KANE Lucas is relishing having continuity in his football for the first time in his brief AFL career.

On Sunday, the rejuvenated Carlton midfielder also relished the chance to pay tribute to his captain Marc Murphy, playing a key role in a critical victory over Port Adelaide in his skipper's 150th game.

The Blues, of course, had three milestone men against Port Adelaide at Etihad Stadium – Heath Scotland (250) and Andrew Walker (150) were the others – and Lucas admires each of them enormously, but Murphy occupies a special place.

Asked if any individuals have been particularly influential in helping him revive his AFL career, Lucas immediately nominated his first-year skipper.

At the start of the pre-season, Murphy was appointed Lucas's official mentor under the Blues' mentoring system.

"'Murph' is a great player and leader, so it's been great having a mentor of that calibre," Lucas told AFL.com.au.

"I've just tried to latch on to him and learn as much as I can. It's been a great learning experience, just looking at the way he goes about it in his preparation. Hopefully some of that has rubbed off."

Before this season, an assortment of injuries (among them, hamstring, knee, back and hip problems), which in turn caused form issues, restricted Lucas to 18 games in his first three seasons.

However, the West Australian hasn’t missed a game this season. In the process he has surpassed his father Jack, who played 19 games for the Sydney Swans from 1982-84.

"I've got a few pre-seasons under my belt now and I'm more aware of what works for me and what I have to do get myself right," he said. "As long as I maintain those things, I'm confident my body will keep holding up pretty well."

Lucas, who will turn 22 in June, hasn’t simply made up the numbers, either. In fact, he has gone a long way towards establishing himself as a long-term member of Carlton's line-up.

He is averaging 19.6 disposals this season, mainly as a wingman, and has been a valuable member of the Blues' running brigade with his pacy ball-carrying and elusiveness, along with his ability to win his own ball.

During the Blues' three successive wins from rounds four to six, Lucas had a combined 21 running bounces. Seven of those came in the round-six victory over Melbourne when he amassed a personal-best and game-high 29 disposals.

The following week, in the loss to St Kilda, Lucas had just 14 touches in his quietest game of the season. But he wasn't alone that night.

Lucas and his teammates made amends against the Power – he gathered 21 possessions (nine contested) and laid five tackles in an 18-point win.

"I'm just enjoying having the chance to play regular senior footy, and I'm just trying to make the most of my opportunities," he said. 

"I've still got a few things to work on but I'm looking forward to improving them and seeing how long I can stay in the team."

Lucas' progress is a timely reminder of how well Carlton has done out of the then-controversial decision to trade the enigmatic Brendan Fevola to the Brisbane Lions at the end of 2009.

In exchange for their six-time leading goalkicker and pick 27 (which the Lions used on Callum Bartlett) in that year's NAB AFL Draft, the Blues received Lachie Henderson and pick 12 (Lucas).

Fevola's last AFL game was in round 18, 2010, while injuries have prevented Bartlett, now rookie-listed at the Lions, from making his AFL debut. 

With Henderson being one of the Blues' defensive towers and Lucas finally kicking on, that deal is looking better by the week.