Recruit Orazia Fantasia’s impression at Carlton is being undersold as he prepares to play his former membership Port Adelaide for the primary time, Blues coach Michael Voss says.
The injury-plagued Fantasia managed simply 19 AFL video games in three seasons at Port, a stint which adopted 80 matches in seven years at Essendon.
Despite Fantasia’s in depth record of soft-tissue leg accidents at his preliminary two golf equipment, Voss threw the goalsneak a lifeline when he was delisted by the Power on the finish of final season.
The 28-year-old’s statistical output in his 9 video games for the Blues is low – two targets and averaging simply 7.6 disposals a match.
But Voss warns in opposition to judging Fantasia’s significance at Carlton by pure numbers forward of their conflict in opposition to Port at Adelaide Oval on Thursday evening.
“It has been largely understated,” Voss mentioned.
“There has been a role that we’ve gone after and he’s been able to do that.
“Even final week with some absentees of some people which were in a position to play a sure position for us, he stepped into that – no questions requested.
“And that’s all we ask everyone to do.
“We are a role-based group. We take a look at how we enhance our system by way of our roles after which we’ve got received to let the expertise shine after that.
“And he’s able to do that and I’m sure over a period of time he’ll become a very valuable member of our team.”
Voss had a easy message for Fantasia about coping with the parochial Port crowd and any emotion of taking part in in opposition to his former teammates.
“Stay present and keep your eyes inside the white line,” he mentioned.
“He has got his mates around him, he has established himself within our team.
“He is a real favorite amongst the boys and has been an incredible teammate over the quick time frame that we have had him.
“That’s all part of everyone’s individual stories about how we get here and that’s part of Raz’s story.
“But I do know what he does purchase into: he buys into the navy blue and the jumper and that is all we care about.”
The eighth-placed Blues have named an unchanged team for the encounter with third-placed Port, who are a win ahead of Voss’s charges on the ladder.
But the Power have made three changes with captain Connor Rozee sidelined by an ankle injury, forward Willie Rioli out due to a calf strain, and Jordon Sweet axed.
Ivan Soldo returns from a knee damage to exchange Sweet within the ruck whereas Francis Evans and Charlie Dixon has been recalled after being rested final week.
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
