Carlton coach Brett Ratten says in pure win-loss terms, it’s hard to argue with Blues’ great Alex Jesaulenko’s assertion that the AFL club has gone backwards in 2012.
However Ratten says Carlton’s 6-6 record, which has caused plenty of angst for Blues’ fans anxious to see the club push into the top four, is due partly to injuries to their tall forwards.
Jarrad Waite’s back problem, which has kept him out of action since round seven, is still troubling him and he’ll undergo running drills over the next fortnight in a bid to accelerate his return to the side.
Jesaulenko, whose 115-goal tally in 1970 is the only occasion a Carlton player has kicked a century in a season, said on Monday the Blues weren’t top-four material until they got a Stephen Kernahan-type key forward in the team.
Ratten said on Tuesday he hadn’t read Jesaulenko’s comments but he was entitled to his view.
“If you look at the win-loss ratio we probably have gone a little bit backwards, from where we sat at this time last year. So that’s a good observation,” Ratten told reporters.
“If we could get our power forwards it would be great too. Jarrad has had another interrupted year through injury.
“If we could get him out there and play, our record with Jarrad in the team has been very good.
“Most of our injuries have been to our talls. This has happened to us a few times in the last two or three years.
“This is the first block that we’ve had (Shaun) Hampson, (Matthew) Kreuzer and Robbie Warnock all play in the same team.
“Robbie Warnock, this is his third year. That just shows we haven’t had the continuity of keeping our talls out on the ground.
“That’s probably what they need.
“I’d just like to see them play down there for longer periods.”
Waite played only 12 matches last year.
The Blues won nine-and-a-half of their first 12 games in 2011. Ratten’s men face a stern test on Friday at the MCG against sixth-placed Hawthorn (8-4).
Ratten said Carlton’s narrow losses to Geelong and West Coast before last week’s bye showed the Blues could match it with the top sides.
Ruck-forward Hampson, who missed the round 12 loss to West Coast with a back injury, should return against the Hawks.
Ratten said defender Jeremy Laidler was distraught at his latest injury setback and would have season-ending knee surgery on Tuesday.