A FEW more to get accustomed to.
The back-end of 2023 marked a big few months at IKON Park, with 11 new players welcomed to Carlton: six of those in the AFL program, with another five joining Mathew Buck's AFLW side.
From an AFL standpoint first of all, here's what to expect from the newest Blues.
Orazio Fantasia (No.14)
With 99 games of senior experience under his belt, Orazio Fantasia’s strengths are well known to the football world.
The ability to create something out of nothing has defined Fantasia throughout his previous stints at Essendon and Port Adelaide, who has contributed 141 goals since his debut in 2014.
Now reunited with former teammate Adam Saad as well as former Port assistant Michael Voss, Fantasia will add valuable depth to a small forward brigade which proved to be vital to Carlton’s identity in 2023.
Elijah Hollands (No.20)
Elijah Hollands returned to Victoria after three seasons on the Gold Coast, linking up with younger brother Ollie in Navy Blue in the process.
While he’s not a boyhood Bluebagger like his brother (Elijah grew up supporting Adelaide), the impressive athlete has shown glimpses of why he was so highly touted as a junior when he was selected with pick No.4 in the 2020 AFL Draft.
Likely to play a forward-mid role in Navy Blue, the older Hollands has been right amongst the action in pre-season training, and will be aiming to put his best foot forward upon its resumption next week.
Matthew Carroll (No.32)
Matthew Carroll and his family could hardly have been more excited to land at the Blues in the rookie draft — so much so that they made a beeline for IKON Park right after his selection.
A versatile youngster, Carroll largely played his underage football across half-back for the Sandringham Dragons, but also had stints on the wing and up forward in representative and school football.
Carroll earned a reputation for not only his reliable ball use coming out of the back half, but also his attack on the ball and man as someone who can play a lockdown or rebounding role in the back six.
Rob Monahan (No.34)
If you watch Rob Monahan in action during pre-season training at IKON Park, one thing stands out more than most: his express pace.
The Irish recruit was announced as a signing by the Blues in August alongside Matt Duffy (who regrettably injured his ACL in Ireland), and he got to work very quickly to get up to speed with his new teammates.
Lauded at IKON Park for his willingness to embrace everything thrown at him in the early stages of his football development, the 19-year-old clearly has plenty of tools to work with in his new code.
Billy Wilson (No.35)
Much like his locker buddy Monahan, speed is very much the name of the game for Billy Wilson.
Selected by Carlton in the second round of the national draft, Wilson may have impressive in his start to 2023 as a defender, but it was as a midfielder where he truly flourished at the Dandenong Stingrays on the way to winning a best and fairest.
It’s as an on-baller where the Blues see Wilson’s long-term future, with his pace and precise ball use seen as his key weapons. He was thrown right into the deep end in his first pre-season, rubbing shoulders with the likes of Patrick Cripps, Sam Walsh and Adam Cerra in Carlton’s midfield group.
Ashton Moir (No.43)
From Bryce Gibbs to Anthony Koutoufides, Ashton Moir really had the Navy Blue carpet rolled out for him upon his arrival at IKON Park.
The Glenelg junior has long been touted as one to watch leading into the 2023 AFL Draft, and the Blues couldn’t have been happier to select him with pick No.29 as the final selection in the opening round.
Moir’s natural talent is evident as soon as you see him on the football field. His ambidexterity is a clear point of difference, and he’s got the ability to do damage both in the air and at ground level.
