Josh Fraser has today been announced as AFL Senior Coach of the Carlton Football Club.
With a passion for development, an authentic leadership style and an innovative approach to the modern game, Fraser has built a comprehensive coaching resume.
The 44-year-old first entered the elite level 26 years ago as the No.1 overall pick in the 1999 AFL National Draft, going on to play 218 games for Collingwood and Gold Coast.
It was not long after calling time on his 13-year playing career that Fraser set his sights on being a career-coach, completing both the Next Coach Program and Level Two Coaching Course within 12 months of his retirement.
From there, he would compile an extensive coaching apprenticeship, holding development and assistant coaching roles at Gold Coast, Collingwood and Carlton, with this season seeing Fraser return to the Blues as assistant coach (forwards).
In addition to those positions, Fraser also coached his own sides at all three clubs across a number of seasons at NEAFL and VFL level, as well as a two-year stint as head coach of the Northern Bullants.
This experience culminated in an impressive period as Carlton interim coach, with Fraser stepping into the role in Round 10 of this season as the Blues have gone on to compile a 10-1-2 record in that time.
“Josh has received a great deal of praise over the past three months, and deservedly so, but it was important for our football club, and for Josh himself, that he participated in the coaching selection process in its entirety,” Carlton President Rob Priestley said.
“Through this detailed process Josh emerged as the standout candidate, even if you removed the sustained on-field transformation he has produced since taking the reins as interim coach.
“Over the last 14 years Josh has developed and demonstrated a proven football IQ and an innovative mindset. In addition to his coaching credentials, the qualities that made Josh a compelling candidate are the same qualities that will continue to shape our football club moving forward –– he is calm, humble, innovative and has an incredible club-first approach.
“We had a mandate when we commenced this process to appoint the best possible AFL Senior Coach for the Carlton Football Club and we have done that today with Josh.”
With his trademark humility, stemming from his upbringing on a cattle farm in Mansfield, Fraser expressed his gratitude and a club-first mentality as he officially steps into the role as AFL Senior Coach.
“I have always had ambitions to be a Senior Coach and what the last three months have done is give me the absolute belief that I am ready, and most importantly ready for this exact opportunity, to be Senior Coach of the Carlton Football Club,” Fraser said.
“When I was told by Rob, Graham and Chris that I had been appointed as Senior Coach, that sense of appreciation and responsibility I felt in that moment will never be lost on me.
“I firmly believe I am a product of amazing people around me. The collective commitment to each other and to get better every day in order to improve our football club is a privilege to be part of, and rest assured we want to continue to raise the standards in that regard.
“I also want to take this opportunity to thank our members, supporters, players, staff and the entire Carlton Football Club community for the incredible support they have shown me. The one-club mentality is a responsibility for all of us to carry and I have seen first-hand just how special that is.
“Continuing that connection is going to make what we are building sustainable. We know that as a club we still have a lot of work to do, but we are going to bring our people with us every step of the way. I can’t wait to see us embrace the work that will give us the best chance of achieving the ultimate success.”
Carlton CEO Graham Wright - who alongside President Rob Priestley, General Manager of Football Chris Davies and premiership coach Adam Simpson played a leading hand throughout the process - expressed his confidence in Fraser and the Club’s direction moving forward.
“Even if you removed the last 14 weeks, on his presentation alone Josh would have been the successful candidate,” Wright said.
“Having run all candidates through a thorough and detailed process, for Josh to have emerged as the standout candidate speaks volumes of not only his credentials as a coach, but also the qualities he brings as a leader.
“He is a respectful whole-of-club leader who fosters a professional and united environment, with everyone contributing to our collective pursuit of excellence.
“I would also like to thank the other candidates, all highly credentialed in their own right, who dedicated their time to be part of the process. We appreciate their desire to pursue the opportunity at our club and wish them all the very best for their future ambitions.
“As well as appointing a fantastic coach in Josh to help lead our football club, what this process has done is affirm our belief in the direction of our football club.
“There is still a lot of work to do, we know that, but the alignment and connection that is felt across every level of our football club gives us the strongest possible platform to continue our momentum, not just for this season but in the years to come.
“We appreciate every single member of our Carlton family who have continued to support the Club throughout this year. That connection across our entire football club remains as important as ever as we set about the work ahead.”
JOSH FRASER
2026 Carlton Interim Senior Coach
2026 Carlton assistant coach (forward line)
2023 – 2025 Collingwood Head of Development, VFL Senior Coach and assistant coach (forward line)
2021 – 2022 Northern Bullants VFL Senior Coach
2016 – 2020 Carlton development coach & Northern Blues Senior Coach
2014 – 2015 Gold Coast development coach and NEAFL Reserves coach
2013 Mansfield Playing Assistant Coach
*Completed Level 4 Coaching Program, Level 2 Coaching Program and Next Coach Program
