Blues coach Mick Malthouse and star midfielder Marc Murphy both said they were disappointed with Carlton's rotations in the 17-point loss, which saw the Magpies kick eight of the game's last 11 goals.
The Blues identified pre-game that they could hold a leg-speed advantage in the midfield, but it was Collingwood running harder and smarter when it mattered.
"I think we can do a lot better at having it structured … no coach should make the moves on the day," said Malthouse, who was similarly disappointed with his players' use of the interchange in round one.
"They should be pre-programmed and altered by circumstance if someone gets injured, someone gets sore, or if someone has three or four efforts and can't go again and you need to replace them.
"Second to that is responsibility. Players have a responsibility to make it happen and make it work. It's a long game and a long season."
Malthouse said his players had been "lazy" with their use of the interchange in round one, but he was confident the Blues would improve their rotations each week.
"Were all on a different system and I don't expect my players to jump up and automatically know how I'm going to think," he said.
"That's a process that will take some time. I thought from last week to this week we got better. And we'll get better again.
"The more you are in the hurly burly of matches it makes things happen very quickly, because you either sink or swim."
Murphy, who led the Blues superbly with 26 possessions (17 contested) and eight inside 50s, was disappointed with his team's run in the final quarter as the Magpies kicked seven goals to three.
"We identified we probably had more pace than them, but in the last quarter they ran over the top of us," he said.
"They ran harder and smarter than us and their good players got on top. It's pretty disappointing.
"We played in parts, and against good sides you've got to play for the full four quarters to get a win."
Malthouse said there was work ahead for the Blues to bridge the gap between themselves and the competition's best, but he took positives out of Sunday's game.
Carlton led for the entire third quarter and cut the margin to just four points 25 minutes into the fourth term when Kane Lucas converted a set shot.
"We played probably one of the best sides in the competition … they might even be No.1," Malthouse said.
"They were on top of the ladder for a long time last year, they finished fourth and we finished 10th. There's a gap and we've got to close that gap.
"There's no joy in getting beaten by 17 points, but I know we can match it for periods of time with one of the best sides. That's the most encouraging thing about this.
"We will work to lengthen that time, from 10 minutes to 11; from 15 to 20."
Nathan Schmook is a reporter for AFL Media. Follow him on Twitter: @AFL_Nathan
