WITH the season on the line against Richmond and facing a 30-point deficit at quarter-time, Carlton's leaders decided enough was enough.

From Jarrad Waite in defence to Bryce Gibbs and Robert Warnock in the midfield, and Lachie Henderson and Eddie Betts up forward, the Blues' senior players lifted across the ground and drove the club to a gutsy 10-point win at the MCG. 

"There was some really quality leadership out there and at times, through this year, that hasn't come to the fore," Carlton coach Mick Malthouse said.

"And I think it's been too reliant on Murphy or (the injured) Chris Judd or Kade Simpson.

"The responsibility fell to a lot of people today and they accepted it."

Malthouse reserved special praise for Mitch Robinson, who played a pivotal role in setting the tone for his team: "He was very good, Robbo. He was nice and hard at it."

The Blues allowed the Tigers too much space running through the corridor in the first term, and too much latitude for Richmond's forwards to run back towards goal.

But despite trailing by five goals at the first change, Malthouse felt Carlton could work its way back in to the game with a few adjustments across the board.

"We were all over the shop in the first quarter, we just didn't really take the initiative, at times, with players who had (run with) jobs," he said. 

"And we really needed to re-organise ourselves.

Malthouse made two important moves. He swung Waite to the backline to stem Jack Riewoldt's dominance of youngster Josh Bootsma and used the tenacious Dennis Armfield to stop Tigers young gun Brandon Ellis, who was best afield in the first quarter.

"I think that's the flexibility we need and Jarrad actually jumped up and did pretty well for us," Malthouse said.

"He was able to give us an opportunity to swing the side around and gave us the ability to bring [first-gamer and substitute] Nick (Graham) on ... and get fresh legs on pretty early."

But when asked if the win would be the start of Carlton's late finals assault, Malthouse was typically non-plussed.

"I think we'll start worrying about Essendon before we start worrying about the last game. It's going to be a big game next week, a massive game," he said.

Malthouse also said Chris Judd was "a chance" to return for a potential finals campaign should Carlton qualify.