DEVELOPING a group of players that stands up when the game is on the line is Carlton's main challenge, according to coach Mick Malthouse.
In its first two losses, the Blues have failed to halt the opposition when they had momentum and failed to capitalise when they gained the ascendancy.
Carlton has been good, and not good enough, in equal doses.
Facing Essendon on Sunday night at the MCG, the Blues are good enough to win but are they strong enough to halt opposition momentum and get the game back on their terms?
"It's the ability for us to eat into that momentum and just halt it enough to perhaps regenerate the game that we want, or negate the game that they want," Malthouse said.
"We can do something as coaches but it is a collective. We will try to re-organise the side but we expect our leaders to take control and take charge of certain parts of the game."
Anyone who saw Malthouse coaching last Thursday night against Richmond knows his competitive spirit has not dimmed.
At times he looked as engaged as a punk rock singer fronting his band on a reunion tour.
But he understands better than most – on Monday it was 30 years since he coached Footscray for the first time – that anything that happens in the coaches box pales into insignificance compared to what happens on the ground.
He says the better sides go to what he calls "the money men" to kick clutch goals or win a key contest or take an intercept mark.
Who will accept responsibility with Chris Judd not only missing through injury but in the twilight of his career?
Last week, turnovers cost the team goals. At the other end of the ground Jarrad Waite and Jeff Garlett missed key shots at goal when Carlton had momentum.
On the flipside, Dale Thomas, Kade Simpson and the skipper Marc Murphy stood tall and a youngster in Dylan Buckley came to the party.
Bryce Gibbs – a talent capable of influencing a game – did not, after a strong performance in the opening round.
Both Gibbs' form, and whether he should stay at Carlton or not, has been a subject of discussion outside the club all week.
Malthouse said it's up to Gibbs to remove such distractions and focus on what matters for him to play well.
"He has to deal with that, not we have to deal with that," Malthouse said. "That just comes with being a very good footballer, an early-round pick and a player who is a restricted free agent.
"[There is] always going to be a load-up of media speculation about the way he plays and what is happening. They are the things that come with football and outside things – if you can block those out - you go forward and play football. That is what we try to teach our players – [the] media, the public, the expectations, they don't get you kicks, they don't deny you kicks, there are only two sources: yourself and your opponent."
Brock McLean – who has managed just 25 disposals in the first two rounds – did not influence the result either. Malthouse said he was omitted for form reasons, rather than the fact he did not join the huddle at three-quarter time after being subbed off in the third quarter of last week’s game against Richmond.
McLean later said he did not think the rules allowed him to re-enter the field after being substituted.
Malthouse indicated it was obvious what McLean, who averaged 21 possessions a game in 2013, needed to do to win back a spot in the seniors.
"He knows what he has to do to get back: just got to play the same style and ball-getting power he had last year," Malthouse said.
However with Andrew Carrazzo and Andrew Walker returning, Malthouse is focusing on the positives rather than dwelling on the negatives.
In his view, Carlton is moving in the right direction and in time, its leaders will stand up when required.
"I'm very confident with the way we're going that those things in place are going forward, not going backwards," Malthouse said.
