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Carlton says Adam Cerra is staying cool and calm ahead of Saturday night’s blockbuster clash with old side Fremantle

Oliver CaffreyAAP
Adam Cerra is staying cool and calm ahead of this weekend’s clash with his former club Fremantle, according to Carlton.
Camera IconAdam Cerra is staying cool and calm ahead of this weekend’s clash with his former club Fremantle, according to Carlton. Credit: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

Carlton expect Adam Cerra to be unfazed by the hostile reception waiting for him at Optus Stadium when the Blues face Fremantle on Saturday night.

The midfielder will be playing against his former team for the first time since requesting a trade to the Blues at the end of last season.

Cerra’s return to Perth adds extra intrigue to a clash between teams that have unexpectedly started the season at 4-1 to shoot into finals contention.

The Dockers were shattered to let the former No.5 draft pick head home to Victoria after just four seasons in Western Australia.

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Playing in Perth is difficult for opposition teams at the best of times but the parochial purple army are almost certain to boo Cerra.

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Carlton assistant coach Aaron Hamill has given the 22-year-old some wise words of advice.

A former power forward, Hamill received his own confronting reception after walking out of the Blues to sign a lucrative deal with St Kilda at the end of 2000.

“The more you’re booed, the more time you have the ball - that’s what I learned,” Hamill said.

“It was quite a hostile environment, right here (at Carlton) actually.

“Not too much flusters Adam, he’s a typical professional and he’ll prepare the right way.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - DECEMBER 13: Adam Cerra of the Blues poses for a photograph after a Carlton Blues training session at Ikon Park on December 13, 2021 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Michael Willson/AFL Photos)
Camera IconAdam Cerra meets his former club Fremantle for the first time as a Carlton player on Saturday night. Credit: Michael Willson/AFL Photos

“I’m sure there’s a lot of interest and he’ll attack that the right way.”

Carlton coach Michael Voss backed up Hamill’s assessment of Cerra’s personality.

“Adam’s a really calm, collected and composed guy,” Voss said.

“He’s built really strong relationships with our guys in such a short period of time.

“I’m sure it will be a little bit different for him (against Fremantle) but I have encouraged him to focus on his teammates and what we need to get done.”

Fremantle coach Justin Longmuir is leaving it up to Dockers fans to decide how they react to Cerra.

“I’m not into telling our fans how to act, I’ll leave that up to them,” Longmuir said.

“It’s not really my call in what fans think of Cez (Cerra) leaving the club.

“Maybe after the game they (Dockers players) might text him but I expect all our players to treat him like an opposition player.”

The Blues regain captain Patrick Cripps after he missing just one game with a hamstring injury but they have been forced to replace Jack Silvagni after the versatile tall hurt his ankle at training on Thursday.

Tom De Koning has been brought back into Carlton’s line-up to provide back-up for ruckman Marc Pittonent.

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