“WE’RE still chasing us.”

Matt Kennedy and the Blues are constantly looking for the best version of themselves, but the good thing is they’ve been able to test themselves against some of the competition’s very best.

In tomorrow night’s clash with Port Adelaide at Adelaide Oval, Carlton will once again meet a team in red-hot form that will be looking to be present at the pointy end of the season. It’s continued a trend for the Blues going back to Round 6.

It was in Kennedy’s 100th game when the Blues met the Giants, who were first on the table and undefeated heading in. The next week, it was the same with the undefeated first-placed Geelong. Collingwood came six days later, a team which sat in 10th place but haven't lost since Round 2 and headed into the season as reigning premier.

Another six days later, fourth-placed Melbourne. The following Friday, the ladder leaders again in Sydney. Gold Coast was eighth heading into last week before a Carlton win saw it jump its opponent.

Now, Port Adelaide in third awaits on their deck, with currently second-placed Essendon (who can’t drop below third before Round 13) in the wings next Sunday night.

Sam Docherty joked on AFL360 on Tuesday night that it seems the Blues are constantly finding teams in the top three positions on the ladder. The average ladder position of Carlton's opposition since Round 6 is fourth: the next lowest is GWS (6.5).

What it does do, according to Kennedy, is allow his team to stay present.

“Every week, you’re coming up against good midfields and good opposition: Port Adelaide is no different. They’ve got some star players,” Kennedy said on 5AA.

“Every week, you’ve got to turn up and put your best foot forward. Port Adelaide at home are an even tougher side with that home advantage, so we’ll definitely have to be at our best in the contest to give ourselves a chance.”

The Blues’ turnover game was improved last week, while they’ll look to continue their form at clearances after being humbled by Sydney a week prior on the back of the Swans’ unwavering pressure.

For Kennedy, he has relished working under Michael Voss, who he described as level-headed and process-driven — regardless of the result. It has fostered a mindset of no matter what, ‘play your role’, which has even seen Kennedy take on some run-with roles against some of the competition’s best in 2024.

“His philosophy is playing our brand and the way we want to, not based on scoreboard. This year, we still haven’t nailed it yet to play our brand for four quarters . . . we’re still chasing us. The competition is so good and the highs and lows of the year are so extreme,” he said.

“Chasing the best version of us, the complete version, in terms of our offence and defence and contest. There’s all the different phases of the game: the beauty of footy is that you’re never going to get it perfect, but how can to perfection can you get it.

“Against Sydney, we were pretty far from it in most facets of the game, but on the weekend it was a pretty complete performance. It’s one we’ve got plenty of growth in, but a step in the right direction.”