CARLTON ruckman Matthew Kreuzer is determined to add an attacking edge to his game this season as the Blues look to bolster their scoring output.
Kreuzer enjoyed the finest season of his career last year, finishing a career-best third in Carlton's best and fairest award and earning selection in the preliminary All Australian squad.
The ruckman told reporters on Saturday he had enjoyed a solid pre-season and was confident his best football was ahead of him.
However, Kreuzer said there were still "a lot of things" in his game he wanted to improve, with his main focus on kicking more goals.
"I would like to hit the scoreboard a little bit more, so (I've been) just working on a little bit of forward line stuff. That's one part of my game I've got to grow," Kreuzer said.
Matthew Kreuzer is looking for a greater impact on the scoreboard in 2018. (Photo: AFL Media)
Kreuzer's top return for a season is 13 goals, a tally he recorded in each of his first two seasons, 2008 and 2009.
The big man kicked 12 goals in 2017 as he almost singlehandedly carried the Blues' ruck duties.
He is confident the arrival of fellow ruckman Matt Lobbe from Port Adelaide will enable him to spend more time in attack this season, but is also determined to push forward more often when he is in the ruck.
"The way the game is going you've got to be able to play those multiple positions, so (I'm looking to) spend a little bit more time forward and also at getting down there while I'm in the ruck," Kreuzer said.
"Matt's a great athlete and he can play those two positions as well. We've been working well together over the pre-season."
"You're out there to kick goals, we've got to score more than the other team. We've worked hard (on that) and hopefully we can transition that into games."
Kreuzer's career appeared at the crossroads in 2014 and 2015 when he was dogged by a succession of serious foot injuries.
However, he has missed just two games over the past two seasons and is confident that good run of health can continue.
"It's been good. I sort of understood my body a little bit more and also all of our medical staff here have been really good," Kreuzer said.
"I've sort of learnt how to rein my body in a little bit and what I need to do."
