AFTER notching up a career-best 21 consecutive games for Carlton since arriving at the Club in 2015, young defender Lachie Plowman has praised the influence of senior coach Brendon Bolton on the Blues’ young playing list.
Plowman put pen to paper on a new contract earlier this week, which will see the exciting defender remain in the navy blue until at least the end of 2020.
“It’s exciting news and I’m rapt to be staying at the Club for another two years. The discussions started happening at the end of the season and I’m grateful to the Club,” Plowman told RSN on Thursday morning.
Plowman made his way to Ikon Park via the 2015 trade period after being selected by GWS at pick No.3 in the 2012 national draft. Praising the guidance of Bolton, the 23-year-old said the influence of the coach on a young group was pivotal.
“To be honest, I wasn’t really sure what to expect (when I got here). I was really open to the idea of anything, and playing anywhere that they needed. But with the new environment and new coaches, I’ve really just enjoyed my footy to be honest and the synergy that we’re building together at the moment is really good,” Plowman said.
“'Bolts' has been instrumental to all of it starting to come together. And he’s really energetic - I can tell you that much! But he’s a really good teacher and for us as a young group, that’s exactly what we need to get our head around the game. He influences the group a lot and he’s a really good people person.
“He touches base with us a lot, and has a really good connection with us – not just the older leaders, but he gets around to us younger players as well.”
New senior assistant coach Cameron Bruce will take the reins of the Blues’ backline group in 2018 after two years under Dale Amos’ tutelage, and Plowman said the connection between the back six would only continue to strengthen.
“The back six will get really tight again and we will continue to form some strong long-term relationships there,” he said.
“I think the young group we have down back now is really exciting mixed with the older guys and the leadership they’ve brought us in games has been really good for us as young defenders.
“For us too, it was obviously really disappointing that 'Doc' (Sam Docherty) went down with his knee injury, but for us it creates an opportunity for someone else to step up in the backline. In the past few years, we’ve seen when 'Juddy' (Chris Judd) went down big 'Crippa' (Patrick Cripps) stepped up. And the same with 'Rowey' (Sam Rowe) when big 'Jonesy' (Liam Jones) filled the void.
“There’s always an opportunity for someone to stand up and we’re building density amongst the group. Bolts has just reiterated to us that we need the whole team to start building synergy and gelling. We’re now heading into the third year under Bolts so we’re really looking forward to 2018.”
