AFL 2026: Josh Fraser press conference, coach call reveal, video, Carlton Blues defeat Brisbane Lions, latest news

Josh Fraser has revealed when he’ll make a call on whether he’ll officially go into the running to be Carlton coach.

It comes amid deafening external noise of affirmation, as the Blues surged to one of their most impressive victories of the past decade — a 76-point thumping of reigning premiers Brisbane on Saturday night.

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Carlton registered an equal-most-all-time 16 individual goalkickers at Marvel Stadium as it romped to the destructive win, which also saw its highest score — 24.10 (154) — in 14 years.

The Blues were merciless in attack, moving the footy with a freedom seldom seen in recent memory, as Fraser collected his ninth win from 11 games as interim coach.

The result moves Carlton into outright 10th spot on the ladder with three games remaining, including an all-important bout with St Kilda next weekend.

Post-game, Fraser was asked if the win put him in the ‘box seat’ to win the job on a permanent basis.

“I haven’t put my hand up for the job yet, or to go through the process,” Fraser began by telling reporters with a wry smile.

“I spoke about this at the press conference during the week that I’ll take a little bit of time.

“I’m mindful that I’ve said that previously, and that decision is getting closer, but post that press conference, my sole focus has been tonight.”

After taking a moment to “shout out” his wider coaching staff for their role in Carlton’s revival, Fraser was then asked when he’d come to a final call on his coaching intentions.

“This week I’ll come to a decision,” Fraser confirmed.

“I’m really enjoying the opportunity. My aim at the start of this was to help the club move forward, and I feel like in this process I’m learning so much about myself.

“I’m almost convinced that you’re never a finished product in terms of being ready, but I’m open-minded about how I keep getting better with this.

“But I’ll have to make a decision soon.”

Two-time North Melbourne premiership player David King called Saturday night’s win the “ultimate” job pitch from Fraser.

“It’s going to be incredibly difficult to deny Josh Fraser this opportunity now,” King said in the final quarter on Fox Footy.

“They are playing football like we haven’t seen. It’s the complete model, right now.

“There’s presentations, and then there’s presentations. This is the ultimate presentation.”

But Fraser was quick to swat away the prospect that Saturday night’s result in isolation could have an impact on his thinking.

“And I’d love to think that the win-loss column doesn’t determine anything anyway,” he said.

“I’d like to think it’s more about process and what we’re doing.

“Wins are great, but we’ve got work in front of us.”

The stand-in coach was asked to reflect on his 11-game interim stint, and whether he could have done anything more than he has.

“There are things I could have done better, of course,” said Fraser.

“Absolutely. And that’s part of this opportunity; I’m really grateful to have it.

“Because you do get a chance to sit in the chair and reflect a little bit, and I’ll be better-placed at the end of this opportunity, but we’ve still got work to do.”

Asked if Saturday night exhibited the ‘ideal Carlton’ from a ball movement and brand perspective, Fraser said: “Yeah, potentially.

“We understand that you don’t have the game on your terms for four quarters, and Brisbane challenged us in different ways tonight. The scoreboard maybe doesn’t reflect that, but they did.

“It put stress on our system at times, but the importance of being able to play our way and potentially play slightly differently when the game demands it … but each week looks different.

“Teams are trying to take things away from you; you have to adapt.

“Tonight’s result is pleasing from a scoreboard perspective and the way we played, but I sit here going, ‘We still have things to get better at’.

“We’re far from a finished product in terms of the way we want to play, but hopefully our supporters are starting to see an identity.

“Not just around the way we move the ball, but around the way we pressure and turn up at contest and how connected we are with each other and celebrating, those sorts of things.

“It’s getting there; we’ve got work to do.”