CARLTON coach Mick Malthouse has backed his experience to guide the Blues out of their worst start to a season in 25 years and welcomed any pressure on his position.
Saturday's loss to Melbourne at the MCG marked the first time the Blues had started a season 0-4 since 1989, and the first time a Malthouse-coached side had gone winless in its first four matches.
After 29 seasons in charge of Footscray, West Coast, Collingwood and now Carlton, Malthouse said he would welcome scrutiny as the Blues search for answers.
Saturday's loss to Melbourne at the MCG marked the first time the Blues had started a season 0-4 since 1989, and the first time a Malthouse-coached side had gone winless in its first four matches.
After 29 seasons in charge of Footscray, West Coast, Collingwood and now Carlton, Malthouse said he would welcome scrutiny as the Blues search for answers.
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"If the blowtorch comes on it comes on … I hope it comes on me and not my players. It can come on me all it likes," he said.
"I don't like doing any pump-ups but my last seven years in AFL football have been all in finals.
"So the game hasn't changed dramatically in the space of six months. Seven years is seven years of getting sides in finals.
"I'm not going to start second guessing myself because all of a sudden we're zip and four."
Malthouse said his team was without confidence, but he was "not going to drop the expectations".
He pointed to Carlton's edge in clearances (39-25), contested possessions (135-122) and inside 50s (48-45) as proof his players had "busted their guts".
"If the blowtorch comes on it comes on … I hope it comes on me and not my players. It can come on me all it likes," he said.
"I don't like doing any pump-ups but my last seven years in AFL football have been all in finals.
"So the game hasn't changed dramatically in the space of six months. Seven years is seven years of getting sides in finals.
"I'm not going to start second guessing myself because all of a sudden we're zip and four."
Malthouse said his team was without confidence, but he was "not going to drop the expectations".
He pointed to Carlton's edge in clearances (39-25), contested possessions (135-122) and inside 50s (48-45) as proof his players had "busted their guts".
Five talking points: Carlton v Melbourne
"We've got to rally – at the moment we're a long way off," he said.
"We're zip and four, there's no use hiding it, [but] it doesn't mean I've lost faith in the side.
"How do we restore confidence? Well after a loss you're closer to your next win.
"We keep persisting. We're not going to do a lot different."
The Blues could be without Michael Jamison against the Western Bulldogs in round five after the key defender appeared to suffer a shoulder injury and was on crutches post-match.
Midfielder Dale Thomas also played through a shoulder problem while Troy Menzel was substituted at quarter time with a quad injury.
Malthouse said match hardness had been an issue for his team.
"I always thought that certain players would take a long time to work into the season," he said.
"They're the blokes that have taken longer to get up to the rigours of AFL football.
"The side will probably have to change with injuries.
"We'll look at our reserves today and only players who can come up and meet the criteria of what we expect of this football club."
He praised the Demons, who used the ball better as the game wore on and notched their first win since round 14 last season.
And after entering the season with September expectations, he didn't concede the Blues' season was over.
"All I'm saying is while we're alive we will keep trying."
Twitter: @AFL_Nathan
"We've got to rally – at the moment we're a long way off," he said.
"We're zip and four, there's no use hiding it, [but] it doesn't mean I've lost faith in the side.
"How do we restore confidence? Well after a loss you're closer to your next win.
"We keep persisting. We're not going to do a lot different."
The Blues could be without Michael Jamison against the Western Bulldogs in round five after the key defender appeared to suffer a shoulder injury and was on crutches post-match.
Midfielder Dale Thomas also played through a shoulder problem while Troy Menzel was substituted at quarter time with a quad injury.
Malthouse said match hardness had been an issue for his team.
"I always thought that certain players would take a long time to work into the season," he said.
"They're the blokes that have taken longer to get up to the rigours of AFL football.
"The side will probably have to change with injuries.
"We'll look at our reserves today and only players who can come up and meet the criteria of what we expect of this football club."
He praised the Demons, who used the ball better as the game wore on and notched their first win since round 14 last season.
And after entering the season with September expectations, he didn't concede the Blues' season was over.
"All I'm saying is while we're alive we will keep trying."
Twitter: @AFL_Nathan
