Blues have the makings of a flag side

MICK Malthouse says Carlton could have the makings of a premiership side.

The three-time premiership coach has been impressed with what he has seen in his first pre-season at Visy Park and believes a complete player buy-in to his methods, along with some good fortune, could lift the Blues to their first flag since 1995.

"Having been in this industry for a long time, these are the pre-requisites: I want a healthy side, a good game-plan and an attitude (of) 'we are hungry enough," Malthouse said in the match program for the club's second intra-club match at Visy Park on Friday morning.

"Take those ingredients, along with the stars and planets aligning, (and) we may very well have the makings of a premiership side."

Malthouse said the Blues would use the NAB Cup to nail down his game-plan and prime themselves for a big start to the premiership season.

"By the end of the NAB Cup series, we want to have played high quality football with a readjusted game-plan – and there will certainly be differences – requiring a total involvement," he said.

"You can't be half-in and half-out because the structures will be very, very different. I want all of the players to swing across to what I want, and if we work together we can make it work."

Malthouse acknowledged there would be "teething problems" as his players adapted to his demands, but hoped any issues would be resolved by their season-opener against Richmond.