Carlton coach Mick Malthouse has identified three areas in which the Blues have improved as they begin plotting a strong pre-season in a bid to have a more successful 2015.
In what has been, at times, a tumultuous season on and off the field, the Blues have just seven wins, but have shown in recent performances against Geelong, North Melbourne and Fremantle they can match it against the league's top teams.
Malthouse said the Blues had improved in leadership and mental strength and would also benefit from having as many as nine fresh faces take to the field this season, with midfielder Nick Holman, a third-round selection last year, in the mix to face Port Adelaide on Friday night.
He said it was "strange" to know he would not be a part of the finals this year, with the Blues already looking to next season when club bosses will determine whether the three-time premiership mentor is given a contract extension.
"I know it's too early to totally reflect but, (from) where we started the season and where we are at the moment, we have improved in areas that are massively important for us to go forward," Malthouse said on Wednesday at the YMCA's Bridge Project Breakfast.
"One is in leadership. I think Marc (Murphy) and his team have developed on a weekly basis. I have seen it happen ... in particular, the last five or six weeks.
"I think there is a realisation that responsibility does fall with players on the ground and off the ground and we are prepared to listen as coaches. That has been a major factor.
"Our recruitment last year, I know we have come under a bit of criticism, but the likelihood is we will blood another player this weekend. That will give us nine players from last year's draft, that's inclusive of (Dale) Thomas, (Sam) Docherty and (Andrejs) Everitt.
"I think the competitiveness against the top sides, we haven't worried where the side is. We have known in the last three or four weeks that finals were beyond us and the teams we were playing had far more things to play for ... mentally they entered the race with a lot more at stake but we were able to match that.
"I know I am talking mentally here but that is such an important thing in my book to be able to a match a side like a Fremantle, Geelong and Gold Coast and North Melbourne in the last month, as we have two more (Power and Essendon) that are in the eight."
Jeff Garlett and Mitch Robinson have felt the force of the club's leadership, after they were involved in an incident on Lonsdale Street at 5am on a Sunday morning earlier this month, with Robinson fracturing an eye socket and unlikely to play again this season. While both players were victims – four men were arrested at the scene and were charged with affray – the Carlton pair lied to the club about what had happened.
Robinson was fined $5000 by the Blues, while Garlett was fined $2500 and ruled out of senior selection for the subsequent clash against Gold Coast. He could return against the Power.
While Malthouse said the club's senior players were forgiving, he said Garlett and Robinson – both out of contract – had work to do to fulfil the standards set by the club.
"I would say that those two young blokes feel that there's a dye been set and they've got to now join in with what the rest of the players are doing," Malthouse said.
"It's not going to be easy; it's not an easy task to be out there and then to have to come back in.
"The players are very forgiving but I don't think they're going to lower their standard. They want those two young men to actually come into that standard and rise with it, not be outside it."
Malthouse said Dale Thomas, having hurt his knee and ankle in the loss to Geelong, was unlikely to make the trip to Adelaide. Troy Menzel (shoulder) is in doubt, while David Ellard (ankle) and Brock McLean (calf) have been ruled out.
