Michael Voss is still struggling to get words out of Lachie Cowan.
But the Carlton coach has got plenty to say about the Blues' quiet achiever.
"I can't imagine a team without him in it," Voss said in a recent club video.
"He's certainly what we want to be able to stand for as a footy club.
"He doesn't say a hell of a lot - but he doesn't need to either."
Dashing, classy and hard-nosed backman Cowan played seven games in his debut campaign last year, but has added 16 this year to become a lock in Carlton's defence.
The 19-year-old plays down Voss's comments, but clearly relishes his coach's faith.
"I know that he backs me, so it gives me a lot of confidence to back myself," Cowan told AAP.
"It's been really, really good."
Backline coach Aaron Hamill has encouraged Cowan to lean into a defence-first, physical mindset, while teammate Nic Newman has his back.
"When I walk out to the ground, Nic always says, 'you're going to make a couple of mistakes today, but just back yourself and keep going after it,'" he said.
"So I take that advice."
That confidence has Cowan, a lifelong Blues fan who grew up idolising Chris Judd, raring for his finals debut.
Cowan doesn't mind which of the Brisbane Lions' dangerous small forwards he has to get to grips with at the Gabba on Saturday.
"I'm really looking forward to it, especially growing up going for Carlton and not really watching the boys play many finals," he said.
"Anything can happen in finals. It really is the start of a new season.
"I think our footy stacks up against the best, so it'll be interesting to see how far we can go."
Devonport local Cowan stayed with Newman and his partner Samantha when he first moved to Carlton.
Now, he lives with teammates Jaxon Binns and Billy Wilson in Brunswick, getting to grips with Melbourne's inner north and picking up and dropping interests - barbering, pool and golf among them - on a whim.
"It's a lot different to Tassie," Cowan admits.
"It's a bit more hectic. Traffic's a bit different. Takes a while to get somewhere.
"Other than that, I'm really enjoying it. There's a bit more to do than Tassie."
Cowan is quintessentially Tasmanian.
His mum and dad both moved from Queenstown, on the coast, to Devonport, where he was raised - and helped win the local club's first senior flag.
It should make him the perfect target for the incoming expansion team.
But unfortunately for Tasmania, Cowan's first love - Carlton - is front of mind.
"I don't think too far ahead," he said.
"But I'm really happy at the Blues, and as long as they want to keep me, I'm happy to stay."
