Lachie Henderson has become Carlton's most important player and the equal of any swingman in the AFL, teammate Michael Jamison says.

In the absence of injured spearhead Jarrad Waite, usual backman Henderson was swung forward with devastating effect in the Blues' 36-point win over St Kilda. 

He achieved career-best tallies of marks (12), contested marks (seven), marks inside 50 (six), contested possessions (10) and goals (four).

Henderson's haul of contested marks tally equalled the greatest recorded this season, alongside Waite's effort against the Brisbane Lions in round nine.

The 23-year-old had previously been thrown forward only occasionally mid-match this season, most effectively in the narrow round seven loss to the Saints when he kicked three final-quarter goals to give the Blues a chance of victory.

Swingmen have become must-have players following the success of other defenders-turned-forwards like Geelong's Harry Taylor, Essendon's Jake Carlisle and Collingwood's Ben Reid.

Blues full-back Jamison, who has formed a strong defensive combination with Henderson this season, believes his mate deserves to be regarded as highly as that prized trio.

"I definitely think of Lachie in the same light as those guys," he told AFL.com.au. "He's shown he can play really well at both ends.

"I think people also underestimate how young he is, so he's definitely got more development left in him too. He's probably gone under the radar a bit, but we're happy about that because he pops up and hurts teams."

Asked whether Henderson had become Carlton's most important player given the structural flexibility he allows, Jamison was emphatic.

"No doubt, especially with 'Waitey' out," he said. "His versatility is certainly a luxury and we're pretty lucky to have him. He's become invaluable to us. I'm pretty sure he's our most important player."

As in the cases of Taylor, Carlisle and Reid, there is now debate about whether Henderson should play predominantly back or forward, or whether he should swing between the two.

For purely selfish reasons, Jamison would love for Henderson to return to the backline. After all, this is the first season they have played together with any regularity – previously, one or both were generally injured – and have "really jelled and come to know each other's game".

Jamison says it's also probably the first time since he's been at Carlton that the club has boasted two consistent key defenders. 

"That's something I always missed, and it helps when you’re playing on the big guys to know that you've someone you can swap with if you need to," he said.

Blues coach Mick Malthouse said Henderson would play more in attack if the club could develop key defenders to take his place. 

Jamison also believes the opposite could eventuate: that Henderson could just as easily slot back into defence if other key forwards emerge.

"If 'Watto' (Matthew Watson) can stand up like he did on the weekend, and I'm pretty confident he can, then Lachie can probably stay forward," he said. "But hopefully Sammy Rowe and Levi Casboult hit form up forward – Sammy was good on the weekend – so I can get Lachie to help me down back again."

Jamison wouldn’t fancy playing on Henderson, who is third in the AFL for contested marks, just four behind leader Travis Cloke.

"He's got good instincts, which I think he's learned from playing on some of the best forwards," he said. 

"He presents hard at the ball, gets to smart spots and he's got really sticky hands. He's one of these big guys who I'm really jealous about because he's got a good engine and covers a lot of ground. And he's also a good kick for goal."

One knock on Henderson was that he lacked pace. However, Jamison says that even if this was an issue, it no longer applies.

"I think those criticisms came after he'd had a lot of trouble with his groins and hips, which required surgery, and they take more than 12 months to get over and regain your zip, and he's got that," he said. "He's certainly quick enough, and he reads the play really well and takes a lot of intercept marks as a backman, so that makes up for any perceived lack of speed."

The former Brisbane Lion joined the Blues at the end of 2009 as part of the Brendan Fevola trade, which also sent pick No.12 (Kane Lucas) to Carlton and pick No.27 to the Lions (Callum Bartlett – now a rookie and still yet to play an AFL game). It's a deal that continues to gain currency for the Blues.