CARLTONcoach Denis Pagan is playing down his 100th game at the helm of theclub and says the milestone won’t affect his approach when the Blues run outagainst the Hawks on Friday night.

“It’s been a tough four-and-a-half years,” Pagan said.

“I remember Allan Jeans [former St Kilda and Hawthorn premiershipwinning coach] saying you’ve never coached until you’ve coached a lowly side.

“I’ve learned a hell of a lot over the last four-and-a-halfyears. It just shows how little I knew.

“I just want to make sure the club is going forward and Ithink they are every so slowly.”

Nevertheless the club’s recent form and their twoconsecutive wins over the Bulldogs and Port Adelaide is pleasing for theveteran coach.

“It’s great to see the guys playing exciting football.They’re exciting to watch at the moment.

“We have a lot of kids, and when I say kids I mean 20-21-year-oldswho are getting games under their belt and really starting to grow.

“That’s great to see,” Pagan said.

The 59-year-old insists that even when the club has enduredlosses this year, the morale of the playing group didn’t dip.

“Our guys have been pretty good all through all the roughpatches.

“Over the last few weeks it’s [the mood] been up a bit butour guys have always been a very young enthusiastic group to deal with,” hesaid.

Pagan defended his star full forward Brendan Fevola, who hada relatively quiet night on Saturday at the Telstra Dome, scoring just twogoals with the remaining 20 being provided by ten different teammates.

“It’s just the way it’s panned out over the last couple ofweeks. Brendan’s been trying as hard as he can.

“I’m sure he’s ready for a big game and hopefully that’sFriday night.

“We’re really pleased with the way he’s going and the wayhe’s been preparing.”

Despite Hawthorn’s defeat at the hands of the Swans lastweekend, Pagan says his charges will not underestimate the Hawks.

“Hawthorn could have easily won [against Sydney].

“If you were to pick out isolated incidents during the game,if they had have went Hawthorn’s way, it could have been different.

“It’s a big test for us. Hawthorn have proved themselves tobe a quality side.

“It’s an opportunity for us to measure ourselves andsee where we’re at.”