CHRIS Yarran's inability to provide "four-quarter intent" was behind his axing for Saturday's clash against Collingwood, but interim Blues coach John Barker refuses to speculate on whether the speedster remains a required player at Ikon Park.

Along with Troy Menzel and Jason Tutt, Yarran was dropped by the Blues on Thursday night following the disappointing 64-point loss to North Melbourne last Saturday night and the club's record 138-point capitulation to Hawthorn the previous round.

Barker told reporters on Friday he hoped Yarran remained at Carlton beyond this season, regardless of whether he was appointed Blues coach on a full-time basis.

Sliding doors: round 19

But he suggested Yarran would have to lift his intensity to get back into the Blues team.

"We've got a number of players that have come out of the team this week on the basis of not being able to provide four-quarter intent, and we're very confident that they'll go back to the VFL team and they'll provide intent and they'll fight their way back into the team," Barker said.

"We need weight of numbers in regards to intent with all of our players so we can't be conditional on who it is, what the name is.

"We need to make sure if we want to stand for something as a club and give ourselves the best chance of being a really good club going forward, we need to stand very strong on four-quarter intent."

Yarran was also dropped for Carlton's round 10 game with Adelaide after he arrived late for several club commitments.

The West Australian is set to become a restricted free agent at the end of next season and there has been growing speculation that Carlton will be open to a trade at the end of this year if a rival club is prepared to trade a late first-round pick.

Barker said Yarran was "gutted" by his recent form slump and suggested his lack of intent could stem from a lack of confidence.

"He's obviously concerned that he's not providing Carlton with what he knows he can and he's really keen to get some of that confidence back," Barker said.

Menzel appeared one of the Blues' brightest young prospects after kicking 26 goals in 19 games last season – the third highest tally at Carlton.

But the 20-year-old has struggled in his third AFL season this year, kicking just 13 goals in 11 matches.

Menzel has battled knee and leg injuries in 2015 but, like Yarran, Barker expects more from him.

"His body has been not as durable as we'd like. (But) Troy needs to go back and work hard on (producing) a full four quarters," Barker said.

Given the Blues' mounting injury list, Barker could have been temped to give Yarran and Menzel a reprieve, especially given they take on a Collingwood side this Saturday that has lost its past six matches. 

But Barker said dropping the classy duo had not been a "tough" decision even if a win against the Pies could – at least on the surface – boost his bid to win the Carlton coaching job.

"The Carlton Football Club's future is what comes first and foremost, and I have no intention of wasting the next five weeks and I've no intention of wasting the full 12 weeks that I've had," he said.

"It compromises us in some way in the short-term, but if we want to be a good team we need to set a high standard."