Blues Rejuvenated Under Fraser, But History Casts a Long Shadow
Carlton Football Club is experiencing a palpable shift in momentum, a vibrant resurgence under the temporary guidance of caretaker coach Josh Fraser. Since parting ways with former coach Michael Voss, the Blues have secured a perfect three wins from three outings, most recently orchestrating a stunning upset against premiership contenders Geelong. This dramatic turnaround has injected a fresh sense of optimism into a club that has endured a protracted period of underperformance.
Despite the undeniable positive impact Fraser has had, he remains resolute in his public stance: he is not interested in the senior coaching role long-term. The club has mirrored this cautious approach, carefully managing its public communication regarding Fraser and the ongoing coaching search. This measured strategy is undoubtedly influenced by recent painful experiences within the club, where a similar caretaker situation ultimately failed to deliver sustained success.
Fraser has consistently articulated that he doesn’t believe he’s ready for the demands of a full-time head coaching position at this juncture. Concurrently, the club has established a dedicated panel tasked with conducting an exhaustive search for its next permanent coach. While the club’s messaging has been expertly crafted, not all observers are convinced by Fraser’s disinterest. Western Bulldogs legend Nathan Brown, for one, suspects that the 44-year-old harbours ambitions for the top job, but is strategically downplaying his intentions to avoid generating premature public speculation.
On one hand, Fraser has undeniably revitalised the playing group. The team is exhibiting a brand of football characterised by freedom and flair, with emerging young talents seizing opportunities with both hands. Crucially, their playing style has evolved to align with the contemporary demands of the AFL, moving away from Voss’s more traditional, defence-oriented approach towards a more dynamic, modern game.
However, on the other hand, Carlton is acutely aware of the potential pitfalls of placing too much faith in a caretaker coach following a temporary surge in form. The club’s history offers a stark warning.
The Ghost of the ‘Teague Train’
In 2019, Carlton made the difficult decision to part ways with coach Brendon Bolton. Assistant coach David Teague was then elevated to the caretaker role for the remainder of the season. His tenure began with a memorable comeback victory against Brisbane, signalling a dramatic shift in philosophy. Teague transformed the team’s identity from a dour, defensive unit into an attacking force. He empowered senior players, enabling them to rediscover their best form, and the club finished the season strongly, winning six of their final eleven matches.
The narrative surrounding Teague quickly became the “Teague Train,” fuelled by his evident desire for the permanent role and the endorsement of senior players. Instead of undertaking a comprehensive external search for the best candidate, Carlton opted to appoint Teague on a permanent basis.
The expectation was that Teague would guide a talented, young list of highly drafted players from the lower rungs of the ladder to premiership contention. This ambition, however, did not materialise. Carlton proved to be a mediocre outfit in 2020 and a significant disappointment in 2021. While Teague’s offensive system had its merits, the team’s defensive frailties became a persistent issue, preventing them from competing effectively against the league’s elite. Ultimately, Teague was sacked, leaving the Blues back at square one and in need of yet another new coach, thus ushering in the Voss era.
It’s highly probable that the club will not publicly acknowledge it, but the lingering scars from the decision to appoint their previous caretaker coach will undoubtedly make them hesitant to commit to Fraser. This caution is amplified by similar cautionary tales from the same period. In the very year Carlton appointed Teague, both North Melbourne and St Kilda also turned to caretaker coaches, Rhyce Shaw and Brett Ratten respectively. Neither of these appointments yielded the desired long-term success, with both coaches moving on within similar timeframes.
This is not to suggest that Josh Fraser is destined to repeat the mistakes of Teague, Ratten, or Shaw, or that his coaching acumen will not prove enduring. The current situation presents a complex and perhaps unfair challenge for him, yet he has navigated it with commendable skill thus far.
A Strong Foundation for the Future
Carlton finds itself in an enviable position to make an astute head coaching appointment, arguably the strongest it has been in recent history. CEO Graham Wright brings a wealth of experience in this domain, notably his successful recruitment of premiership-winning coach Craig McRae to Collingwood.
Chris Davies, a seasoned administrator, and Adam Simpson, a recent premiership coach with a deep-seated passion for the game, further bolster the club’s leadership. In stark contrast to the ongoing turmoil at Essendon, where former coach James Hird has expressed interest in the vacant role, Carlton presents a picture of stability.
The pool of potential coaching candidates is robust. John Longmire, with his sustained success at Sydney, would undoubtedly be a prime target. However, a strong contingent of experienced assistant coaches are also poised to make the leap to senior coaching, including James Kelly (Geelong), Hayden Skipworth (Collingwood), Corey Enright (St Kilda), and Jaymie Graham (Fremantle), among others.
Significantly, with the exception of a few board members, there is a new leadership group at Princes Park compared to the one that sanctioned Teague’s appointment. Fraser has demonstrably succeeded in revitalising a club that, under Voss, seemed to be drifting aimlessly since the beginning of 2025. He is providing invaluable experience for the developing young players and is instrumental in the club’s assessment of its long-term playing list strategy. Most importantly, he is showcasing the significant appeal of the coaching role at Carlton to potential candidates.
Given that Fraser is only in his first year at the club, if he maintains his commitment to not pursuing the head coaching position, it’s highly probable that the Blues will seek to retain his services beyond 2026. However, the AFL landscape over the past decade has shown that appointing a caretaker coach to a permanent role has frequently been a recipe for disappointment, a lesson Carlton understands perhaps better than any other club.
