Under-siege Carlton coach Brendon Bolton has urged his squad to “roll the sleeves up” ahead of Sunday’s clash with arch-rivals Collingwood.

The bottom-placed Blues came in for criticism after their season reached a new low with a goalless first half in last week’s thumping at the hands of Fremantle.

The performance sparked outrage amongst Carlton supporters but Bolton’s focus remains on the development of his young squad.

“We’re just going to invest really hard in each individual, coach them hard at the craft, coach them hard in the system and we’ll work our way through this as a footy club,” Bolton said.

“We are really clear that there’s only one way for us and that’s roll the sleeves up.”

The Blues endured a thorough review of the 57-point defeat to the Dockers, with Bolton stating that a number of challenges were thrown down to the players.

“Yes, I needed to (challenge them) at times but more importantly, the playing group did it of each other and that shows it’s not me and them, it’s us in it together,” he said of the post-match review.

Bolton also revealed the main areas addressed in the review revolved around a lack of consistency, not only with effort but in sticking to the game plan.

“We are inconsistent in our pressure and we’ve got some inconsistencies with running our system – it’s not just one or the other, it’s both.”

Carlton received some good news during the week with young gun Charlie Curnow signing a new four-year deal to stay at the club but they face a massive test of character at the MCG against finals contenders Collingwood.

The in-form Pies will be seeking a fifth-straight victory that keeps them within striking distance of the top four.

Bolton knows his side must be locked in to meet the challenge of nullifying Collingwood’s attacking weapons and speed around the ground.

“If you win enough of the contested footy, you can combat some of their speed so a big part of it is getting the ball in your hands and winning those contested, disputed situations.”