Greats warn of big risk Carlton face if Fraser doesn’t win coaching race
Carlton have not confirmed who will be taking the reins of the club next season, but three AFL greats are hopeful interim coach Josh Fraser will win that race.
Fraser has yet to publicly declare if he will enter the race to become the club’s full-time coach, despite getting Carlton back on track since taking on an interim role.
Josh Fraser’s record as Blues interim coach is impossible to ignore. AFL Photos
Carlton have won nine of their 11 games under Fraser, who replaced Michael Voss earlier this season. At the time of Voss’ dismissal, Carlton were 1-8.
And while the Blues will be looking for the best option to become the permanent coach, Matthew Lloyd and Rory Sloane believe the right man is already at the club.
Although the star pair did not want to jump to conclusions about Fraser’s credentials to be head coach too early, Sloane noted that another coach entering the club could cause more havoc for the team.
“If they do go for another coach, that will be their third coach in the space of one season,” Sloane said on Nine’s Sunday Footy Show.
“You had Michael Voss for the first half of the year and then Josh Fraser. Adding another game style in, I’d be nervous because the players have a whole other game style they have to adjust to. That can bring elements of confusion.”
Sloane did not discount that regardless of who steps into the top job at Carlton, there will be mass pressure to ensure the club gets back on the road to success.
Lloyd believes that “the brand of football” Fraser brings is “sustainable” to do that.
“To me, they look like a top-four side right now, that’s how well they are playing,” Lloyd added.
“I have not seen anything sustained like this [from an interim] in my time watching footy.”
Carlton ruckman Marc Pittonet has experienced first hand the influence of Fraser as a leader, but he refused to weigh in on whether he should stay in the role.
“I don’t have any answer for you,” Pittonet said.
“I’ve told everyone it’s above my pay grade. I’m happy to be paid more to be in that pay grade, but until I am, I get to avoid that question.
“We are starting to get that bang for buck, but it is (all because of) the consistent messaging from Fraser and the coaches underneath him all year.”
Carlton will take on St Kilda next Sunday.
