IN HIS time at Carlton, Dom Akuei has latched onto everyone at IKON Park.

But there have been a couple in particular that have spent extra time with the young defender as he enters his third season in his boyhood Navy Blue.

And whether by design or not, it’s his close proximity to both - one in the locker room, one in team meetings - that has enabled his game to go from strength to strength in recent years.

To start with, Akuei lauded the impact that Mitch McGovern has had on him since Akuei’s arrival at Carlton — which also came in the same year as McGovern’s permanent move to defence.

“‘Gov’ is a really smart man who really knows his football. He has all the answers, he’s a great support,” Akuei said.

“To be able to sit next to him in team meetings, I learn a lot off him: he helps me out. We somehow all have the same seats every meeting, and I’m lucky to have ‘Gov’ next to me.”

Then there’s the player who Akuei has been next to since day one in the locker room.

When Akuei arrived at Carlton and took the No.41 locker previously occupied by Levi Casboult, he found himself as the locker buddy to Adam Saad.

According to Akuei, Saad’s influence has been felt off the field just as much as on it.

“‘Saady’ is my locker buddy and he’s always taking care of me. He’s a good man.

“It’s a bit of both, with both football and away from it. He’s a man of value — you pick up little things as you go with him. He’s a bit of a character as well, I love having him next door to me.”