Key Blue declares the side is “far from peaking” after 6-3 start to 2024 season

Carlton ruckman Marc Pittonet has declared his team still has plenty of improvement to come for the rest of the 2024 season.

With sights set clearly on finals and a tilt at a premiership, the in-form big man has labelled the Blues’ start to the season as a building process towards the back end after another pulsating win against Melbourne.

“You look at how we started the year, there were parts of our stoppage game we had to improve on and part of our defence we had to improve on then a bit of the offence to improve on,” Pittonet said.

“I think that’s what the year is going to be like.

“You’ve got to be good at all three parts to win these finals. The rest of the year is just going to be building.

“I’d say we are very far from peaking.”

Pittonet himself is an archetype of the continual improvement he mentioned.

The 27-year-old has finally found a clean bill of health after dealing with nagging knee injuries in the last two seasons which have curtailed his ability to find consistent form.

Averaging a career-high 15 disposals per game in 2024, 12 of which are contested, to go with his average of nearly seven clearances and 24 hitouts, Pittonet said more time on the field has allowed his game to flourish.

“I’m really good,” Pittonet said of his physical condition.

“Being able to get games in and get the consistency up and build chemistry with the boys out there as well.

“Coming in and out means it is hard to get going and what I need to in that development (phase).

“Being able to connect with the boys and the core group, the familiarity, you got into those close games and you know what is going to happen which makes such a difference.”

Pittonet’s last handful of matches against Melbourne have seen him go head to head against champion Melbourne ruckman Max Gawn.

The Demons captain was visibly annoyed by the physicality and presence of Pittonet during Carlton’s epic one-point win and it has been a growing trend in the last few encounters.

“I just think he’s an absolute star,” Pittonet said of his Melbourne counterpart.

“It’s very much containment when you play against him.

“I had a 30-second lapse and he kicks a goal and he nearly brings them back.”

On the goal front, Pittonet dobbed a sensational set shot from a tight angle early in the first term against Melbourne as the Blues made an early move proving pivotal in the final result.

It would ultimately, based on pure one-versus-one match ups, prove a goal to cancel out the monstrous Gawn goal late in the game.

But the opportunity may not have come had his teammates had their say in the moment as Pittonet lined up for his sight on goal.

“The boys cued up (to take the shot),’ Pittonet said.

“A lot of the boys didn’t think I could kick that far.”

The winning celebrations for Pittonet and Carlton will now be turned into focusing their full attention to Sydney at the SCG next Friday night.

Carlton will likely be without Adam Cerra after the midfielder was subbed out with yet another hamstring concern.