EMERGING Carlton utility Steven Browne says the Blues can take plenty of confidence from pushing ladder leader St Kilda at Docklands on Friday night.

Trailing by 32 points early in the second term to see the final margin just nine, Browne said his side's ability to bounce back when it was on the ropes showed character and hope for the second half of the season.

"They're a great side. They're probably the benchmark of the competition so far, so it was good to compete against them and it showed where we're at," Browne said.

"We'll take a bit of confidence from the second half [of the game] and we know that we can keep up with the best sides in the competition, so hopefully we'll just progress and see what happens in the future."

Browne, who racked up 18 touches, earned plaudits from coach Brett Ratten post-match.

"He's going well. When you watch the tapes of the young boys when they come into your club and watch a fair bit of footy – that screamer that he took – he did that numerous times for Western Australia playing in the Teal Cup (NAB AFL Under-18 Championships)," Ratten said.

"He's got that ability to jump and play a bit above his height and I think he's going along really well.

"You talk about Browney and he could play anywhere and he'd have 14 or 15 possessions, five tackles and slight concussion – that's the type of kid he is.

"He just delivers that repetitively over the time … you know what you're going to get and he's one of those that does that."

Reflecting on the match, Browne was pleased with his effort.

"I thought I was alright. I did my job. I stopped my opponent and got a bit of run as well and that's what we're trying to do – use our run out of defence and create," he said.

And Browne, who has played five of his 18 games this season, is now starting to gain more self-belief at this level – which he is hoping will continue post-break.

"From the start [of the season], I had a few injuries and I just tried to get back into the team and now I'm just trying to find a bit of form," Browne said.

"Knowing I can beat my opponent at AFL level now is good.

"It's a lot faster than the VFL, but I think I'm going alright. I like the fast pace and being able to create and you've just got to be able to read the play."

As for clashing heads with skipper Chris Judd, which left the superstar with a broken nose, Browne said it all happened a bit too quick.

"I didn't really see what happened. He's just a courageous player and he puts his head over the ball," he said.