Blues legend’s advice for club draftee and the “psycho” setting the training standards at Princes Park
Top Carlton draftee Ashton Moir has revealed the piece of advice given to him by Blues legend Anthony Koutoufides.
The 18-year-old out of Glenelg will don Kouta’s No.43 guernsey at Carlton and the two have spoken in the lead-up to the 2024 season.
“I didn’t have any say in that (wearing no.43), it was a pretty cool way to find out in the meeting room with all the boys,” Moir told SEN SA’s The Run Home.
“I’m not feeling too much pressure, maybe a little bit since it’s such a big number for the club.
“I was fortunate enough to catch up with him (Koutoufides) a few times. He told me to just play my game, don’t feel too much pressure, go out there and build your own legacy, pretty much.
“I’m really looking forward to the opportunity to build on that.”
Moir is aiming high at the Blues, hoping to earn the right to debut at the start of the season.
“I’ve set the goal from day one at the club … my first goal was to debut in Opening Round – my focus is to take it day by day, training by training, and if I am fortunate enough to debut in Opening Round, that’s great, but if I have to wait until later in the year or next year, all I know is I’m putting my best foot forward and training as hard as I can,” he said.
Of Moir’s teammates, Sam Walsh has stood out above the rest at training, saying his ridiculously high standards raise the bar for everyone around him.
“(Walsh) is unbelievable. If you ask pretty much everyone on the team they’d describe him as pretty much a psycho with the way he trains,” he said.
“It’s unbelievable to watch and it’s so good to be a part of it and it drives me to want to train so much harder and get the best out of myself.”
Moir will likely play across the half-forward line for the Blues and was known in his under 18 season for his elite kicking across both feet and his ability to impact the scoreboard.
Carlton takes on Geelong in a practice match next week before facing Melbourne in the AAMI Community Series.
