The Gold Coast SUNS still have one game left to complete their 2012 season, but the curtain has already fallen on the 218  game career of the clubs veteran ruckman Josh Fraser.

The extremely popular GC SUNS giant informed his team mates prior to training this morning, indicating that his final match had indeed been for the clubs NEAFL side at Redlands last weekend.

Barring a string of late casualties, McKenna was adamant the future and not sentiment would decide the makeup of the side. 

Josh today announcing his retirement in front of the boys was sad, but you know just a fantastic reception for him at what he has been able to do for this football club on and off the field and I am sure our young rucks are better people and I think our Club is a better place for having Josh Fraser in it McKenna said.

While he would have hoped to round out a career which started as a number one draft pick in 1999 with Collingwood with an AAMI Stadium swansong, the suburban oval, surrounded by the clubs emerging talent and top up players could have in fact provided Josh with a glimpse into the future with Bluey confident a coaching career beckoned.

I think he would be a great fit as a coach, he has got a good balance and he sees the game really well, articulate, he knows football and I think he has got the balance right to be a good coach.”
“He doesn’t have the output like Gary Ablett or Nathan Bock or Jarrod Harbrow and some of those boys, but I think his calming influence and his tutelage to our other rucks."

Fraser managed just two matches in the top side this season after playing in 16 of the clubs 2011matches, however McKenna said Josh’s best work had been done behind the scenes and that the club would benefit from his involvement in the not too distant future.

From a playing point of view in the number 17 jumper you can say well was he worth it? Well I clearly think from the games he did play, he performed, he did the things he had to do, probably wasn’t in our best six  a lot, but off the field and in the NEAFL competition has certainly fast tracked them into becoming bona fide ruckmen.

The Coach using the transformation of Charlie Dixon as testament to the dedication Josh Fraser displayed not only in his own career but to his team mates.

Josh would pick up Charlie and take him to the beach and do those extra recovery sessions and show him  what to do and that's off the field and on the field. We've got a massive benefit out of Josh.

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