GWS has made a late change for their clash with Carlton at Engie Stadium on Saturday with dashing defender Lachie Ash sidelined with injury, opening the door for a debutant.
Ash was coming into Round 17 under an injury cloud battling with a corked calf and was a no-show at the main training session on Thursday.
Joe Fonti - who was named as the emergency - will come into the senior side for his first game at the elite level.
Joe Fonti will become the clubโs fourth debutant of the season ๐
Details ๐ฒ https://t.co/2Tuu5Pf9EU pic.twitter.com/A2ycOL2MUR
— GWS GIANTS (@GWSGIANTS) July 5, 2024
Taken with Pick 44 in last year's National Draft, Fonti flourished in the WAFL as a medium-sized defender after being moved from the midfield.
The 19-year-old showcased his intercept marking and defensive dash during his appearances in the Western Australian state team.
โIt's a little bit nerve-wracking but definitely exciting,โ Fonti said following the news.
โI didn't think it would come this early, but I've been playing some alright footy in the VFL and that's been noticed and I've been rewarded with this opportunity.
โThe time I have spent here so far has been the best time of my life.
โYou learn the system and then when that becomes second nature you can then sort of start focusing on your own game and build confidence off the back of that and that's what I've tried to do.
Fonti said he's leaned on experienced defenders Connor Idun and Harry Perryman in the lead-up to his debut while trying to model his game on Ash and Lachie Whitfield.
The youngster joins Aaron Cadman, James Peatling and Darcy Jones in the side to take on the Blues.
The West Australian product is the club's fourth debutant of 2024.
