CARLTON’S Tasmanian ruckman Andrew Phillips acknowledges that the differences between his old and new clubs were apparent from the moment he walked through the door at Ikon Park.
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‘‘As soon as you walk in the door, you see the history and those premierships cups,’’ the 24-year-old from Lauderdale told Fairfax Media.
Phillips was traded from the expansion club Greater Western Sydney to the Blues at the end of last season.
‘‘Then there is the change rooms, the numbers on the locker and the history behind all the numbers, you see there is this strong history.’’
It’s this rich past of his new surroundings that is in part inspiring the big-man as he looks to not only help turn around the Blues’ fortunes, but revive his own career.
Phillips, who said he was in the best condition of his football life, said his new environment was one he felt was best for his football after playing just 14 games in four seasons in New South Wales.
‘‘Obviously I’m a ruckman and that is where I’d prefer to play, but there are not too many pure ruckmen anymore, you have to be able to go forward as well,’’ the 203 centimetre, 99 kilogram ruckman said.
‘‘The majority of my training has been ruck-based and in the middle, but when you sneak down forward, you have to know what you are doing.
‘‘As previous pre-seasons have been disrupted, so to get through a full pre-season has been promising.’’
One of Phillips’ first goals for 2016 is to be in the Carlton team for their NAB Challenge encounter with three-time reigning premier Hawthorn at Launceston’s Aurora Stadium on Thursday.
There will be a strong Tasmanian feel with former Northern Bomber Brendon Bolton in charge for the first time.
‘‘He is very up and about and quite an energetic person,’’ Phillips said of Bolton.
‘‘He’s a great coach, and having that teaching background, you see that with the understanding of how the boys learn and his techniques of how to get the most out of the players.
‘‘There is nothing better than coming home, especially to play in front of friends and family, and I’ve done everything I can to put my name up for it.’’
Carlton, aiming for 51,000 members nationwide, is looking to boost those numbers in Tasmania next week and will have their membership team at Aurora.
The club has 1618 Tasmanian members so far this year.
