Unlucky 13 for Blues versus Cats

Carlton will be looking to snap a losing streak that dates back to 2002 when they take on Geelong at Etihad Stadium on Friday night.

The Cats have beaten the Blues in all 13 encounters between the two sides at the venue, but coach Mick Malthouse believes there are no lessons to be learned from that lopsided record.

“I can’t change it,” Malthouse said on Thursday.

“We haven’t looked at those 13 games – that’s the last thing I’d do.

“I don’t think it’s worth going back to last year, that’s set in concrete – they’re done.

“It’s only relevant if we’ve (both) got the same 22 (players), which we clearly haven’t.

“What we do is go back over the last four weeks and see how they’re travelling and how we’re travelling.”

Carlton last defeated Geelong in 2010 when they prevailed by 36 points in the round five clash at the MCG.

The 13th-placed Cats have struggled for consistency this season, but the Blues simply aren’t travelling well.

Malthouse’s side are bottom of the table with just one win after seven rounds and the coach admitted they had been uncompetitive in periods of games.

Carlton were thumped by GWS to the tune of 78 points last week, but Malthouse denied his players weren’t working hard enough.

“I think we misinterpret getting thrashed as no effort (from the players),” he said.

“All our data to come back from last week (says) we worked hard.

“We chased and did far greater kilometres per player and also efforts … than in any other game.”

Geelong are coming off a 43-point loss at the hands of Sydney, which livewire midfielder Steven Motlop said was due largely to lapses in their defensive efforts across the ground late in the game.

But while the 3-4 Cats are yet to hit their straps this season, Motlop said confidence remained high at the club.

“We think against any opposition our best form is good enough,” Motlop said.

“So after the loss last week we’ve had a good training session on the track, and we’ve learned a few things and worked on our game-style. “We’ll be coming out firing.”

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