THERE are too many cliches to count when it comes to having a plethora of contributors.

Many hands make light work. Spreading the love. Teamwork makes the dream work. Sharing the load.

Et cetera, et cetera.

For the purposes of this conversation, however, let’s use a favourite from Michael Voss’ vernacular when looking at Carlton’s work going forward in more recent times. Stronger Together, that is.

That’s very much the story when talking about the best of the Blues, not only so far in 2024, but back to that stretch that started in the second half of last year. 

While all the talk when Carlton kicks a winning score so often revolves around the hard-to-miss Charlie Curnow and Harry McKay, the numbers tell a different story.

Yes, the twin towers currently rank inside the top handful of the 2024 Coleman Medal tally, having shared the last three between them — McKay in 2021, and Curnow in back-to-back years of 2022 and 2023. 

As Voss and all at Carlton have been at pains to stress, it’s not individual brilliance that’s getting the team over the line — but rather, the work of the collective.

With every team now playing six games in 2024, Carlton has had eight, eight, 11, six, 10 and nine individual goalkickers in their respective matches. It’s the equal-second most in the competition, behind only Sydney.

Relying on its entire team and system to get the job done, Carlton’s uptick in form has been clear. With a 16-3 record since Round 14 last year, the Blues have averaged 8.3 individual goalkickers per game — an increase of 22 per cent compared to their opening year and a half under Voss.

Someone who has been the embodiment of that is Matthew Cottrell, who everyone at Carlton has waxed lyrical about in recent times in his transition from a wing to a high half-forward role.

While Cottrell ranks eighth at the Blues for score involvements, he has done so off the back of just 68 disposals — as FOX Footy’s commentators spoke about both during and after the game against GWS, when the ball’s in his hands, good things happen.

As many as 13 Blues have recorded at least 20 score involvements, with Sam Walsh nearly achieving that tally in just the one game on the weekend. His 17 score involvements (which also included three direct goal assists) was the most recorded by a Carlton player since the stat was first recorded, eclipsing Curnow’s tally of 16 which he accumulated in Round 7 last year against West Coast.

If the Blues are going to keep a good thing going, it’s clear what the remit has got to be. And, as Harry McKay said in his press conference on Sunday, that’s what going to be continually valued.

“It’s their ability to do all the system stuff that we praise them so highly for inside our four walls, but then also to maximise their opportunities in front of goal and hit the scoreboard . . .  they were huge,” McKay said.

“We had a really even contribution in front of goal. As a group, we’re playing our best when that happens.

“They do the dirty stuff every week, which we love.”

Carlton’s leading score involvement players in 2024

Charlie Curnow and Harry McKay (47); Patrick Cripps (39); George Hewett (35); Matthew Kennedy (33); Tom De Koning (32); Blake Acres (30); Matthew Cottrell (29); Sam Walsh (26); Nic Newman (25); Matthew Owies (24); Jack Carroll (21); Elijah Hollands (20)

Carlton’s average individual goalkickers under Michael Voss

Round 1, 2022 to Round 13, 2023 — 6.8 (16 wins, one draw, 18 losses)
Round 14, 2023 to Round 6, 2024 — 8.3 (16 wins, three losses)