AFL Opening Round teams: Orazio Fantasia locked in for Carlton debut

AFL Opening Round teams: Orazio Fantasia locked in for Carlton debut

Injury-plagued forward Orazio Fantasia has been selected to make his Carlton debut against Brisbane on Friday night.

It will be the third AFL club the 28-year-old has played for, after starting his career at Essendon before joining Port Adelaide at the end of the 2020 season.

FULL TEAMS: Scroll down for your team’s lineup.

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He managed just four games across the past two years due to various injuries, but earned his spot in the Blues’ 23 after a faultless pre-season.

The match will also be the 100th of his career.

In another feel-good story at the Blues, Zac Williams will play his first senior match since 2022 after missing the entire of 2023 with a knee injury.

Zac Williams will make his return on Friday night. Credit: AAP

But the Blues will be without superstar midfielder Sam Walsh and premier defender Jacob Weitering.

The Lions are in great shape with the bulk of the grand final team selected.

Collingwood will blood debutant Charlie Dean against the GWS Giants, while John Noble also returns to the team after being overlooked for the the Magpies’ finals campaign last year.

Star recruit Lachie Schulz will slot straight into the team, but defender Jeremy Howe misses.

The Giants have named a strong team despite the absences of Finn Callaghan and Harry Perryman.

New Gold Coast coach Damien Hardwick has revealed his first team for the Suns’ clash against Richmond.

Tigers superstar Dustin Martin has been ruled out of the reunion with his former coach, while captain Toby Nankervis is also out.

FRIDAY, MARCH 8

Brisbane v Carlton at the Gabba, 6.40pm AEST

BRISBANE

B: B.Starcevich 37 J.Payne 40 R.Lester 35

HB: K.Coleman 18 H.Andrews 31 D.Gardiner 27

C: J.Fletcher 28 Z.Bailey 33 J.Berry 7

HF: C.Cameron 23 E.Hipwood 30 H.McCluggage 6

F: C.Rayner 16 J.Daniher 3 D.Zorko 15

Foll: O.McInerney 46 J.Dunkley 5 L.Neale 9

I/C: K.Lohmann 1 C.Ah Chee 4 L.McCarthy 11 J.Lyons 17 D.Wilmot 44

Emerg: J.Tunstill 29 D.Fort 32 N.Answerth 43

Notable absentees: Conor McKenna, Deven Robertson, Tom Doedee, Will Ashcroft

CARLTON

B: B.Kemp 17 L.Young 33 A.Saad 42

HB: Z.Williams 6 M.McGovern 11 N.Newman 24

C: B.Acres 13 P.Cripps 9 M.Kennedy 7

HF: G.Hewett 29 C.Curnow 30 M.Owies 44

F: O.Fantasia 14 H.McKay 10 D.Cuningham 28

Foll: T.De Koning 12 A.Cerra 5 S.Docherty 15

I/C: J.Boyd 37 O.Hollands 4 M.Cottrell 46 J.Carroll 16 L.Fogarty 8

Emerg: J.Binns 25 A.Cincotta 39 M.Pittonet 27

New faces: Orazio Fantasia

Notable absentees: Sam Walsh, Jacob Weitering, Caleb Marchbank, Jesse Motlop, Jack Martin, Elijah Hollands, Jack Silvagni

SATURDAY, MARCH 9

Gold Coast v Richmond at Heritage Bank Stadium, 3.20pm AEST

GOLD COAST

B: B.Uwland 32 C.Ballard 10 S.Collins 25

HB: C.Budarick 35 A.Sexton 6 W.Powell 27

C: B.Fiorini 8 T.Miller 11 B.Ellis 4

HF: B.Ainsworth 9 B.Humphrey 19 T.Berry 16

F: B.King 34 M.Rosas 41 L.Casboult 30

Foll: J.Witts – C 28 N.Anderson 15 M.Rowell 18

I/C: S.Flanders 3 N.Holman 7 J.Lukosius 13 D.Swallow 24 D.Macpherson 44

Emerg: R.Atkins 2 W.Graham 26 N.Moyle 49

Notable absentees: Lachie Weller, Ben Long, Mac Andrew

RICHMOND

B: D.Grimes 2 T.Young 45 J.Gibcus 18

HB: J.Short – C 15 D.Rioli 17 N.Vlastuin 1

C: K.McIntosh 33 T.Taranto 14 S.Banks 41

HF: M.Rioli 10 L.Baker 7 S.Campbell 44

F: N.Balta 21 S.Bolton 29 J.Koschitzke 20

Foll: S.Naismith 24 J.Hopper 22 D.Prestia 3

I/C: N.Broad 35 T.Dow 27 J.Ross 5 M.Pickett 50 S.Ryan 32

Emerg: T.Brown 30 S.Green 48 N.Cumberland 38

New faces: Seth Campbell, Jacob Koschitzke

Notable absentees: Dustin Martin, Jack Graham, Toby Nankervis, Tom Lynch, Rhyan Mansell

Greater Western Sydney v Collingwood at Engie Stadium, 7.30pm AED

GREATER WESTERN SYDNEY

B: H.Himmelberg 27 S.Taylor 15 C.Idun 39

HB: L.Whitfield 6 J.Buckley 44 L.Ash 7

C: X.O’Halloran 33 J.Kelly 22 J.Wehr 10

HF: B.Daniels 16 J.Riccardi 26 T.Bedford 14

F: T.Greene – C 4 J.Hogan 23 C.Brown 46

Foll: K.Briggs 32 S.Coniglio 3 T.Green 12

I/C: C.Ward 8 H.Thomas 28 N.Haynes 19 T.McMullin 31 A.Cadman 5

Emerg: L.Keeffe 25 R.Angwin 9 J.Peatling 20

New faces: Harvey Thomas

Notable absentees: Finn Callaghan, Harry Perryman, Isaac Cumming, Braydon Preuss

COLLINGWOOD

B: B.Maynard 4 D.Moore – C 30 C.Dean 43

HB: S.Pendlebury 10 I.Quaynor 3 N.Daicos 35

C: W.Hoskin-Elliott 32 J.Crisp 25 J.Daicos 7

HF: S.Sidebottom 22 A.Johnson 40 B.Mihocek 41

F: P.Lipinski 1 J.Elliott 5 B.Hill 23

Foll: D.Cameron 14 J.De Goey 2 L.Schultz 8

I/C: J.Noble 9 T.Mitchell 6 B.McCreery 31 O.Markov 37 M.Cox 46

Emerg: B.Frampton 17 F.Macrae 18 H.Harrison 36

New faces: Charlie Dean, Lachie Schultz

Notable absentees: Jeremy Howe, Nathan Murphy, Dan McStay

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