Carlton’s latest fourth-quarter AFL fightback has left caretaker coach David Teague wanting more, saying they need to start turning up earlier in games.
The Blues on Sunday fell agonisingly short of posting their third win from four games, losing to Melbourne by five points in a tense finish at the MCG.
Carlton clawed back a 38-point deficit to take the lead before Jayden Hunt’s clutch goal with two minutes remaining saved the Demons’ skin.
While the Blues’ improvement has been obvious, their languid starts in all four games under Teague’s charge have been an issue.
The Blues rallied for upset wins over Brisbane and Fremantle but left it too late in tight losses to the Western Bulldogs and Melbourne.
“We know we’re a good fourth-quarter team over the last four weeks and we’ve been in this position, so they’ve got belief in it,” Teague said.
“You could see from the way they were talking … (they had) a big crowd behind them.
“When the crowd gets behind them and we get a bit of a run on, I think we’re really dangerous. We just need to start doing it earlier in games.”
The Blues have fielded one of the least experienced teams in the competition this season but Teague didn’t think a lack of maturity was holding them back.
“I don’t think it’s maturity, it’s just a mindset,” he said.
“I think they’re good enough and they can do it, they’ve just got to do it for longer. It’s just our ability to go out there for four quarters and actually concentrate.
“Concentration is a tough skill … I think the best players have it and we’ve got to get better in that area.”
The Blues could receive a major boost for next week’s clash with Sydney at the SCG with skipper Patrick Cripps likely to return from a foot injury.
Harry McKay (groin) and David Cuningham (knee) are also likely to be in the mix, while Jacob Weitering could be in doubt after his nose was broken in Sunday’s game.