WINDING back the clock.

If the football world had forgotten what Marc Murphy is capable of, the last month has served as an emphatic reminder.

For the fourth consecutive game, Murphy was instrumental for Carlton against Sydney as it went onto record a seven-point win.

It also marked the first time in nearly six years where Carlton has recorded back-to-back interstate victories.

After his exploits in the Round 15 win over Fremantle with the matchwinner, Murphy backed it up with 29 disposals and a classy goal against the Swans.

Benefiting from the good work of Matthew Kreuzer, Murphy has been back to his brilliant best at the coalface.

“It’s pretty nice working with ‘Crippa’ and Ed, getting some big bodies going through there,” Murphy said.

“It doesn’t make it easier, but when they don’t have their number one ruckman, our guys can try and flick it around a little bit more and we did pretty well there in the last quarter.”

Murphy’s goal at the end of the third quarter was one of the most telling passages of play of the afternoon, given it gave his side a handy buffer at the final change.

The winning form of recent weeks was something that the Blues were desperate to build on, according to the veteran.

“The last five weeks, we’ve been in every game: we lost a couple of nailbiters and won a few close ones,” he said.

“The feeling is really good and building that belief is really important for the back half of this year, going into next year.

“Every year, we’ve lost 10-12 blokes or moved them on — hopefully, we’re not doing that anymore.”

MURPHY’S MAGIC MONTH

Round 13 v Western Bulldogs
21 disposals (17 in second half), five score involvements, one goal

Round 15 v Fremantle
34 disposals, eight score involvements, seven clearances, one goal

Round 16 v Melbourne
24 disposals, eight clearances, seven clearances, six tackles

Round 17 v Sydney
29 disposals, six clearances, six inside 50s, one goal

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