Michael Voss doesn't know if Carlton's win over Geelong will prove to be a landmark moment in their AFL premiership hunt.
But a tense eight-point victory against the reigning premiers, who launched a spirited fightback in the final quarter, would certainly fit the bill.
Throw in the fact the Blues also ended a horror run in close matches, and it could be just the turning point they have been looking for.
"It's a significant win," Voss said after the 13.12 (90) to 12.10 (82) victory on Thursday night.
"When you stack up all the things that were around us, the discussion around us and what we needed to be able to execute, you get a lot of confidence out of that and a lot of belief.
"We've built that over pre-season but still as a player and a coach you want to see that activated."
Carlton conceded late goals in each of their previous three matches, including a pair of heartbreaking defeats to Melbourne and Collingwood that cost them a finals berth last year.
It happened again in the 2023 season-opening draw with Richmond, putting the Blues under an intense spotlight.
Harry McKay, Jesse Motlop and Lochie O'Brien were among the players who copped external heat over individual errors during the fallout as the Blues went to school on the tape.
"There were some guys there that had some tough learnings but what we were confident of was our system was standing up," Voss said.
"There were a few little decisions that we needed to make better to correct it.
"Tonight (against Geelong) we were sort of absorbing a bit from seven minutes to go and it wasn't quite going the way we wanted it.
"But in the last three-and-a-half minutes, I thought we executed really well."
Carlton's 28-point lead was whittled away to just eight after Geelong star Jeremy Cameron's third goal of the final quarter, but they held on in the dying stages.
The Blues take on GWS at Giants Stadium in round three.
