Stoppage work key to Blues AFL revival

24 May 2012, 7:34 pm   -   Source: AAP

Coach Brett Ratten believes Carlton need to fix their problems around the stoppages to revive their flagging AFL top four hopes.

Carlton coach Brett Ratten has challenged his side to lift their game around the stoppages to lift themselves back into AFL top four contention.

The former premiership favourites have lost their past two matches, and slipped to the edge of the top eight.

It coincides with the Blues struggling in the areas of winning contested ball and around clearances - injured on-baller Andrew Carrazzo's absence clearly a factor.

The good news is winless Melbourne - struggling in similar areas - await at the MCG on Sunday.

But Ratten has implored his side to sharpen up at the stoppages or risk further defeats, especially as the long-term absence of premier midfielder Marc Murphy with a shoulder injury further depletes their on-ball division.

"We need to get our own backyard right," Ratten said on Thursday.

"Our contested ball and our clearances have been down, and that's something we need to work on.

"Whether we're playing Melbourne or Port Adelaide or Geelong or West Coast, it's not about the team we're playing. It's about us. We need to get that right ASAP."

Ratten has earmarked hardman Mitch Robinson for more time in the midfield as a result of Murphy's injury in a huge and unexpected hammering by Adelaide last weekend.

Murphy faces up to 12 weeks on the sideline after undergoing surgery to repair his fractured shoulder this week.

Ratten believes a short-term confidence loss is behind his team's problems, rather than a lack of ruthlessless as some have suggested.

"Last week was a real wake-up call that we need to get back and focus on what we have to do," Ratten said.

"Confidence is a funny thing. It's hard to gain and easily lost and I think we've just lost it at the moment.

"We just need to restore that by just getting on the front foot."

Forward Jarrad Waite will miss another week with a back injury, while defender Nick Duigan has also been ruled out.

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