In a move that ends weeks of swirling speculation, AFL side Carlton has formally confirmed that interim coach Josh Fraser will step into the full-time senior coaching role for 2027 and beyond, capping off a dramatic underdog run that has propelled the club to an unexpected wildcard spot in the finals series.
Fraser’s rise to the top job comes after a nearly perfect stint as the club’s temporary leader, a performance that turned Carlton’s grim season around entirely. When the Blues parted ways with former senior coach Michael Voss in round 9, the club sat at just one win from nine opening matches, with little hope of securing a place in the finals. Poached from Collingwood earlier in 2026, where he served as head of player development, the former ruckman stepped into the interim role and immediately delivered results.
Over his first 13 matches at the helm, Fraser claimed an impressive 10 victories. That turnaround peaked on Sunday, when a hard-fought draw against the Western Bulldogs at Marvel Stadium locked in Carlton’s place for wildcard weekend, a result few pundits predicted at the midpoint of the season. It also cemented Fraser’s status as the overwhelming favorite for the permanent role, beating out a field of high-profile candidates that included Corey Enright of St Kilda, Jaymie Graham from Fremantle, and Geelong’s James Kelly.
The Carlton board held deliberations on Monday to finalize the appointment, following Sunday’s season-defining draw. Sources close to the club confirm Fraser is set to put pen to paper on a multi-year contract, with an official public announcement scheduled to drop later this week. Now, the club turns its attention to the final round of the home-and-away season, where Carlton will host Fremantle at Marvel Stadium this weekend to wrap up their regular season campaign before the wildcard match.