LACHIE Plowman has come a long way from practicing set shots through the forked tree on the nature strip of his Macedon home.

Carlton’s dependable backman spoke of his earliest football memory on this week’s ‘Steve Da Rui edition’ of the Two Tones podcast. 

“The forked tree is still out the front, I haven’t kicked a it for a while, so I’ll have to give it a run next time I’m up there,” Plowman said.

The young defender has strung together a run of good form as part of Carlton’s consistent backline, playing every game this season.

Despite a disappointing start to the season, the growth of the Carlton defence has been a positive amidst frustrations.

“The continuity we have had in the group makes things easy,” he said.

“The best thing about the defenders is that we are sort of a team within a team.”

With 77 games of senior football now under his belt, Plowman sees himself among the Blues’ emerging on-field leaders.

“After 50 games you become comfortable with yourself and the team,” he said of his leadership credentials.

“The backline is very good in itself and we have some great leaders down there with ‘Simmo’ and Jacob Weitering coming through.”

Plowman remains optimistic about the capability of the playing group despite the winless start.

The defender compared today’s talent to a very different Carlton side that he arrived into when he was traded from Greater Western Sydney in 2015.

“Present day, our list is very exciting and there is a lot of top end talent coming through,” he said.

“Back in 2016, there were a few older and more mature heads and we could cope with games.”

“Now we have to learn on the run and take the challenges as they come.”

Starting his career with Greater Western Sydney, the young defender was selected with pick No.3 in the 2012 NAB AFL Draft.

Now in his fourth year in Navy Blue, he has well and truly settled in and remains a consistent fixture for the Blues as part of their pursuit of sustained success.

“This is the uphill climb that we’ve faced over the last three years, it’s been challenging but I think we’re almost there.”