North Adelaide Greg Edwards backs Josh Carr to prove coaching talents at Fremantle
Josh Carr proved his coaching nous when he took North Adelaide from bottom to top for a drought-breaking premiership. And those at the Roosters believe he is destined for bigger things in his return to the AFL as they begin the hunt for his replacement.
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North Adelaide chief executive Greg Edwards believes Josh Carr has the potential to be a head coach in the AFL system.
Edwards claimed Carr had established himself as a very good coach and he was not surprised Fremantle had hired the former Port Adelaide and Dockers champion as an assistant.
The Roosters have started the search for a replacement for Carr, who took the club from bottom in 2017 to the premiership the following season in his third year at Prospect Oval and was contracted for 2020.
Another former Power player Jacob Surjan, Carr’s assistant and the Roosters reserves coach, is favoured to take on the role, but Edwards said the club needed to do its due diligence and Surjan and the supporters would expect that.
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Edwards said Carr deserved the role with the Dockers and the club “loved” the fact he was given the opportunity.
“Josh is a fantastic bloke and we know he will be really good at it,” Edwards said. “I’m not surprised Fero or someone else did not want him.
“He is very good with people. The players love him, but they know he is coach and he can be very strong when he wants to be.
“He picks those opportunities really well, as well as I have seen. He always makes sure the players enjoy themselves and enjoy the ride, he has a really good balance.
“He came from Port and took on the whole club, did a good job in setting standards and was important in getting Surj here and Craig Brooks in as junior development coach.”
Edwards, father of dual Richmond premiership player Shane, said AFL coaches needed a mix of player relations, game strategy and standard setting and Carr did those extremely well.
“I can’t remember the last time Josh yelled at the team,” Edwards said. “He does not need to yell to get his point across.
“Josh has a really nice manner and everyone gets it, those sort of coaches are really valued now.”
With pre-season training to start in just five weeks, the Roosters will use the next two weeks to “throw the net out, see what candidates may be there”.
While Surjan is contracted to the club for next season, Edwards said the club would advertise the coaching role and do its due diligence even at this late stage.
“Surj is a good coach in his own right,” Edwards said. “It has nothing to do with his ability to do the job, but more to do with going through the process as everyone does.
“If Surj is the best candidate he will get the job.”
Carr told AFL Trade Radio he spoke with Dockers general manager of football Peter Bell last month about where he was at with his coaching and his future.
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Another meeting with Bell and new Dockers coach Justin Longmuir followed. Carr and Longmuir played together in the West Australian under 18 side and at the Dockers.
“After coaching at Port I had to go to a club where I was in charge and needed to deal with everything from the board to supporters,” Carr said.
“I thought I achieved what I had to achieve and eight weeks ago I sat down with my wife and talked about the next step and that was getting back into the AFL system.
“I have a similar vision to Justin and I know how the club operates, the supporters’ passion and understand Fremantle as well.”
Carr’s role at the Dockers had yet to be finalised and the coaching group will meet in 10 days.