Blues speedster Chris Yarran expects improved second half of the season. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: Wayne Ludbey / News Corp Australia
CARLTON speedster Chris Yarran has blamed complacency for early-season failures as the Blues face a finals eliminator against bogy side St Kilda.
The Saints are gunning for third successive Monday night upset win over the Blues, who are staring at a 2-6 start if they lose tonight.
In a candid assessment of the team's poor starts, Yarran said the Blues' attitude had hurt them.
"We didn't turn up (with) the right attitude against Melbourne, we just assumed we would go out there and win and got our pants pulled down," Yarran told the Herald Sun.
"Same with Essendon and Collingwood. I just don't know how it happens. We just have to avoid bad starts.
"We have to win against St Kilda and give ourselves some momentum going into the break. Sometimes we play better when we are up against the ropes."
Carlton refused to give up on its September aspirations, hopeful the team's fortunes will improve as key players regain fitness following an injury-marred off-season.
Assistant coach Dean Laidley yesterday revealed he was "taken aback" by the 18 off-season surgeries to key players.
"That's really hurt us," Laidley said on 3AW.
"We didn't have a lot of players doing a lot of work preseason. They are starting to get match hardened now."
Despite conceding it was in a rebuilding mode last week, the Blues can still hit the midpoint of the season at an even keel at 5-5, if they can regain winning form against bottom-eight sides St Kilda, Adelaide and Brisbane over the next month.
Superstar veteran Chris Judd is expected back from a hamstring injury against the Crows in a fortnight.
Blues veteran Chris Judd injured his hamstring in his comeback match. Picture: Michael Klein Source: News Corp Australia
However, a loss tonight will consign the club to its worst start since 2007 and further fulfil predictions from respected greats such as Hawthorn champion Jason Dunstall that the club is a bottom-six side.
Assistant coach Rob Wiley suggested tonight could make or break their campaign, saying the Blues could not afford to slip further down the ladder.
"Going into the bye, we need to be 3-5," Wiley said.
"We still have great belief good things can happen this year, but they can only happen if we start winning games."
Malthouse said the club needed to weed out "passengers" who were contributing to the club's inconsistent form.
Carlton has left out veteran midfielder Andrew Carrazzo with a back complaint for the third straight match and dropped Kane Lucas.
Yarran and David Ellard return.
Laidley said the players had to learn to balance the speed of their offence.
"Carlton look very, very good when they're up and play a ballistic style but you can't play that type of game all the time," Laidley said.
"That's been the coaching staff treading the fine line and teaching them to make those decisions out on the ground."
Wiley said the team had made the most of a 10-day break.
"Over the weeks it's been a bit up and down for us (in games), but on the training track it has been fantastic, the boys have been very positive," Wiley said.
"They've trained well again, they've rebounded well and they understand the importance (of tonight's game)."
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