“LET’S be honest: it’s one win. We need to prepare for a big game next week against the Dogs.”

That’s the way Marc Pittonet - in true Marc Pittonet fashion - described Michael Voss’ post-match message on Thursday night.

The Blues finally broke their drought against the Tigers, prevailing in the opening clash of their season for the first time in a decade.

The relief was evident both on the ground and in the stands come the final siren, but Pittonet said it was crucial that the Blues backed it up and went again in four days against last year’s Grand Finalists.

Speaking on SEN’s Captain’s Run, Pittonet said it was important to acknowledge the result, but get on with the task at hand.

“Don’t get me wrong, it’s a nice thing early. We’ve got a lot of faith in the way we’re going about it at the moment and we’re starting to get a bit of a reward,” Pittonet said.

“It was a good win, and the sort of win that we want to be getting to start off the year. It’s validation for some of the work that we’ve been putting in.”

It was the biggest crowd that Pittonet has played in front of since joining Carlton, and the most since his Easter Monday debut for Hawthorn against Geelong.

And the big man said the impact of the crowd was noticeable in the last term, particularly when the Blues were winning centre breaks at will.

Part of that midfield contingent which steered the result towards Carlton, Pittonet couldn’t have spoken more highly of the influence of the partisan Navy Blue crowd.

“In the last quarter, we fed off their energy,” he said.

“Once we got the game rolling, especially out of the centre bounces, they give us so much energy to keep going and going. When you’re hitting those levels of fatigue, being able to push through for three or four more contests.

“They definitely make a difference out there.”

With any interview involving Pittonet (more affectionately known as ‘Brad’ around IKON Park), it was part-serious and part-no-so-serious.

It’d be remiss of us not to include some of his best from his chat with Sam Edmund.

On his mindset leading into each game:  “I come in with a focus of physicality and protecting my guys. It’s what I can do to physically take the heat from the opponents and clear paths to make their lives easier. If I do nothing else from a game of football but get that done, that’s me getting my role done and everything else comes from there.”

On that poster in the second quarter: “I’m hoping that because we won, no-one really cares to be honest. I’m never going to get an easier shot at goal in my career. Hopefully my next shot is from outside 50 and I kick the one no-one expects!”

On Sam Docherty’s goal: “He’s a special player but he’s a special person. It showed what it meant to him, what it meant to the boys, what it meant to the fans — he keeps inspiring us every week with the person that he is. I don’t think I’ve had more fun in a footy game than celebrating ‘Doc’s’ goal after that moment.”

On which midfielder gets first priority: “Whoever buys me the most coffees that week! I’m a big believer that you should look after your ruckman if you’re a midfielder, so we’ll see who gets me my latte during the week and they might be my favourite.”

On Matthew Kennedy: “He’s the best reflection of the way we’ve gone about pre-season, to challenge ourselves and see how good we can be. He could’ve gone ‘I had a pretty solid end to last year’, but he went head to head with them every single session… he has worked as hard as he can, against some very good midfielders, and gone to another level.”

On connection, connection, connection: “We’ve spent so much time on the connection aspect of it. I feel like between all three lines, we’ve got such a good connection and we’re all on the same page. I think it showed on [Thursday] night when a few punches were thrown at us. As a result, it’s a lot easier to stay cool in that moment. We’ve got to keep building that connection: I know it sounds like I’m saying that on repeat at the moment — I’m sorry!”