Carlton coach Mick Malthouse says bad footy rather than bad luck is the reason behind his team's knack for losing close AFL games.
The Blues were left to rue yet another game that got away after conceding a last-minute goal in their five-point loss to Fremantle in Perth on Thursday night.
Carlton have lost six games by 15 points or less this season, with the run of close defeats ruining their finals hopes.
Last year was a similar tale for the Blues, who lost seven games by 17 points or less.
Malthouse refused to go into detail about why his team seemed to choke in close games but hinted that costly mistakes played a part.
"My theory on that is if you split small wins and losses, then it might be luck. When you lose consistently, then it's deeper," Malthouse said.
"(We need to) find out exactly why we get close and don't get over the line.
"They (Fremantle) were a better side; they made fewer mistakes."
Carlton led Fremantle by 10 points approaching the midway mark of the final quarter but a series of blunders then cost them dearly.
Zach Tuohy conceded a needless 50m penalty for a late hit on Hayden Ballantyne, while Sam Docherty gave away possession on the wing with little more than a minute remaining when he kicked out on the full.
Then, with the ball deep in Fremantle's forward line, ruckman Cameron Wood fluffed a 15m clearance kick straight into the arms of Dockers midfielder Lachie Neale, who kicked the winning goal.
Carlton midfielder Chris Judd will be monitored over the next few days after he injured his ankle in the opening seconds of the third quarter.
Judd was best afield in the first half but his impact was limited after 120kg Dockers ruckman Aaron Sandilands fell on top of his ankle and made it twist awkwardly.
Malthouse praised Judd for playing out the match but said he is still no wiser as to whether the 30-year-old is keen to play on next season.
Carlton defender Bryce Gibbs could come under scrutiny from the match review panel for his elbow to the back of Hayden Ballantyne's head as the pair fell to the ground in a marking contest.
And a series of skirmishes between Dockers tagger Ryan Crowley and Blues skipper Marc Murphy will also be looked at.
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