5-0: Unbeaten start won’t change Carlton stance on Fraser

Carlton’s GM of footy Chris Davies says Josh Fraser remains out of the race for the senior coaching gig on a full-time basis.

The interim coach has enjoyed a remarkable start to life in the Ikon Park hot seat, leading the Blues to a 5-0 record since stepping into the Michael Voss vacancy.

Davies says the club has put together a “long-ish list” of candidates that he and CEO Graham Wright will start to make contact with over the next few weeks, but it doesn’t necessarily include Fraser.

“I don’t think that’s appropriate for me to go into who is on the list,” Davies told Kane Cornes and David King on SEN’s Fireball.

“I’m sure we’ll start to hear who we’re talking to over the next period of time.

“We’ll conduct this in the right manner, in a respectful manner given the season is going and the competition is still well and truly alive.”

Fraser has previously said he won’t go after the job, but will the Blues attempt to talk him around after a faultless start under his regime?

“No, we won’t,” Davies said.

“I don’t think it’s appropriate for this footy club to have to talk anyone into doing the job. We’re a big club in this competition.

“As I’ve heard you (Cornes) say a number of times, the person who gets this place going will be looked at by our supporters in a different way then maybe the guys in the past.

“From that standpoint we want people who want the job. Take Josh on face value right now that he doesn’t think he is the guy.

“But what I can say is he is doing a very good job.”

So, can Carlton officially rule Fraser out?

“For the moment, absolutely,” Davies added.

“I absolutely take him on face value that right now he’s committed to making sure that this club ends the season in a better way than it probably started.

“As I say, he’s doing a great job with that at the moment.”

Let’s say Fraser continued to reel off the wins and did indeed show interest in the gig and put his hand up, would it then be too late?

“I don’t think that’s necessarily the case,” he said further.

“I have the benefit of being able to see Josh in action every day that I come into the club.

“I don’t think it’s going to be purely win and loss. That hasn’t been the way that we wanted to approach his time as the interim senior coach.

“I asked him to do the job in order for the season to not be wasted as many people were saying at the time when the decision around Michael’s future was made.

“Clearly, winning the last five games, if you asked me five weeks ago - Would we be in this position? I would have thought you were a bit silly if you thought we’d end here.

“Right now he’s doing a great job and I’m sure he’ll be a senior coach in the future.”

Davies is well aware that the appointment of Carlton’s next coach is a massive decision for the club given the shortcomings of the past.

“This is a decision that will be the most important decision for this footy club in the next five or six years,” Davies said.

“We’ve got to get it right and we’ve got to do it without feeling like we’re carrying pressure or burden from decisions that have been made in the past.”

The Blues beat GWS by 23 points on the road on Saturday and currently sit 14th with a 6-8 record, just one game out of the top 10.

Fraser and his team have a great chance to go six in a row then they host West Coast at Marvel Stadium this Saturday.

Listen to the full chat with Davies below: