Generating as much noise from the stands is the graceful sight of the lightning-quick Jeff Garlett running towards goal, leaving opposition defenders in his wake.
The Blues haven't had 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.
"It's not about how many disposals you can get. Not everyone can be like Chris Judd."
Garlett has been in Melbourne since the end of 2008 but has not warmed to the cooler climate. As he sits in an air-conditioned room during this interview, he wears his Carlton beanie throughout to ward off the winter chills after a training session.
"I wish the weather was like Perth's, but you've just got to get used to it," he said. "It's so much busier here with all the traffic as well."
He misses family and friends in Western Australia, and has a constant reminder of home on his left arm where he has a tattoo in recognition of a family member close to him who was killed in a car accident.
After being given his chance in the NAB Cup in 2009, he was promoted from the rookie list to replace the injured Robert Warnock and made his debut in front of more than 87,000 against Richmond at the
MCG. He made his mark, joining the group to kick a goal with their first kick at League level.
At the end of his first season, Garlett suffered a setback when he was suspended by the club for one match (along with Cameron Cloke and Betts), for failing to attend a compulsory recovery session after the round 21 match against Melbourne, in which Garlett booted four goals. But he has put that incident well behind him.
Last year was a breakout season for Garlett. As a nominated rookie, he managed 20 games and booted 39 goals, highlighted by a career-best six-goal haul against Essendon in round 19. That performance earned him a nomination in the NAB AFL Rising Star award, in which he ultimately finished sixth with five votes.
His preparations for 2011 were interrupted by surgery on his left shoulder late last year and he missed the Blues' NAB Cup matches. But he worked hard to ensure he was ready for round one.
"I tried to get out of it (surgery), but the club doctor wouldn't let me. I had to do rehab and missed the NAB Cup," he said. "It was lucky I did get it done because it might have got worse."
This season has not been without its hiccups. In the draw with Essendon at the MCG in round four, Garlett had a chance to win the game. With the Blues leading narrowly in the dying moments, he marked inside 50 and instinctively played on. He thought he had the pace to burn off Dustin Fletcher, but the veteran Bomber was a bit too close for comfort, grabbing him in a match-saving tackle.
"I should have gone back and taken the shot," Garlett said. "I didn't realise how close he was. He was going 100 miles an hour."
Even last week against Port Adelaide, Garlett struggled early in the windy conditions at AAMI Stadium, but had a much better second half, finishing with four goals.
It is clear Garlett is a different young man to the one who walked through the door at Visy Park after winning a spot on the Blues' rookie list. He is still quietly spoken and shy, but there is an air of confidence about him that has come with self-belief.
After leaving his home state, it was tough to make the adjustment to an AFL environment, but the support around Carlton from indigenous teammates has helped.
There is a close bond between the Blues' indigenous players. Betts and Walker are the elder statesmen as they look after and nurture their younger teammates Garlett and Chris Yarran. "We all know how to work with each other," he said.
Garlett has some family connections in Melbourne - players at other AFL clubs. His first cousins are Hawthorn star Lance ‘Buddy' Franklin and North Melbourne's Cruize Garlett, and Collingwood veteran Leon Davis is his uncle.
He does not see them as often as he would like because of conflicting training commitments, but they are there if he needs advice and support.
Garlett and Yarran live together, helping each other with their adjustment to life in a new, bigger city. "To come over here was hard at the start, to be away from family and friends," he said.
"Getting used to it is hard, especially when you're on your own."
He and Yarran played in the same junior team (Midvale Junior Football Club) and at the same WAFL club (Swan Districts) before moving across the Nullarbor. Another young Blue, David Ellard, trod the same path.
Garlett is pleased to see how his housemate has progressed this season in his new role as a running backman.
"To change from being a forward to being a defender is a lot of work," he said. "Seeing that transition to change is really good, especially in such a short period of time."
After playing in Carlton's finals campaigns in the past two years, Garlett is looking forward to the second half of the season. Sitting in fourth spot with a 7-2-1 record, the Blues are well placed to make it to September again and have an impact.
"We want to be ruthless as a team and go that extra step further in the season," he said.
He shapes as an integral part of the Blues' line-up as they attempt to finish in the top four for the first time since 2000.
"I've learnt a lot from my last two years since I've been here, the way that I play and the way defenders want to play on me," he said.
"Everyone tells me that I've got to back my speed and not let them push on me - keep running them around because I've got the leg speed to do it."
Ratten has seen the changes in Garlett, overseen his development and is full of admiration.
"He's trained exceptionally hard," he said. "He's gone up on to the wing at times and been in a few centre bounces, which helps him get into the game."
Garlett is thankful for the support from Ratten.
"‘Ratts' has been really good in the way I go about my footy," he said. "If I get a spray, I'll respond to it."
Ratten is happy with his young forward's output this season. "I think his consistency to have an impact in games has been really good," he said.
"At times, maybe he has fallen away a little bit, but the ability to stay involved in the whole game and get something out of games has been a real plus for us. He's just growing in confidence."
JEFF GARLETT
Born: August 3, 1989
Recruited from: Swan Districts
Debut: Round 1, 2009, v Richmond
Height: 180cm Weight: 74kg
Games: 40 Goals: 76
Player honours: NAB AFL Rising Star nominee 2010
Brownlow Medal: Career votes 4
