CARLTON may have clearly stated that it is "rebuilding" but coach Mick Malthouse is adamant the club's message will not change his approach to team selection and the way he motivates his players.
In a letter to Carlton supporters on carltonfc.com.au, Blues CEO Steven Trigg called for patience as the club seeks to regenerate its list through the draft, free agency and trades over the next few years.
President Mark LoGuidice also stated in an interview with News Limited that Malthouse's contract, which expires at the end of this season, would be reviewed in the latter half of the season.
At his press conference on Friday morning, Malthouse was asked to respond to the club's public way of delivering its message to the fans.
"The president has a message to the fans and I have a message to the players and that message is in here (inside the club)," Malthouse said.
The Blues coach said he had spoken to his players about the club's stance and has made it clear to them that the club’s message would not be a factor in how selects the team.
"Let's make this very, very clear," Malthouse said. "We pick the side every week to run down the race to be as competitive as we can.
"This is not a free ticket to any player. This is not a throw out of (Chris) Judd, (Andrew) Carrazzo, (Kade) Simpson, (Andrew) Walker, anyone who may or may not be here over the next two to three seasons and play Dylan Viojo-Rainbow, Dylan Buckley, Billy Gowers, etc.
"We will pick the side on merit to represent the football club as best as we possibly can."
Internally, Malthouse said there is a clear distinction between his task of delivering on-field success to that of newly appointed Blues list manager Stephen Silvagni who is looking to build a squad of players to achieve success in the future.
"The day to day running of a football organisation, on field, is totally different to what Steve Silvagni does," Malthouse said.
"Steve is looking to the future, I'm looking at immediate. And we don't want to confuse that."
Not withstanding the publicity around the club in recent days, Carlton is 0-2 and faces a tough task in getting its season back on track against Essendon at the MCG on Saturday afternoon.
Star defender Andrew Walker returns for his first game of the year, after battling back from multiple bouts of surgery on his knee, while Irishman Ciaran Byrne will also debut alongside the returning Patrick Cripps and Dennis Armfield.
Malthouse said he expects a far more sustained effort from his leaders and experienced players, having laid down the challenge to them in the lead-up to the game against the Bombers.
"If there's no responsibility and no recognition that we played poorly last week then it's a massive mountain to climb," Malthouse said.
"When it's spoken about and acknowledged, that's where you get hope."
