CARLTON coach Brendon Bolton has lamented an "emotional rollercoaster" of a season, with the Blues resigned to their worst campaign in 117 years with defeat on Saturday night.

A brutal 104-point loss to Adelaide at Etihad Stadium meant the club would finish its year with just two wins to its name, its lowest tally since 1901.

However, a defiant Bolton urged the Blues to stick to their guns, reiterating his belief that his young group will grow from what has been a season full of setbacks.

CROWS FEAST ON BLUES Full match details and stats

"We're all human, our players, our club administrators, the board," Bolton said.

"We're all people and we're so invested in wanting this club to go where it needs to go that you do go on an emotional rollercoaster. There's no doubt about that.

"However, the one thing is when you do go on that emotional rollercoaster, you do not get distracted or go off plan. Very easily, you can do that with emotion – you can make rash decisions.

"We know the challenging realities of age profile and injury this year, we've never once used them as an excuse and we've stayed absolutely resolute on this plan.

"It's been testing, but it's also been quite fulfilling that our club has tightened us as people."

At least one change to the coaching panel seems to be in place as Carlton Tweeted post-match, thanking midfield coach Tim Clarke for his three years at the club.


BLUES' HISTORICALLY BAD YEAR Five talking points

In a grim season, young midfielder Patrick Cripps has provided the beacon of hope.

He was again terrific on Saturday night despite Carlton's heavy loss, winning 37 disposals, 24 contested possessions, 18 clearances and laying seven tackles.

In doing so, he broke Patrick Dangerfield's record for the most contested possessions in a home and away season – earning the praise of his coach in the process.

WATCH Brendon Bolton's full post-match media conference

However, Bolton also said his lone-hand performances are indicative of where the club needs to improve as it continues its rebuild.

"Have a look at his clearance rate," Bolton said.

"His contested possession rate today, his centre square bounces … I don't think it's ever been done before, his contested numbers in a year.

"But therein lies two things. We need to build our youngsters up to support him, that's through hard work. But there's also a great role model for them to see what they need to do in that space.

"I'd rather be sitting here saying there's four people producing less stats than what Cripps did and it's an even spread, but in saying that, you can only deal with the cards that are there. I take my hat off to him."