Defender Matthew Watson’s successful move forward with a career-best four goals was one of several bright spots for Carlton in their drawn clash with Essendon on Saturday at the MCG.
The 22-year-old Watson’s bag of goals in his 19th game trebled his career tally to six, as the Blues go into an off-season with doubt surrounding the playing future of out-of-contract key forward Jarrad Waite.
“Fantastic. I think Watto needs to look at that game over and over and say: ‘Why hasn’t this happened before?’ Because there is no one more self doubting that him,” Carlton coach Mick Malthouse said of Watson.
“It’s taken a long time for us to have the confidence to say, and now step up.
“Now what he’s done is thrown the spanner in the works in regards to our forward line structure, which is outstanding.”
Waite kicked one goal in Saturday’s draw with the Bombers while his fellow big forward Levi Casboult was goal-less.
Swingman Lachie Henderson and ruck/forward Matthew Kreuzer are set to return from injury next season for Carlton.
“Five don’t go into three, which is terrific for us,” Malthouse said.
Malthouse was enthusiastic about the future of his side, after winning only seven games in 2014.
The triple-premiership coach took over at Carlton in 2013, guiding the side to a semi-final that year.
“The players have got the knack of what I want in terms of commitment and game plan,” Malthouse said.
“They’re not only doing it, they’re happy with that type of thing because it suits them.
“Sometimes you have to go back to come forward to find out what’s the most appropriate.
“Now we know we can keep working at this, we did and we have over the last half of the season.
“And we’ll enter into our new pre-season with a buoyancy that says we know what we have to do, let’s work to it.”
Dual Brownlow Medallist Chris Judd, who has announced he’ll play on next season, was in brilliant form on Saturday in another positive sign for the Blues.
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