When discussing Carlton's rise from cellar dweller to a finals contender, the name Justin Cordy is rarely mentioned.

But Cordy, according to star Blue Nick Stevens, has been every bit as important as captain Chris Judd, CEO Greg Swann, coach Brett Ratten and former president Dick Pratt.

Cordy has been Carlton's high performance manager since November 2007 when he left the world champion Australian cricket team to head to Princes Park.

He left with the blessings of Cricket Australia, which still speaks glowingly of his 22-month tenure with Ricky Ponting's side.

So too the Blues, as evidenced on Monday when Stevens was asked why the Blues had improved so much this season.

Stevens said the Blues' increased fitness had 'pushed us along probably faster than we would have thought'.

"I think that once you get that, you get a bit of belief and once you get a young group that believes in each other and believes in the game plan. How quick is up to you how quick you grow."

The Blues would once roll over and slump to heavy defeats when faced with deficits such as those against Port Adelaide, Collingwood and the Bulldogs, but not so in 2008.

"We are running out games really well," Stevens said.

"That's one thing we've sat down as a group last year and said we want to make sure that we never say die and fight to the end."

"That's what we've done this year. With a young group, that's a great attitude to have."

Stevens is not the only person to speak highly of Cordy, who has also worked at Essendon and the Western Bulldogs.

He was very popular with the Australian cricket team, which did not lose a Test during Cordy's 22-month tenure as the strength and conditioning coach.

Cordy joined the Australian fitness staff ahead of the Sydney Test in 2006, which was the second win in Australia's record-breaking run of 16 Test victories.

Philip Pope, in his role as Australia's media manager, has seen first-hand how well Cordy relates with the players.

One of Cordy's great achievements was helping Andrew Symonds play in the World Cup only seven weeks after having surgery to repair a ruptured biceps tendon.

He gets results, Pope said, because he had a holistic approach to his work. No part of an athlete's preparation was overlooked.

Also a qualified physio, Cordy was highly respected by the Australians, Pope said.

He worked his players hard and they rarely questioned his methods.

"He's just very comfortable around champion sportsmen and champion sportsmen are very comfortable around him," Pope said.

"He's not in awe at all he's very much equal with the athlete."

"If he asks a sportsman to do something he expects them to do it otherwise he lets them know about it."

"It doesn't surprise me at all that the players enjoy spending time with him."