CARLTON midfielder Nick Graham says interim coach John Barker has tried to bring some energy back to the club after what has been a difficult few weeks, which resulted in the sacking of coach Mick Malthouse on Tuesday.
Graham says Barker has encouraged the players to focus on their effort and maintain their intensity, and the Blues appeared to have responded to his message on Friday night against the Sydney Swans at the SCG. The home side led by 63 points at three-quarter time and threatened to blow the margin out, but Carlton managed to stem the tide and win the final term.
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"We went into the game focusing on a few key areas like hard ball gets and tackles," Graham said after the match.
"We knew there were a quality outfit and we knew they might kick away at some stage, but we just wanted to keep our heads down and try to peg them back as much as possible.
"It was good to come out in the last quarter and actually hit the scoreboard a little bit and put some pressure back on them.
"I know we are not pleased with big losses like that, but I feel like we have taken a few steps forward and hopefully that can be our benchmark from here on in."
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The full-time statistics showed the Blues were only five behind the Swans in contested possessions, 137-132. And while the tackle count finished 82-65 in the home side's favour, it was an improvement from the minus-25 differential in Carlton's loss to Geelong last Friday night.
The 20-year-old Graham returned to the lineup for the Blues' trip to Sydney for his second game of the season following a stint in the VFL. He finished as one of the club's better players, gathering 14 possessions, three marks and laying an equal team-high seven tackles.
Barker recognised Graham's performance in his post-match media conference.
"Patrick Cripps, Nick Graham, they go in against some seasoned, very good, talented midfielders and the positive about that is it is a real learning experience for them," Barker said.
The club has had to try to quickly move on from the dismissal of Malthouse, given the decision was made on Tuesday and the team travelled to Sydney on Thursday.
"I think he is just trying to bring a lot of energy back to the club and make us boys really vibrant and get the effort up," Graham said of Barker.
"Mick's a great coach and I have great respect for him, but we have to kind of move on now and look forward to what Johnny is going to bring. We will sit down closely with him over the next couple of weeks and see what he has to offer."
Carlton hosts Adelaide at the MCG next Saturday afternoon.
