Sacked Northern Blues coach Josh Fraser speaks after the death of his footy club
Josh Fraser has spoken for the first time at being sacked as Northern Blues coach, the death of the club and his serious fears for assistant coaches throughout the game.
AFL News
Don't miss out on the headlines from AFL News. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Sacked Northern Blues coach Josh Fraser says he is shattered at the death of his football club and worried for the dozens of assistant coaches likely to be put out of work.
Fraser was told on Tuesday afternoon that he would be terminated by Carlton as it cut ties with the Northern Bullants in a desperate attempts to cut costs.
He told the Herald Sun that while he would soon need to find work, he at least had more certainty than the nearly-200 AFL assistants stood down without pay.
Former No. 1 draft pick Fraser believes he is luckier than many given a career in football but will need to find a way to support his wife and young children.
Northern Blues president Stephen Papal on Friday paid tribute to Fraser, telling the Herald Sun he had kept the history and spirit of the old Northern Bullants aflame in his four seasons.
Relive classic AFL matches from the 60s to today on KAYO SPORTS. New to Kayo? Get your 14-day free trial & start streaming instantly >
Fraser said football departments would never look the same again given the seismic changes ahead.
“It is a sh** time but there is always someone doing it tougher,” he said.
“It’s a big thing to have something you love taken away from you and for me that was the connection and affiliation with the Northern Blues. But unfortunately that’s the landscape at the moment. Everyone is doing it tough and many tougher than me so hopefully we can all get through it together.
“I got told Tuesday afternoon and Cain Liddle and Brad (Lloyd) gave me the news about the Northern Blues and their program and it didn’t take me long to work out my position was in jeopardy.
“I understand their decision given the unforeseen circumstances and I get it but I guess for me at least there is some clarity on where I stand. So many coaches have been stood down and as much as I hope there is a job for them to go back to, there is a level of uncertainty about that.
“It’s a really challenging environment, not just in footy but in all walks of life.”
Fraser played 218 games - 200 at the Pies and then 18 at Gold Coast - and says every person in football will have some personal toll from the novel coronavirus.
MORE AFL
AFL, players moving closer to agreement on pay deal for 2020
Ben Cousins interview: Fallen Brownlow medallist finds joy in son’s footy dreams
AFL coaches out of work have been told to apply for Centrelink payments or manual labour jobs
He would normally walk into a new football club given his burgeoning reputation but the cold hard reality is that the cuts might be so savage that coaching roles could be slashed in half.
“It was just completely unforeseen. I don’t think football departments and the AFL landscape will look the same for a long time. Hopefully there is something for coaches to go back to in the short term when the dust settles.
“I have got a young family and a mortgage and bills and the farm back in Mansfield needs a financial commitment as well. I can’t and won’t sit on my hands for too long and will be actively trying to find work. That’s just what it is, but I am in the same position as so many others.”
Originally published as Sacked Northern Blues coach Josh Fraser speaks after the death of his footy club