach, which included West Coast premiership coach Adam Simpson.
Fremantle’s Jaymie Graham, Geelong’s James Kelly, St Kilda’s Corey Enright and Hawthorn’s Daniel Giansiracusa were reportedly the other four shortlisted candidates for the job.
However, even taking Fraser’s overwhelming performance as interim coach out of the equation, club CEO Graham Wright said he was still the top candidate for the job regardless.
“Across all the key criteria that we felt we needed for Carlton, he was clearly the standout for us,” Wright said on Tuesday.
“His football IQ, tactical development and a real Carlton fit, he was the coach we needed and wanted to appoint.
“Even if you take the last 13 weeks out of the equation, Josh was still ahead on the process so we were really comfortable with that.”
The former star ruckman joined Carlton at the start of 2026, after working as Collingwood’s head of development. He served as the Blues’ VFL coach before that.
“I have always had ambitions to be a senior coach and what the last three months have done is give me the absolute belief that I am ready, and most importantly ready for this exact opportunity, to be senior coach of Carlton,” Fraser said on Tuesday.
“When I was told that I had been appointed as senior coach, that sense of appreciation and responsibility I felt in that moment will never be lost on me.
“I firmly believe I am a product of amazing people around me. The collective commitment to each other and to get better every day in order to improve our football club is a privilege to be part of, and rest assured we want to continue to raise the standards in that regard.”
This marks the third time Carlton has hired a caretaker after sacking a coach. Brett Ratten got the job in 2007 after Denis Pagan was fired and David Teague similarly after Brendon Bolton was removed in 2019.
Carlton takes on Fremantle on Saturday afternoon, but are already locked into finishing 9th or 10th.
