Luke Blackwell took on the ‘Pies in more ways than one in our close loss on the weekend, with 18 stats, a couple of close but unfortunate behinds but one sensational piece of play that wins Play of the Week for Round 18.  Despite stiff competition provided by Fevola’s goal, Waite’s amazing goal and Jamison’s behind - goal, Blackwell was a deserving winner in this week’s review.

What did it feel like to take on those 2 Pies, pull out the ball and deliver lace out to the big Fevola?
It was great – I thought it was going to be close, I thought I may be in with a chance, and it came off.

Fev looked great on the weekend, but he got some beautiful passes from not just yourself, but also Houlihan and a few others. Have you guys been working on your forward entries at training?
We have, but it’s more about us kicking more during the games, especially around the forward 50.  We have been kicking to each other more around goal, which opens up the forward 50 a lot better as it drags opposition players out of Fevola’s space.

You looked pretty annoyed when you missed a shot at goal in the second quarter.  Does the disappointment put you off for a while or is the game just too quick to let that happen?
Yeah, that was very disappointing – it was an attempted snap that I kicked in the middle of the ball and it just didn’t curve around.  Sure, I was disappointed for a second, but you have to put it behind you straight away.

No offence Luke but you look like you’re one of the youngest out there – when are you going to get arms like your Dad?
Hey, I’m working on it, I’m working on it!  I think another pre-season under my belt will be important to let me build up.  You have to remember I’m still only 20.

That was the youngest Carlton team in 37 years out there on the weekend – what does that mean to the players?
Ratts mentioned it before the game actually.  We had a chat about it, and the fact that we could make our own history by winning.  We hear a lot about the great teams of the past, and we want to become a great team of the future.  That has to start some time, hopefully, we can become premiership contenders in the next few years.

In fact, it was the 20th youngest team in Carlton history.  For more details on the 20 youngest teams, check out this page in the Blueseum

What can you say about the amount of game time you've got this year?  You still manage to get stats, but sometimes you seem to be used rather sparingly. Has this changed of late?
You’re never happy unless you’re getting the whole game out there on the field, but slowly but surely I’m getting more time.

Every time you’ve been sent back to the Ants you seem to get 40+ stats. Each time do you set yourself for a big game to try to keep your name in front of the selectors putting it simply are you too good for VFL level?
I think it’s a bit of both really.  I think at VFL level it’s a bit easier for me, as it’s a little slower.  Plus I get a starting go in the midfield.  At AFL level, it’s a bit faster and I’m still trying to get more game time.

There is a lot of talk in the media about tanking. How does it make the players feel when the attention is on that instead of some really improved efforts recently?
We talk about it sure, but once we cross we line we give it everything.  Our name, and our jumpers, are on the line, so we can’t not give it our all because of it.

The club is very different from your Dad’s day. What has he told you about the club when he was playing? Do you talk to him much about footy and your career? Does he give you any good advice?
We talk a little bit about it, especially after a few beers.  We talk about how footy is very different – how the draft has really evened up the competition, about Carlton’s history and how we used to be a powerhouse, and how we both hope to get Carlton back to that as soon as we can.

With yourself, Bentick, Carrazzo, Murphy and Nick Stevens returning in 2008, we seem to have the makings of small-medium sized midfielders. Is the club trying to rekindle the famous ‘mosquito fleet’ of the late 70s/early 80s?
We’ve got a young midfield group at the moment and we’re all sticking together on and off the field, trying to learn more about each other so hopefully we can become a better midfield group.

I’d hope that we can get a better name than the mosquito group though.

There’s a few West Australians on the list now. With house prices the way they are over west, do you think you could ever afford to go home?
** laughs ** Probably not! I love Melbourne and Perth – I’d love to stay in Melbourne for a while yet.  There’s a lot of money in Perth at the moment, maybe I could buy a house in Melbourne…

OK, one thing we like to do is test our players history knowledge.  How many names can you remember from your locker?
Well I’m at the Club now if you want me to go to the lockers and tell you….Hanna is the last one, but not sure of the others.

There are 4 names on the #13 Locker.  To check if you can guess all 4,  click here.

We like to finish up with giving you guys the chance to pay out on some of your team-mates. Last week Ryan Jackson dished it out on Cam Cloke.  Does anyone deserve a good bucketing, and why?
Well, I think both Jackson and Cloke deserve it – because of how much they love each other.  They’re always hugging and cuddling – more than any boyfriend and girlfriend I’ve ever seen!

Not that there is anything wrong with that…

Luke Blackwell was a pivotal member of our young midfield group on the weekend, and was a deserved winner of Mike & Dan’s Play of the Week.