The Blues don’t have the tall timber in attack of Collingwood or Hawthorn. Jarrad Waite is their best tall forward. Andrew Walker has developed into an excellent medium forward capable of kicking a bag (as he did with six last week against Port Adelaide) and Setanta O’hAilpin supplies the grunt while also helping in the ruck.

But it is the combination of Garlett and Eddie Betts that is providing plenty of headaches for opposition defenders.

Playing as a small forward is never easy, but Garlett is making a good fist of it. In his 40 games, his average of slightly less than two goals a game is respectable for a player of his ilk.

Pace is his supreme weapon as he sneaks out the back and swoops on the loose ball as the opposition defence, pressing forward to lock the ball in their forward line, runs back to try to catch him, often in vain.

But Garlett’s game is judged not purely by how many goals he kicks or how spectacular they are. In today’s game there are other indicators, and the gifted forward is one of the best at the pressure skills that keep the ball locked in the attacking 50, part of the game in which Carlton has improved dramatically.

In 10 games this season, the 74kg Garlett has laid 35 tackles. “In every game, my main focus is just to pressure, chase and tackle,” he said.

“It doesn’t matter how many goals I get in a game. Every team is trying to create pressure in the forward line that helps the midfielders and the defenders.”

Garlett realises that on the forward line there will be times during a contest, as well as from game to game, that he will struggle for opportunities, but his aim is consistency.

“I didn’t want to go downhill after having a good year last year,” he said. “I feel I’ve done it so far, but I’ve still got half a season to go.

“If I’m having a bad game, I have to do something to get into the game, such as chase and tackle.”

Read the full story in this week’s AFL Record, available at all grounds.