JOEL Amartey hasn’t waited for pre-season to actually get started when it comes to his life at Carlton.

Despite training officially getting underway for the Blues’ senior players on 30 November (and the younger players a week prior), Amartey is already getting accustomed to life at IKON Park.

Making the move down to Melbourne last Monday, Amartey - who describes himself as a people’s person - wasted zero time meeting his new teammates.

“I completed my first off-season session with a lot of the boys [last week]. We had a good crew of the Carlton boys that came down and did a little session together - it was good to meet some new faces,” Amartey told SEN Mornings.

“I love meeting new people, finding out about new people and finding things in common with different people. With so many new faces I’ve never met before in the football world at IKON Park, there’s a lot of excitement around playing with my old mates as well as a new group.

“At such a big club like Carlton, it’s an exciting prospect for when we get some wins on the board.”

While he didn’t want to give too much credit to Ollie Florent and Will Hayward in his decision to join the Blues (“they’ll create whatever they want to in their own heads”), Amartey said there was a number of factors which went into the call to swap the red and white of Sydney for the Navy Blue of Carlton.

Highlighting the impact of Josh Fraser and the game plan of the Blues in the second half of the 2026 campaign, Amartey outlined how he aims to help his new side in 2027 and beyond.

“The prospect of a new environment was something I was really craving ing after so many years in the one place. It’s made me hungry over the last few weeks to get back into it.

“My role will be pretty similar to what it was at Sydney, being a target inside 50 that will be able to go into the ruck at times. I know Harry loves going through the ruck as well, so it’s something we can both do.

“Provide a target, be a physical presence for the boys up forward and let such a good group of smalls lick their lips when the ball comes to ground. It’s exciting.”

What’s even more exciting for the big new Blue is the prospect of playing in front of the Carlton crowds at the MCG.

Amartey himself has only played eight games at the home of football, including the 2023 elimination final against the Blues - a hostile environment to step into as an opposition player. Now, he’s going to have that kind of support in his corner… and he can’t wait.

“The Carlton fans are a whole different ball game, and it’s something I won’t know until I experience it for the first time at the start of next season. That’s really exciting.

“The wave of support I received after the deal went through, I can see the magnitude of this football club and the passion the fans have. You can probably never be prepared for it until you’re in it, but as long as you’re having a crack and putting your body on the line for the Club, they’ll support you through thick and thin.”