SYDNEY Swans midfielder Luke Ablett wasn’t going to make any bold statements but the signs were there against Carlton – for him and his team – that things are on the improve.

While the stats might not reveal it, Ablett was among the Swans’ best in his side’s thrilling two-point win over the Blues at Telstra Dome on Sunday.

Ablett collected a respectable 16 disposals in the see-sawing, high-scoring battle, which Paul Roos’ side eventually won 18.13 (121) to 18.11 (119).

But it was his opponent’s disposal count that really told the tale of Ablett’s afternoon.

Opposed to a shutdown role on Carlton playmaker Nick Stevens, the hard-working Swan restricted the key Blue to a season-low 11 disposals – a performance his coach later described as “outstanding”.

“Yeah, that was good,” Ablett said of Stevens’ possession count.

“I was on him for most of the day, so it was good to get a bit of a result and a bit of confidence personally after not having a great month of footy personally.

“It was good to get out there and do a role for the team.”

Roos’ run-with roles all seemed to work on the day.

Co-captain Brett Kirk nullified Chris Judd’s influence, while Kieren Jack also kept Marc Murphy on a relatively tight leash.

But it was Ablett’s job, in a match decided by just two points that might have proved most pivotal.

The Swan seemed relieved not only to earn the four premiership points, but to play a significant part in the win.

“I haven’t had the greatest of years, so it was kind of good to get back to basics and have a very specific role to go out and shut him down,” he said.

“He’s had a very good year, I think over the past three or four weeks he’d been averaging 25 touches and kicking goals, so he’s been really influential for them.”

Asked whether he thought Sunday’s round 16 encounter might be a turning point in what the modest Swan has rated an underwhelming season thus far – at least on a personal level – he wasn’t looking too far ahead.

“Who knows?” Ablett said.

“I don’t want to get too carried away. I’ve only played one half-decent game.

“There are still six tough games to go [this year]. There are still a few things I stuffed up during the game so we’ll work through them.

“Hopefully we’ll just keep improving as a team and individually as well.”