Pre-season, all the talk was about how frail Carlton's defence was expected to be, yet shortly into the year our defence is proving to be on their game through a combination of experience in Waite and Thornton plus the combined height and running power of Jamison and a young Paul Bower. Bower's last month of football has been nothing short of brilliant, and for his run-at-all-costs attitude which in the at least partially informed view of Mike & Dan that turned the Blues on in the last, he wins this week's Play of the Week.

Paul, you win this week’s Play of the Week for your take and hard running in the last that led to Kade Simpson’s welcome goal and the game.  What can you tell us about that play?

The ball was bombed forward and I just waited for the ball and marked it. I thought we really needed to score and keep attacking. So I got the ball to Carrazzo and it got to Simmo who luckily kicked the goal.

It seemed like we’d just stopped running – what was happening?

The Eagles got a couple of quick ones in the third and were winning almost all the centre clearances. We were disappointed because we’d stopped running and working for each other. We had to get back to what we’d been doing in the second quarter – and we did get back to it and playing good footy and ended up winning by a fair margin.

Do you have a mandate to tear down the field, or is it just instinct?

Natural instinct – if I think I’ll get the ball I just run hard – and I make sure I get back quickly if I don’t think I can get it. That’s really important.

Sometimes you put our hearts in our mouth with your runs - do you sometimes get going and think 'Oh heck, what have I done?'

I just back myself in to get the ball and if I don’t get it then I get back as quickly as I can.

Many supporters are looking at the Collingwood game where you beat Travis Cloke as your break-out match. How did you feel after that game and are you eager to get more stopping roles on key forwards?

In the lead up to the game I was really happy for Ratts to give me Cloke because he is such a good player. The job I did on him has given me a lot of confidence, and I have been getting more key players since then – it has been good.

Your 2008 has been pretty impressive.  Was there anything specific that you focussed on over the pre-season?   Do you think you have improved or have you just been given more opportunity this year?

In particular, I’ve been working on my spoiling skills. Tailing our opponents hard and fast has been a really key focus for all the backmen during the pre-season. We need to focus on staying right on the opponent and not drop off. This allows for more spoiling, and I think that’s come through from many of us this year. Don’t drop off!

What was it like playing against Josh Kennedy this week? Did it feel like a training match at any stage?

Good – I’ve played on him before and I know he’s a really hard worker. He’s a talented player and has such a good work ethic. He was tough to play on.

A lot of the young midfielders we've interviewed have spoken about Judd's arrival as a bit boost to their confidence. As a defender, does a stronger midfield give you more confidence to rebound?

Yeah, I suppose it does – with his experience and workrate – the midfield is a lot more disciplined and is working back to help the defenders. That’s been the main thing I’ve noticed this year, that the midfield has been there to help out the defence. It has been a major difference from last year and the year before.

We have an inexperienced backline who are holding together really well so far this year. Who is the "leader" in the back 6 who steadies the side down and leads by example?

We look towards Waite and Thornton. Jamo, Grigg, and myself try to learn off them as much as possible. If we make a mistake, then they always come over to us and tell us just to settle down.

Generally we like to finish these things off by asking whether any of the Blue boys are embarrassing in any way – which of your teammates deserves a spray?

Nah… they’re all pretty good.

And despite trying a number of times, Paul just wouldn’t dob in a team mate in a true sign of support for the Blues (or disregard to the question!).  So far, there is no doubt that Bower's 2008 has been welcomed by all & sundry at Carlton, and now that he has tasted not only his first win at AFL level (Round 4 this year) but his first 3, Carlton fans all over the country will be looking towards many more of his trademark runs.