GROWING by the week.

Since 2005, Billy Wilson would’ve been to a fair few games between Essendon and Carlton. On Sunday night, he might’ve produced the best performance of his AFL career so far.

In his ninth AFL game (and second against the Bombers), Wilson had 24 disposals and contributed 366 metres gained in a five-point win over the arch rival.

Only George Hewett had more disposals for Carlton than the third-year Blue, who has shown the advantages in recent weeks of plying your trade in the VFL and earning your stripes.

While the Blues have seen the likes of Harry Dean and Jagga Smith (post-injury) come straight into the side as former pick No.3s, Wilson’s journey to start his AFL career has had to be one of persistence.

Without a game in year one and sustaining a lamentable 50-point loss in his first game against Port Adelaide last June, Wilson has been the beneficiary of more time in the system.

His last three weeks has seen him not drop below 22 disposals, with his run and dash against the Bombers - the team he was a supporter of before being drafted to the Blues - again prevalent.

“We were members [of Essendon] for 16 years with the old man: we loved them back in the day, but not so much now. It was good to get on top of them,” Wilson told Channel 7 post-match.

One of that long list of emerging names in Navy Blue, six of Wilson’s last seven AFL games dating back to last year have resulted in wins, and it’s clear his confidence is growing with more and more minutes at the elite level.

He credited the influence of leaders like Nic Newman, who have allowed Wilson and his younger counterparts to settle into the team and simply concern themselves with playing their role.

“Learning from these boys, they get around me and allow me to play to my strengths. VFL form also helps. It’s a big jump to AFL level obviously, but to have these boys around you, it gives you all the confidence in the world.

“[My goal] is to stay consistent: we love to win, so being part of that and seeing where the year takes us.”

Wilson was joined by Dean, Smith, Talor Byrne, Wade Derksen, Jack Ison and Flynn Young in the line-up, making it seven Blues with 13 games or less of experience that have been part of the Carlton side in recent weeks.

Speaking to Carlton Media, Head of Development Jordan Russell said a lot of the credit could be given to the Carlton Reserves’ program, which was getting the Blues’ youth ready for the step up.

“The best part of the feedback around our development group is if we can teach the kids the right way at VFL level, when they get their chance, they’re ready to go and don’t come back down for a couple of weeks,” Russell said.

“It’s a success story to this point, Billy can reset and go again. His run off half-back is really important for us.”