If, as they say, you learn more from a loss, then the Carlton players each came away from the Geelong contest armed with a set of Encyclopedia Brittanicas.

At least that was the view of Chris Yarran, in lamenting the team’s five-point loss to the puss at Etihad Stadium.

So what did Yarran learn. “Oh, probably the need for a bit more composure, and when we’re in front a little more ball control,” came the reply.

“We also let them get too much easy access outside the stoppages, which cost us. We paid for that.”

In saying that, Yarran maintained that Carlton was so much the better for the contributions of so many across the board.

“It’s disappointing the way it finished, but on the positive side Geelong’s one of the best teams in the competition and we’ll take some confidence going into next week and hopefully get the four points against the Hawks.”

At 23, and now 94 games into his senior career, Yarran is well within range of having his named etched into the No.13 locker, where he’ll share space with Vin Gardiner, Jack “Chooka” Howell, Graham Donaldson and Milham Hanna.

He acknowledges John Barker’s assistance for his steady progression as an elite footballer, Barker having firstly assisted as forward line coach, more recently as defensive coach. As he said: “John’s been a big help to me, but all the coaches have given me a lot of confidence to take the game on and back my skills.”

The upshot of it all is that Yarran is starting to string the good ones together, and few sights are easier on the eye than “The Yazzman” in full flight.