BEFORE Josh Fraser was confirmed as Carlton's coach, he had endured just about everything in his footy life.
From being a No.1 draft pick to narrowly missing premierships, playing for an expansion club, coaching in the VFL, being sacked during COVID-19 and most recently killing it as an interim coach, Fraser has seen a lot.
Here's a quick timeline on his life in the AFL.
1999 – Drafted
Collingwood signalled its intention well in advance of the 1999 AFL Draft, so when the night rolled around, it was little surprise Fraser would go to the Magpies as the first overall selection. Standing 202cm, the teenager from Mansfield had showed off his athleticism as a ruck, and excellent set shot as a key forward during his junior years. He would begin an 11-season career with the Pies.
2002-2003 – Grand Finals
Fraser would get as close as you could come to winning premierships in back-to-back years, falling short to the mighty Brisbane outfit both times. Although early in his career, Fraser would perform outstandingly on the big stage, kicking three goals from 13 disposals in the wet and cold in 2002 (following three goals in the preliminary final) and kicking one goal from 23 touches when his team was blown out the following year.
2011 – Northern Exposure
Following 200 games with the Magpies, Fraser became an inaugural Gold Coast Sun when he was one of eight uncontracted players signed by the expansion club. Primarily recruited to assist and develop the club's emerging young talls, Fraser would play 18 games across two seasons before calling an end to his career on August 20, 2012.
2014-2015 – Coaching career begins
Fraser took the first 12 months following his playing career to complete the requisite coaching courses before winning the job as Gold Coast's NEAFL leader ahead of the 2014 season. Although it would be a nightmare campaign, going winless, Fraser was on the path. He would again coach in 2015 with a dramatic improvement from the Suns seeing them win eight from 18 games to miss out on the finals by percentage only.
2016 – First time round at Carlton
Brendon Bolton appointed Fraser as a development coach in 2016. He would coach the Blues' VFL affiliate, Northern Blues, for the following four seasons. With the club going through a tough stretch and very much rebuilding, Fraser led a team that always won either six or seven of its 18 games a season and finished either 10th or 12th in a 15-team competition.
2020 – COVID-19 and the Bullants
With the football world forced into significant cutbacks during the COVID-19 pandemic, Fraser was made redundant during 2020. The following year the VFL club re-established itself under its previous identity, the Northern Bullants, where he would again coach in 2021 and 2022.
2023 – Back to the Magpies
Thirteen years after leaving Collingwood, Fraser was back, this time as head of development and the club's VFL coach. He would lead the Magpies reserves to an elimination final in 2023 before missing the finals in 2024 and focusing on the development role in 2025.
2026 – Back to the Blues
It's hard to believe it's been less than 12 months since Fraser returned for a second stint at Carlton, but here we are. The 44-year-old started the season as a forwards coach in Michael Voss' team before taking over the lead role in round 10 and going on his crazy run of success.