"WE'RE CHARGED with the responsibility of making sure this club is in a better position at the end of the season than what it is now."

Carlton Interim Coach Josh Fraser spoke to media on Thursday ahead of the Blues' clash with GWS this Saturday.

On resetting and reflecting over the bye:

"The break was good - it always feels timely. The players got away for four or five days, the coaches did the same. It was nice to bounce back into the Club on Saturday and prepare for the Giants.

"It’s not so much reflecting on myself, it’s more reflecting on some of our performances and what we’re doing and where we’re going and how we can keep growing that."

On the Blues' approach to the next 10 weeks:

"This might not surprise you, but I haven’t looked at the ladder in that sense. We’ve been pretty consistent around building this for the future, making sure that we’re building something sustainable.

"I’m really comfortable that our approach is very much today’s training session and GWS coming up. I’m confident that if we continue to have that thought process and application, then the results will take care of themselves to a large degree.

"I don’t think we’re in a position to think too far ahead: one of the beauties around what we’ve done in the last month is stay really present to growing our game, doubling down on the things that are working for us, finding ways to do things better. We’re charged with the responsibility of making sure this club is in a better position at the end of the season than what it is now."

On conversations from the playing group:

"I’ve been consistent with that message, that that’s our process moving forward whilst I’m in the interim role. We catch up weekly as a group, and the players’ messaging over the past month has been very consistent with staying very much in the moment.

"There’s not a lot to be gained in six, seven, eight weeks time. Where we’ve been as a club and as a playing group, we’re very much focused on individually getting better and collectively getting better. I want our players to embrace that, as opposed to outcomes."

On GWS' weapons:

"Their ability to get speed on the ball through handball. They’ve got elite runners off half-back, they’ve got a midfield who can get hold of you quickly and they’ve got dangerous options up forward. All across the ground is going to be a challenge. Having watched them live against the Saints, although they didn’t get the points, they still highlight the quality they’ve got across the ground. 

"Most clubs most weeks, you have to plan for aggressive defenders who overlap handball and create. That’s where the game’s gone already. We need to have plan A, B and C for that, and we’ll work through that this afternoon after training. We’ve got a heightened awareness of what they can do"

On Jacob Weitering's return to fitness: 

"He’s progressing well. We expect him to train fully today, train next week and be available. We want to take a really considered approach with these players to make sure we’re setting them up to return in the best form they can.

"I wouldn’t call it caution, we’re just doing the best thing by the player and the team. Sometimes those circumstances allow a player like Wade Derksen to come in, get exposure and continue to grow his game."

On recent ruck rule interpretations:

"I’m not sure how often it gets paid, the ones that do get paid cause a sense of frustration because it seems insignificant and becomes a free kick. We’ve got to continue to develop our ruck craft and how we combat that until we’re told otherwise around a rule change or adjustment.

"By and large, rucks have handled it reasonably well. ‘Pitto’ is probably good for one a game at the moment! Given it’s such a shift to the way rucks have rucked in the past, it might take a little bit longer to adapt.

"Centre bounces were never my strength, I’m not sure what rule would’ve helped me…"