“EMBRACE the imperfection.”

It’s been the big message from Carlton AFL Senior Coach Josh Fraser to his playing group, and it’s seeing the Blues thrive.

While the start of the year saw the Blues throw away leads they had set up early in the game, the last fortnight has seen them come from behind after conceding the first four goals of the game.

One of Carlton’s most impressive players - and perhaps one of the most understated - in 2026 has been Lachie Cowan, with the emerging defender taking on key roles each and every week.

Speaking on SEN on Monday, the 21-year-old spoke of the team’s mindset shift as the year has gone on.

“As a group, we’ve gotten a lot better at if something isn’t going our way, we actually double down on the way we want to play rather than just going back to a safe brand of footy,” Cowan said.

“I think we were building on something earlier in the year, we just couldn’t put that four-quarter effort together. I know we gained a lot of belief out of the second half against Brisbane [in Round 9]: once we got that win under our belt, it’s just the momentum and belief that has carried this group through.”

Cowan explained the subtle change from a messaging standpoint as the year has gone on, saying the focuses for the Blues now from a game plan perspective are still very similar to what they came into the year trying to achieve.

“‘Vossy’ started all of it with our ball movement, we just couldn’t put it together for four quarters.

“We’ve changed the language around going through the middle of the ground with our short kicks - we’ve changed the language so it’s no longer ‘brave’. It’s just what we do and how we play.”

Not for the first time in Cowan’s career have the Blues taken their fans on quite the ride. Saturday night was Cowan’s first ever finals win, and was officially the biggest crowd he played in front of.

The wildcard win over the Dees was the first time Cowan had played in front of over 90,000 people, after three games of 88,000-plus - including his debut in Round 1, 2023.

“It was incredible. It’s honestly like we have another player out there on the field.

“It gives the boys that much energy - we love it when the crowd shows up in numbers like they did, we’re going to need it again this Friday.”

No matter the crowd, Cowan will go into each game just as he always does.

“I just chase the pigskin around and hope I don’t get five kicked on me.”