Try before you buy: Why Fraser’s no-strings audition suits him and the Blues

July 17, 2026 — 5:00pm

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At 44, Josh Fraser is the same age as the great Ron Barassi in his final season coaching North Melbourne, by which stage Barassi had been a senior coach at Carlton and North for 15 seasons, winning four premierships from eight grand finals.

At Fraser’s vintage, Mick Malthouse had coached two clubs for 14 seasons. Chris Scott, who did a short, sharp apprenticeship at Fremantle, was in his 10th season at Geelong when he reached Fraser’s 44 years.

Fraser isn’t a young coach, per se. This Carlton team he’s handling is the fourth side that he’s coached, including separate stints coaching Carlton’s VFL affiliates, the Northern Blues/Bullants and the Blues twos, plus Collingwood’s VFL side (2023-24).

Fraser’s decision to eschew pursuit of the Carlton senior coaching job he occupies as caretaker has been astute, if not inspired.

It has worked for Carlton, allowing chief executive Graham Wright and football boss Chris Davies to begin the search for their next coach without the complication of an internal candidate who is desperate for the job.

The Carlton coaching position is genuinely open. Had Fraser signalled he was keen, as James Hird did on the day it emerged that Brad Scott had been removed, it had the potential to deter other quality........

© WA Today