But it was the Blues' inability to restrict opponents to a manageable score last season that probably prevented the club from climbing higher than 11th place on the AFL ladder.
It also placed the spotlight firmly on the Carlton defensive unit.
Full-back Bret Thornton is used to the critical glare but is determined to develop a miserly defence in 2009 to complement the Blues’ offensive potency.
"In a struggling team it's always going to come back on the defence, but that's fair enough, we don't mind that, it just makes us more determined to get better as a group," Thornton says.
"If we can get a better defensive mindset across the board then it's just going to be better for the club.
"The coaches have incorporated a few new drills, but really the most important thing is just getting our minds around not being slack on defensive turnovers and establishing a better mindset.
"We've shown that we can kick a lot of goals and we can attack as well as anyone, but the defensive side of our game has to get better.
“And that's not only inside defensive 50, but also through the midfield too."
Thornton said the progress of big-bodied teammates Michael Jamison, Paul Bower and Mark Austin would provide a greater level of flexibility down back.
A lot has been asked of the 25-year-old during the club's years at the lower end of the ladder, but after a refreshing post-season break which saw him visit the United States, Noosa and Margaret River, Thornton said he was ready to grab 2009 by the throat.
For the first time in four years he didn't have to go under the surgeon's knife at season’s end, which has allowed him to take part in every session of this pre-season campaign.
"There have been some dark days in my time here, but last year we were starting to see some good signs," Thornton says.
"I think it's my eighth pre-season now so in comparison to the rest of the group I'm pretty old these days, but in AFL terms I still see myself as pretty young. It is weird hearing that 'veteran' term used by people to describe me.
"We're all still pretty young down back, but if I can pass on a little bit of advice from my experience then I will."
But while the outlook is resoundingly positive at Visy Park, Thornton wasn't interested in making grand statements about the Blues' expectations for the 2009 season.
"At the end of the day talk is cheap and we've got to take that next step to play finals footy," he says.
"It's not just going to happen for us and it starts at training, it starts in our approach and our preparation. We don't expect to click our fingers and play finals footy, it will be a lot of hard work, but we're all in for the long run."
