Orazio Fantasia‘s AFL career looked all but over at the end of the 2023 season thanks to his hard luck with injuries.
Sitting on 99 games and struggling after repeated knee surgeries and soft tissue injuries, the forward thought his time at the top was coming to a heartbreaking end.
That was until an old mentor, now his new coach, Michael Voss gave him the call up to join Carlton.
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The 28-year-old began his career as a Bomber before hopping interstate to Port Adelaide, and now lands at Carlton with the chance to add to an already potent Blues forward line.
“Vossy (Michael Voss) and I were really, really close when he was at Port and he said that the boys here (at Carlton) are unbelievable and have got a really strong culture and are building something really nicely,” Fantasia said on Tuesday.
Despite his positive outlook with a fresh chance at Carlton, Fantasia won’t forget the toll of his setbacks.
“People don’t realise (the toll of injury). You become an average partner, an average son. It does wear you down a fair bit,” he said.
“I hadn’t had any sort of consistency or a block of … over a month where I’m actually training in a row.
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“It’s been pretty frustrating.”
In good news for Blues fans, Fantasia has been training trouble-free since August, with aims to join Carlton’s main group by February.
As for his aspirations for the 2024 season, a game in round one would be a dream come true, but a win against Fantasia’s old side and new foes Essendon would be even sweeter.
“I’ve still got a fair few mates playing over there (at Essendon).I’ll have to get into Zachy Merrett if I can. Sneak up in the midfield and get into him,” Fantasia said.