Carlton coach Mick Malthouse is taking no solace in the prospect of Essendon's woes opening up another AFL top eight spot after the Blues' failure to make it on their merits.
A wasteful Carlton fell 12.10 (82) to 9.22 (76) to the Bombers at the MCG on Saturday night, squandering chances of killing off the contest with inaccurate shooting for goal, then being outscored four goals to none in the last quarter to have the game ripped away.
The loss left eighth spot out of reach, although if the Bombers are stripped of premiership points, as expected, the ninth-placed Blues can still sneak into the finals.
"Not interested, not one little bit interested," Malthouse said of that prospect.
"We came here to win, we didn't win.
"I don't know what's going to take place (with Essendon), I don't care what's going to take place.
"We play Port next week, technically we can't make the eight."
Malthouse said the Blues had to take responsibility for their "terrible" kicking for goal.
"No one means to miss but we missed that many times it becomes contagious," he said.
He said the fact that the Blues have lost four games by single-figure margins this season, and won only one, was a major disappointment.
But he was unwilling to say whether Carlton's season should be deemed a failure if they don't play finals.
"I don't look at making the eight, I look at having wins against sides that you should try to beat," Malthouse said.
"You try to win every game.
"Clearly sides you don't beat, by definition of how we've gone against them we've seen them in the eight."
The Blues lost Brock McLean to a quad injury in the first quarter, further depleting a midfield already missing Chris Judd and Andrew Carrazzo.
Malthouse was unsure of McLean's prospects of playing in Saturday's clash with the Power.
