CARLTON coach Brett Ratten concedes his expectations of Jarrad Waite in his comeback from a knee reconstruction might have been too high.

Waite, who made his return with 17 disposals, 10 marks and two goals in the Blues' round-one win over Richmond, has struggled in the last fortnight and was dropped this week.

He was one of two surprise omissions from the side that lost to Essendon last weekend, with key defender Bret Thornton also demoted to the VFL.

Ratten said both players needed to find some form with the Northern Bullants before being considered for an AFL recall.

"We thought Bret's form had been probably below-par for a player of his ability and what he's produced over the years, so he's gone back to get a little bit of form at VFL level," Ratten said on Friday.

"With Jarrad it was more that maybe our expectations were a fraction high. With his timing and things like that, he just went under a few high balls and was just out a little bit. We thought it would be good for him to go back as well, get the ball in his hands, take a few marks and get that timing back.

"Both players are very important to us and the quicker we can get them into form, the more that it will help us going forward. It's pretty critical that they go back and get some footy in their hands."

Midfielder Brock McLean will also miss Saturday's clash with Adelaide at AAMI Stadium with a hip injury, but captain Chris Judd and rookies Jeff Garlett and Simon White all come into the side.

Judd is likely to attract plenty of attention from Adelaide's Brent Reilly and Ratten said he would pull the Brownlow Medallist out of the midfield if he was struggling with the heavy tag.

"We'll allow Chris to play and we'll change his position - not just play him in the one spot he plays normally," Ratten said.

"We need to get him into the game and we'll try different ways to do that. Our clearance work has been good while Chris has been out so it's more our effectiveness around the ground that we'd like to improve."

Ratten described Carlton's effort against the Bombers last weekend as "embarrassing" and said he expected to see a better attitude from his players against the under-siege Crows.

"The hardest thing to read (about last weekend's performance) was the intensity level teams come with some weeks, and don't come with other weeks," he said.

"We played Brisbane in Brisbane (in round two) and came with an intensity level that was what's required at our football club, but then to come and face Essendon ... they didn't deliver," he said.

"It comes down to character and attitude. With Chris coming back into the team that will help stimulate the team as well, so I think the attitude will be switched on."