Carlton set to play first game under Josh Fraser
Carlton has parted ways with coach Michael Voss, with former Collingwood ruckman Josh Fraser set to lead the club into battle against the Western Bulldogs on Saturday night.
Fraser, the 1999 no.1 draft pick, was an assistant under Voss at Ikon Park and has stepped into the hot seat on an interim position until the end of the season.
Carlton CEO Graham Wright said the club ultimately wanted to “consistently content and win premierships”, but said there was daylight between success and their current predicament.
“What you are seeing right now is a football club in genuine transition, and we are not going to shy away from that reality,” he said.
“Since last year, virtually every senior leadership position has changed – President, Chief Executive, General Manager of Football, six new coaches, a playing list undergoing significant regeneration, and now the Senior Coach.
“No Carlton person is content with where we are at right now and we must demand better of ourselves. We will not be taking shortcuts, and we will be moving with real intent and purpose – attacking the draft again this year, marking three consecutive years of accessing elite young talent before Tasmania enters the competition, allowing us to continue building the next wave of talent through our AFL playing group.
“Rest assured we intend to maximise the remainder of the season to explore the possibilities within our playing list, and the desire to improve our on-field performance will absolutely remain.
“Our football department, led by Chris, remains intent on progressing forward and with Josh Fraser taking the reins in the interim, along with our other experienced coaches, we look forward to seeing what this group can now produce with the clarity today’s announcement has now provided.”
Fraser, who began his coaching career as Gold Coast Suns twos mentor, has had multiple stints at Collingwood as a development coach, including leading the Magpies VFL team with some success and knows the inner workings of the Blues, having worked as their forwards coach under Voss.
Undoubtedly on-field success will lead to a push for Fraser to be given the full-time gig, with Ash Hansen another highly regarded assistant at the club. Eagles premiership coach Adam Simpson, John Longmire, Nathan Buckley, James Kelly and Ken Hinkley are other names linked to the job.
Voss’s removal adds an extra element to the Blues clash against the Western Bulldogs, with their odds of 2.57 with betting sites sure to temp some punters, given the form spike that usually comes with a mid-season sacking.
The Blues are unlikely to make wholesale changes for the Bulldogs clash, after producing their best half of football in some time against the Lions. Yet just days later Voss has been sent packing.
AFL betting sites are yet to launch a market for who will succeed Voss as Blues coach, with these types of markets having been available in the past.
