A FEW months ago, it was a move to the wing. Now, Adam Cerra is relishing another positional move, this time to half-back.

The fact that both have come out of necessity and Cerra’s impact has been immediate is the mark of the player.

Starting the season in his traditional inside midfield role, Cerra has had to be something or a Mr Fix-It for the Blues in 2026.

For a player who led the John Nicholls Medal count in 2023 and 2025 prior to late-season injuries, Cerra’s performance against St Kilda - playing in what is largely a new role - was one of his most damaging.

With the license to attack the corridor with his foot skills, Cerra’s ball use was a weapon across half-back, as he spoke to FOX Footy post-match about how the move came about.

“When ‘Newy’ went down a few weeks ago, I went down to fill a hole - I’m really enjoying it. I found a home,” Cerra said.

“There was a bit of wing earlier in the year and I’m really comfortable now down back: the boys have really welcomed me there and are helping me out.

“It’s not easy changing position each week, but I’m feeling really comfortable.”

When asked about the Blues’ uptick in form over the last few months, Cerra pointed to two factors which have seen a shift.

One of those has been Carlton’s willingness to embrace the gritty side of the game... with Cerra even joking to Will Hayward post-game that his chasedown tackle of Darcy Wilson may have been the first of his career.

“Our contest and defence has always been our backbone, and we let ourselves down in that phase earlier in the year. We’ve been able to put scores on the opposition while still defending, which has been great.

“It’s credit to the lads: even the way we’re playing these games, we’re winning by a margin while chasing us. We’re chasing our process and our system, not just for today but the long-term as well.

“I love the way the boys have locked in over the last 10 weeks especially, we’re valuing the right things.”

The other factor has been Carlton’s execution in attack, with Cerra himself a key example of that - his left-footed kick to find Talor Byrne in the third term was an embodiment of the Blues’ shift.

“Having the confidence and to do the work during the week, trusting our skills and ability to take the game on on game day, it’s been weeks of work on our foot skills and the way we set up the ground.

“With our system, we trust that boys are going to show up. In the past, we’ve had boys showing up - but we just weren’t pulling the trigger. We’re going to make mistakes and we’re going to overdo it at times, but we’re going to go down having a crack.”