IT WAS in October 2015 when Josh Fraser arrived at IKON Park as coach of the then Northern Blues. A decade later to the month, he was back on Royal Parade as the Club’s newest assistant coach.

With over 200 games as a player and four teams (Gold Coast NEAFL, Northern Blues, Northern Bullants, Collingwood VFL) coached, there’s no shortage of life and coaching experiences that Fraser brings back to Carlton.

After discussions with AFL Senior Coach Michael Voss and CEO Graham Wright, it was in Navy Blue which Fraser saw as “the spot to be”, returning to the Club with very different looking facilities and in a different phase to the Club which he stepped into 10 years ago.

The early days of the pandemic brought Fraser’s first stint at Carlton to an end, but approaching the 2026 campaign, he detailed what it was about the Club which made it the perfect fit for both Carlton and himself.

“It was timing and opportunity. I’m excited to be back,” Fraser told Carlton Media.

“I think I’m more well rounded, clearly through different experiences, and the Northern Bullants experience… that opportunity was incredible. The learnings and relationships from that period of time was really important to me.

“That led me to a role at Collingwood as Head of Development. I arrived there at the start of 2022: a prelim in our first year, premiership in our second year, missing finals in ’24 but then playing in a prelim in ’25. I saw the power of what an environment can do for a playing group - that was really important, seeing the standards that are required that lead to success and helping be a part of driving that.”

In 2002 and 2003, back in their playing days, Fraser and Voss were on opposite sides on AFL Grand Final day - but for the Blues’ new forwards coached, he couldn’t be more aligned with the direction that Voss laid out.

Then there was the relationship he has with CEO Wright from their time at Collingwood, who Fraser made no secret of his utmost respect for.

“’Wrighty’ was a part of the reason in wanting to make the move. I love the way he goes about things: that was an important conversation to get an idea of what the environment here was like, and where the Club is heading.

“To sit down with ‘Vossy’ and listen to the way he wants to structure things up and the opportunity that would present for someone like myself coming in, it was exciting to hear where the Club’s heading and it was something I wanted to be part of.

“I’ve got some fond memories here: when I was here with Brendon Bolton, the Club was going through quite a big reset in terms of its playing list and some really hard yards were done in that time, but really fond memories of the people and place in general.

“I can’t reiterate enough how excited I am to be here and what the future holds.”

Then, of course, there’s the prospect of a new-look forward line.

In trade period alone, the Blues farewelled Charlie Curnow but welcomed the crafty Ben Ainsworth and Will Hayward. Carlton’s list management team made no secret of targeting forward-half players, and it’s a mix which Fraser is excited to get to work with.

“It presents the opportunity, it’s exciting to see something different. The best forward lines aren’t reliant on one or two people - there’s an even spread across the board, and hopefully that’s going to be the case here.

“Players getting the opportunity to play to their strengths is really important, but then also players handing themselves over to the team and what the team requires. The selflessness of successful teams, the complete buy-in and unconditional buy-in of successful teams, but also importantly making sure you give players an opportunity to showcase their strengths.

“I’m not typically someone that needs a lot of time of, so I’m keen and eager to jump back into it, starting here at the Blues and a new chapter.”