BREAKING: Blues caretaker ends speculation in coaching call reveal

Carlton caretaker coach Josh Fraser has confirmed he’s officially entered the process take on the full-time job.

Reports this week stated Fraser had told the Blues of his desire to present for the head coaching gig amid the club’s stunning 10-2 charge into finals under his lead since replacing Michael Voss in May.

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Speaking publicly for the first time since that news broke, Fraser confirmed he’d put his hand up for the role on a permanent basis after presenting to the Blues coaching panel this week.

“Nice to have an update for you guys, which is a bit different to the questions I’ve been answering,” Fraser told media on Friday.

“A fortnight ago the club came to me and asked me to be a part of this coaching process. This week I was in a position to go back to the club and accept that offer to go through the process.

“I presented to the coaching panel this week and now I can focus my attention on this weekend’s game (against the Western Bulldogs).”

Asked if he wants the job, Fraser said: “I’ve been through the process and I’ve said all along if I committed to that process, I was all in.

“Now it’s in the hands of the selection panel and we’ll see what comes of that.

“There’s a reality that there’s 18, 19 jobs to be a senior coach. Given the experiences I’ve had, the work I’ve been able to do to continually develop and grow myself, I felt like it was the right time.

“I’m as excited about this group as a lot of our Carlton supporters would be.”

Fraser is now the hot favourite to continue as full-time coach at Ikon Park from 2027 onwards, with Fremantle’s Jaymie Graham, St Kilda’s Corey Enright, Geelong’s James Kelly and Hawthorn’s Daniel Giansiracusa the other finalists for the role.

Fraser had been consistently non-committal about entering the race, despite his side’s stunning transformation, including upset wins over the Bulldogs, Geelong and GWS and a 76-point domination of reigning premier Brisbane.

Blues fans certainly showed their support for the interim coach with ‘We want Fraser’ chants after last Sunday night’s win over St Kilda put Carlton in the box seat to finish 10th and claim the final wildcard spot.

He was given extra time and space to make a call after his father’s recent passing.

That came after Blues footy boss Chris Davies confirmed earlier this month the club had invited Fraser to be part of the coaching process.

Picking another candidate would now be some sort of bold move, with Fraser revealing his interest in the role had grown in recent weeks as he gained valuable experience in the hot seat.

“I think it’s been building. I have said previously I have been ambitious to be a senior coach,” he said.

“Fortunate to have been able to sit in the chair for the past 12 or 13 weeks and consolidate some of my thinking, get some opportunity and exposure to the role that otherwise you wouldn’t normally get.

“And then obviously lining that up with everything else that comes with the job.

“It wasn’t a specific time but it’s been something crystalising in my mind and thoughts. Really confident I’m ready to assume a responsibility of being a senior coach.”

But Fraser wasn’t willing to go into specifics on his presentation to the coaching panel or what comes next in the process.

“I’m in the pool, the same as the other candidates, having presented. Nothing specific in terms of timelines,” he said.

“I don’t really want to go into too many specifics, other than to say I think when you have ambitions to be a senior coach, you’re working at your presentation over a long period of time.

“Criterias can be different from job to job, but specifically around the person you are, coach you are and the way forward for any football club you present for.

“It entailed some of those things.”

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