FULL FAITH in the system - and one another - is what’s fuelling Matthew Owies and the Blues.
One of Carlton’s barometers inside forward 50, Owies’ effort ever since pulling on the Navy Blue guernsey has been unconditional, and he’s bearing the fruits of his labour in 2023.
Already with a career-best goals tally under his belt, Owies became the fourth Carlton player to notch 20 goals for the season — the first time the Blues have accomplished the feat in a decade.
However, while the Blues’ scoring has had a big uptick in the last two months, it’s on the back of the defensive game where Owies and his teammates have thrived, in turn setting up more opportunities to put a score on the board.
The age-old adage suggests that the best defence is a good offence. And yet, for the Blues, it's the opposite that's provided the spark they were after.
Carlton’s pressure and contest at the clearance has seen the team ranked No.1 for scores from stoppage differential since Round 14, utilising their weapons to perfection. That appetite at the source now sees the Blues rank No.1 for points against over the course of the season, conceding just two scores of over 100 points for the season while averaging just 60 points against in the last eight games.
What it’s allowing Carlton’s forward mix - who Jesse Motlop once flagged referred to themselves as the ‘carnies’ - to do is bring their individuality to the fore.
“The one thing that we’ve changed in our eight wins is our defence: everything comes off that. On the back of that offensively, we’re able to express ourselves and have some fun with it,” Owies told Triple M.
“It’s a pretty awesome feeling when you can trust the bloke next to you to get that job done.”
The goodwill and connection amongst everyone at IKON Park was there for all to see at the MCG on Saturday — and, in particular, the scenes on the bench come the final siren. Leading the charge was Michael Voss, embracing with players, coaches and staff alike as the Blues held on for one of its most memorable wins in recent times.
For Owies, he couldn’t hide his delight at playing under Carlton’s AFL Senior Coach.
“He carries himself very well, ‘Vossy’. He’s kind of like a father figure to us in that you don’t want to disappoint him,” he said.
“He’s got all that players’ respect for the way he went about it as a player: I absolutely love playing for him.”
Voss wasn’t the only one delighted on the full-time siren, with Owies ranking the noise at the MCG on Saturday night as right amongst the very top of his moments in football to date.
“On Saturday night, that was the loudest I’ve heard the ‘G.
“It was pretty special to be a part of: to hear their roar and their passion is pretty awesome as a player. They’ve been great for us, you can really feel it out there.”
