Carlton coach Mick Malthouse has accused livewire Mitch Robinson of failing to fire on all cylinders and suggested he’s spent years playing in a comfort zone.

After last weekend’s loss to Fremantle, Malthouse labelled the performances of small forwards Eddie Betts and Chris Yarran horrible and said he could name 10 other players who had “stinkers”.

But it was Robinson and Kane Lucas who were dropped for Saturday’s meeting with the Western Bulldogs, while ruckman Matthew Kreuzer and veteran midfielder Andrew Carrazzo are out with calf injuries.

Malthouse said 83-gamer Robinson, who combined 23 disposals with seven tackles against the Dockers, was a quality player but needed the “tickle” of being dropped to really stretch himself.

He said while he couldn’t deny Robinson’s willingness to throw himself into packs, there were questions over how he followed team structures and whether he had been giving all he had.

“We can run around just going at the same level for a number of weeks, or even in Mitch’s case probably a number of years, playing at that same level, same tempo and probably not extending yourself beyond it,” Malthouse told reporters on Friday.

“He’s running on four cylinders for a six-cylinder car.

“That’s got him games and it could still get him games.

“But I’m here about improving every player.”

Malthouse said the ability to drop players to the VFL was a great tool to add urgency.

“There’s certain players and certain clubs get into a comfort zone, (thinking) `We’re comfortable where we are,” he said.

Malthouse also expressed confidence free agent Betts would stay at the club and scoffed at suggestions the Blues would trade Yarran.

“We rate him in our best side,” he said.

Malthouse said the Blues rated the Bulldogs, who have been very competitive against Hawthorn, Essendon and Sydney in the past month and beaten West Coast, as a serious threat.

“There’s not many deficiencies,” he said.

“Their youth (is strong), their ball-getting power, they’re No.l in the competition in ball-getting in the past four weeks.

“They’re a good clearance side. They’re a good side.”

He acknowledged Kreuzer, who’s expected to return next round against Richmond, will be missed but expected replacement Robbie Warnock to compete well against in-form Bulldogs big man Will Minson.