Jeff Garlett might win back his place in Carlton’s AFL team this week, but how soon can he regain his teammates’ trust?

And the trust of the club, which is yet to decide on whether or not to offer a new contract?

Carlton coach Mick Malthouse says Garlett is a contender for a recall to the senior side for Friday night’s round-22 game against Port Adelaide at Adelaide Oval.

Malthouse spoke in glowing terms on Wednesday of how the 13th-placed Blues were making progress in terms of on-field leadership and culture.

But he says Garlett and teammate Mitch Robinson have some work to do in that area, following their early-morning incident in the city during August.

The two players were innocent parties in a brawl. Both then lied about Robinson’s involvement in the incident.

Carlton fined Robinson $5000 and the midfielder was ruled out for the rest of the season with a fractured eye socket suffered in the brawl.

The Blues handed Garlett a $2500 fine and he was ruled out of senior contention for round 20 against Gold Coast and was unable to gain a recall for last week’s clash with Geelong.

Both players aren’t contracted for 2015.

“Clearly they’ve mucked up in that culture-come-discipline area,” Malthouse told reporters at the YMCA’s Bridge Project breakfast.

“They can’t just say, ‘Oh look, we’re sorry’ and no action is taken.

“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.

“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.”

Garlett kicked 43 goals in 2013 but has struggled this season, booting 12 majors in nine games.

Malthouse says he has seen fantastic growth in the club’s mental strength during the season.

“There is a non-acceptance now of mediocrity, in performance and in attitude and in culture,” Malthouse said.

Malthouse said Dale Thomas (ankle and knee) was an unlikely starter against fifth-placed Port, while Troy Menzel (AC joint) was rated some chance to play.