Josh Fraser’s interim coaching career is off to the perfect start – and he paid tribute to his star skipper on Saturday night.

Fraser only stepped into the caretaker role after Michael Voss quit as head coach this week off the back of a 1-8 start.

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But speaking to Fox Footy after the 12-point win over the Western Bulldogs, Fraser said he was “blown away” by the support Patrick Cripps had provided and revealed whether or not he has hopes for the role long-term.

“Really, really happy for the club … Vossy is such a loved figure and the way the group was able to galvanise and turn up tonight to perform was outstanding,” he shared.

“It was important when Tuesday unfolded … we gave people the space they really needed.

“I’m sure a lot of guys were still processing the way things unfolded.

Interim Blues coach Josh Fraser got his first win.Source: Getty Images

“I’ve been fortunate that I’ve been at Carlton previously and I’ve seen the growth in Crippa not only as a player but as a leader.

“I thought the way he led the leadership group this week and the way he turned up – even the support he gave me! I was a little bit blown away to be fair because I guess all the baggage he’s carried over a long period of time.

“He’s an outstanding individual.

“It was as simple as ‘Mate, whatever you need, we’re here for you’. That’s sometimes all you need to know – that you’ve got a group of leaders in your corner.

“We had a couple of conversations this week, we sowed the seed earlier around our pressure and what that looks like and he drove that through the group.”

Emotions were high at full time after the win.Source: News Corp AustraliaDebutant Jack Ison celebrates in the rooms.Source: Getty Images

Cripps himself was emotional speaking post-match after the club’s first win since early March and only the second of 2026.

“I’m proud of the boys! Big emotional week,” he said.

“Yeah, it’s tough … especially as a captain, leadership group, senior player, (you) have a huge amount of respect for your senior coach … not going to lie mate, I was flat. Just because I respect him so highly.

“What I’m proud of the boys is the energy we created throughout the week. We felt the emotion of it.

“Everyone felt it different ways. But then when we came in to train the next day, we got back to work.

“No team’s going to feel sorry for us, mate. They are going to come out and compete. It was our job to show up tonight.

“It was nice to finish of a game full of run.”

Carlton have first run out without Voss | 00:47

For just the third time this season, the Blues won a final quarter – but they did it in style against the Bulldogs by piling on five straight goals to effectively seal the match.

While the Dogs scrapped a few late goals to close the final margin, Fraser said he was happy with how the match turned out.

“I really enjoyed it (coaching) – it’s worth me shouting out right now all our assistant coaches. I think this is a real collective approach,” he said.

“It’s a great experience for me – I’ll learn a lot from tonight.

“They kicked a couple quickly and you never quite feel safe!”

‘They overwhelmed us’ | 10:49

On asked whether the win fuelled his desire to apply for the head coach role for 2027, Fraser was honest about his ambitions.

“If you can guarantee me it’s like this every week,” he joked.

“I think my answer is going to be pretty consistent – I’ve got ambitions to do it.

“I feel like I’m still growing as coach. I probably don’t feel like I’m quite ready.

“I’m going to try and really get as much out of this next 13 weeks as I can.”