Carlton is putting together a style of footy that will hold them in good stead come September, according to Champion Data’s Daniel Hoyne.
The Blues sit six points clear in second place heading into the final stretch of the season, having won seven of their last 10 games.
“They are flying and building like premiership teams have built for many years. Think back to what Melbourne did in 2021, what Geelong did in 2022, what Richmond made a habit of – right now if you’re a Carlton supporter, I don’t know if you could be any more excited,” Hoyne told SEN’s Sportsday.
“What they’re doing offensively at the moment is the second best profile in the competition. Defensively, it’s the best profile.”
Hoyne believes part of Carlton’s success is the role players they have discovered this season.
Alex Cincotta has received a lot of love playing a tagging role across half-forward, while Lachie Fogarty and Orazio Fantasia hit the scoreboard on the weekend, combining for seven goals.
However, it’s young defender Lachie Cowan who has caught the eye of Hoyne.
“We know they’re going well and doing a lot right, I wanted to put someone else on the agenda and just highlight the role Lachie Cowan is playing in this defence at the moment,” he said.
“First game after the bye, Lachie Cowan follows Gryan Miers all over the ground and basically limits his impact to the point where Miers is coming off and Cowan is coming off with him.
“Then you fast forward to Sunday and when Shai Bolton is playing forward, Cowan goes straight to him and he had very little impact in that stage of the game.
“Bolton goes into the midfield, Liam Baker gets thrown forward and Cowan goes straight to him and restricts him. We saw what Baker did a couple of weeks ago against Adelaide.
“You ask why Carlton is going well and getting better, it’s a guy like this that is now playing a really important role.
“You fast forward – they’re going to be there on preliminary final night. Could he look after a Chad Warner when he comes into that half of the game? We’ve seen what Jordan De Goey has done in a finals series – could Cowan take care of him?
“I don’t know if they’ve had that kind of player before, Carlton. He’s going exceptionally well at the moment. I wanted to give him some praise.”
Carlton heads to Sydney to face GWS on Saturday night, with star ruckman Tom De Koning likely to return.