Carlton's caretaker coach Josh Fraser revealed the club he has stewarded back into finals contention has, as yet, opted against inviting him to take part in the application process for the full-time role.
In recent days, nine names, ranging from experienced lieutenants to currently inactive premiership coaches were revealed as potential candidates for the role, and Josh Fraser's is not one of them.
Sensationally, that has had no bearing on his desire to remain with the club in some capacity, next season.
Fraser was, not for the first time, blunt, when asked if he has been approached by decision makers at IKON Park, offering him a place in the process.
"No," he said.
The natural follow-up question was always going to be whether or not Fraser sees himself remaining at the club should somebody else be appointed, given, most commonly, interim coaches to not be promoted depart their respective clubs.
"Yeah I do. I see myself being involved in a way forward for the footy club.”
The 44-year-old appears eyes wide open about what the nature of interim coaching entails, with particular reference to the noise surrounding the search happening concurrently to his tenure.
"This is part of it. My role right now and my responsibility is to the players and the football club, as an interim coach," he said.
"I respect the process that's going (on) off to the side - I haven't taken any real notice of it to be honest. I think as soon as I start to do that it takes away from the energy and the focus I need on our playing group.”
Fraser has consistently held his nerve in the glowing hubbub of victories, referring to the experience as one from which he plans to learn. He was asked to delve into the specifics of those learnings, and offered that the experience has strengthened some of the beliefs he's built along his coaching journey.
"(The interim role has) confirmed some philosophies of mine and in different ways, (I've) been challenged in terms of what this interim job entails," he said.
"At some point in time, I'll be able to take a breath and reflect a little bit more - at the moment, things, as we know, move pretty quickly in the industry. I've tried to make it less about me and more about the group, but I do feel like I'm learning a lot.”
Fraser was then quizzed by reporters as to what has changed, and sparked the revival of the Old, Dark, Navy Blues.
"We've been very process driven, (and) that won't change while I'm in the interim role," he said.
"I still think we're in the mode of building great habits and trying to set the club up, moving forward. The outcomes will be what they will be. For me personally, it's really about staying narrow (sic) focused.
"The connection that we're building within the group and the roles that we're executing - that's been probably the main shift, but I stress that I think we've got a lot of work to do in that space."
The return to form of inspirational skipper Patrick Cripps, who saw his name bandied about in trade scenarios in the not-too-distant past, has coincided with the his side's surge into Wildcard contention, and Fraser was quizzed on whether or not the side's performances have swayed Cripps to remain in the famous crest.
"I think he's a Carlton person, isn't he?" Fraser asked.
"I'd hope he would be (staying). He's been terrific for us; he's led really well."
"Cripps' journey here has been quite incredible when you consider the load he's carried for this football club. To see him grow as a leader and be really happy and content with those around him and the style of football we're playing and his role within that - he seems pretty happy at the moment.
"Regardless of the agenda we set as coaches, it's really important to have player ownership (of the program) as well. “Crippa's driven that quite heavily, and again, I think part of his growth has been delegating and giving others responsibility as well. He's been instrumental, but part of that has also been giving others responsibility around him."
After his most recent calf strain, one of Cripps' lieutenants, in Jacob Weitering, will be sidelined for an as-yet undefined time period. Fraser wouldn't be drawn into speculating on a potential return date.
"I think with “Weiters”, he'll be (sic) a really considered approach as to how we rehab him from here, and get him back, and give him every chance to be a part of the season still. It's a re-injury and one that will be considered and (the club will) explore every option and make sure he's right to return."
Carlton will be hosted by Richmond, at the MCG, on Saturday night.
