CARLTON coach Mick Malthouse say the Blues' chances of opening their premiership window would be the last thing on his players' minds after Sunday night's 33-point loss to Port Adelaide at Etihad Stadium.
On the eve of his team's season-opener against the Power, Malthouse was optimistic his side was approaching a period where it could push for its first premiership since 1995.
But in the clash of last year's beaten semi-finalists, it was the Power that launched its season like a team building for a premiership, kicking 11 goals to four after half-time to steamroll their opponents.
Malthouse said the Blues had more pressing concerns than where they sat in the race to strike before expansion clubs Gold Coast and Greater Western Sydney are forces.
"Let's not worry about round 22, let's worry about round two now," Malthouse said after the loss.
"It's not a matter of whether we're in the window or not, it's a matter of making sure you win enough games of football.
"The last thing that'll be on our mind or any players' mind is where's the window?
"There's no one you can take lightly these days."
Malthouse said Port's ability to get on top after half-time and then dominate the final quarter was due in part to a number of Carlton players lacking match hardness.
The Blues were missing only former skipper Chris Judd and midfielder Andrew Carrazzo from their best line-up, but Dale Thomas, Kade Simpson, Michael Jamison, Jeff Garlett and Matthew Kreuzer all had interrupted pre-seasons.
"We've just got to get time into some of our blokes who haven't had the lead-up that perhaps a lot of other players have had," he said.
"With players' rules these days, you can't really touch them for a month before Christmas.
"They're not far back and you get a couple of games of footy ... it's not really enough.
"I wouldn't like to draw a line through sides who lose in the first round."
The Blues won the hit-outs 45-34, but they were exposed in the midfield when Matthew Kreuzer was used in the ruck, with Power big man Matthew Lobbe getting on top.
With lead ruck Robert Warnock (31 hit-outs) influential, Malthouse hoped Kreuzer would play the support role more effectively as he gained match hardness.
"Matthew Kreuzer is a ruckman and we want to make him a forward/ruckman … it's up to him no to grab that opportunity," the coach said.
"He certainly got jumped over at the end and he knows that.
"Matthew couldn't run before Christmas and it doesn't matter how fit these blokes are, match fitness is something else.
"The more he plays, the better he's going to get. In today's football, it's just going to take match after match to get that hardness."
