AFL practice matches: Orazio Fantasia presses round 0 claims, Geelong defeats Carlton

After four games in 909 days, one of Carlton’s bargain off-season recruits looks certain to add a fifth and debut for the Blues in round 0. Get all SAM LANDBERGER’s key pre-season takeaways here.

Orazio Fantasia has become football’s forgotten man.

Even the TV commentators mistakenly thought Fantasia was Matt Owies when the goalsneak lined up for a set-shot in the first quarter on Thursday.

By the time Opening Round rolls around Fantasia will have played four AFL games in the previous 909 days.

But Fantasia, 28, appears certain to turn four into five – and celebrate his 100th match – when Carlton flies to Brisbane for a preliminary final rematch in a fortnight.

Fantasia wasn’t overly flashy or fantastic in the Blues’ 17-point loss to Geelong. But there were enough vibrant moments to suggest he will improve Michael Voss’s team.

Blues assistant coach Aaron Hamill pointed out Fantasia was clever in front of goals, applied plenty of pressure, ploughed into packs at the perfect speed and had strong footy IQ.

The South Australian set up a couple goals, including a gimme to talented teenager Ashton Moir.

With fitness clouds hanging over forwards Matt Owies (calf), Corey Durdin (hamstring) and Jack Martin (knee), as well as Elijah Hollands’ two-match suspension, Fantasia is firming to restart his fading career at the Gabba.

Imagine if Fantasia can fire through 30-plus goals at the feet of Charlie Curnow and Harry McKay this year? That would make it another shrewd list move by Voss and the Blues.

Sam Docherty’s days as a defender are moving further and further into the rearview mirror. Picture: Kelly Defina/Getty Images.

ROLE REVERSALS

You get the feeling Sam Docherty’s days as a defender are dwindling. The 2017 all-Australian halfback has moved to the midfielder where his outside run and gun will make watching the Blues even more fun.

On Thursday he was sighted at centre bounces and rarely seemed to slide behind the ball.

Injured star Zac Williams has trained all pre-season with the defenders and so it is likely Williams will take Docherty’s place at halfback and then Docherty, Blake Acres and Ollie Hollands light up the wings.

Mind you, Hollands is evolving into more of an inside midfielder, too, and so could also be given more chances in the centre.

As for Geelong, Max Holmes is moving the other way. The star wingman has been remoulded as a defender … a freewheeling one that probably doesn’t have to do all that much defending.

Seriously, remember when it was suggested the Cats were slow? They’ve got Oisin Mullin in defence, Mitch Knevitt on the wing, Ollie Dempsey lighting up the attack and now Holmes’ speed and overlap off halfback.

Holmes can turn a short kick into a 100m play and his rehoming is no hit and giggle. That’s where he will line up against St Kilda in round 1.

Oliver Dempsey of the Cats takes a hanger over Carlton’s Blake Acres. Picture: Michael Klein

SPECIAL JEZZA

Dempsey did the post-match conference and that was fair enough. The kid soared over Blake Acres to take a summer screamer that provided fans their first real thrill of 2024.

But watching it live, it looked like that chain started with a Nick Daicos-like handball from Jeremy Cameron.

The big fella appeared to dish off a handball in mid-air at halfback before Patrick Dangerfield’s kick was dragged down by Dempsey at a dizzying height.

Jezza also curled through a magical goal from the boundary as the Cats kicked the final five goals of the first quarter.

Four of those were sourced from Carlton committing turnovers in its defensive 50m because the Blues were not able to absorb the Cats’ pressure, which Dempsey was part of.

“He’s come from a basketball background, a Category B rookie and he’s really impressed me for months,” teammate Tom Stewart told the Herald Sun this week.

“He’s a fantastic athlete and seeing him up close in that half-forward role has been really great.”

Jeremy Cameron had his full bags of tricks on display on Thursday. Picture: Michael Klein.

COMPETING PRIORITIES

Let’s be honest. For Carlton, this was a 26-man dress rehearsal for round 1. If you were fit and in the best 23 then you played. For Geelong, that dress rehearsal will come against Essendon next week.

The Cats rotated about 10 extra players and while both sides will be pleased with what they got out of a hit-out in the heat there was one element that stood out.

Geelong’s blend of rookies and royals. Seriously, to watch Shannon Neale, Connor O’Sullivan, Shaun Mannagh, Jhye Clark, Tanner Bruhn, Dempsey and Mullins mesh with Dangerfield, Cameron, Hawkins, Stewart really is the best of both worlds.

Neale is 203cm and moves like a gazelle. O’Sullivan started on the wing and floated into the backline. Mannagh is the VFL veteran who kicked six goals in last year’s grand final. And Tanner Bruhn has, with Dempsey, been the standout of the summer.

Gryan Miers reckons O’Sullivan – after one pre-season – is almost worthy of a 10-year contract.

It’s laughable how often some critics keep writing about that supposed cliff the Cats are teetering on.

Charlie Curnow has his brother Ed in commentary for the practice game. Picture: Kelly Defina/Getty Images.

CHANNEL CURNOW

Move over ‘Press Red for Ed’. Retired Blue Ed Curnow’s comedic call of the micky mouse match brought the coverage to life.

Curnow has always been laid-back and he had no problem carrying those chilled out vibes into the commentary birth.

“Charlie rundown tackle? Surely not!” Ed said as his younger brother won a free kick in front of goal.

Would he kick it?

“No, not on today’s form. At least he’s hitting a drop punt,” Ed said, and he was right.

“Geez, I think he’s wishing he was in the surf,” as the ball sailed out on the full.

Ed Curnow also praised Patrick Dangerfield’s homemade jam sandwiches and gave a clip to players who upgrade their players numbers. Ed played all 221 games in guernsey No.35.

For any naysayers who took the call too seriously just remember rock-paper-scissors replaced the coin toss before this game and after the occasional goal the game was restarted with a boundary throw-in.

It felt like you were sitting at the pub and watching with your best mate who doubled as a club insider. Well done to Fox Footy and to Ed.

Originally published as AFL practice matches: Orazio Fantasia presses round 0 claims, Geelong defeats Carlton