Josh Fraser wins race to become Carlton’s full-time senior coach

Carlton has locked in Josh Fraser to be its senior coach for at least the next three years.

It’s understood Fraser has won the role, with the club expected to formally confirm the news as early as Tuesday.

Fraser overcame a field which included Jaymie Graham, Corey Enright, James Kelly and Daniel Giansiracusa.

He has coached 10 wins, one draw and two losses en route to an unlikely wildcard berth.

The appointment comes ittle more than three months after categorically ruling himself out as a potential candidate to become Michael Voss’s successor.

When he took over in May, Carlton were level with Richmond and Essendon on one win from their first nine games and sat 16th on the ladder.

Since then, the Blues have rocketed up the ladder and secured an unthinkable berth in a wildcard final with still one round left of the home and away season.

Only Hawthorn and Collingwood have beaten Fraser’s Blues since May, while a draw with the Western Bulldogs on Sunday was enough to ensure they would feature in September.

The former Collingwood and Gold Coast ruck’s coaching run has included the scalps of Brisbane to the tune of 76 points, St Kilda by 44, Geelong in a thriller, and the Bulldogs in his first game in charge.

Carlton can finish as high as ninth if they pull off one last home and away season upset over Fremantle, depending on the Bulldogs’ result against Melbourne.