Carlton is set to unveil a three-man "mosquito fleet" on its forward line once Eddie Betts returns from injury.

Jeff Garlett and Chris Yarran's blazing speed was a key factor in the club's first win of the season against West Coast last weekend, with Betts' imminent return to add more spice to the Blues' forward set up.

Coach Mick Malthouse said he could 'absolutely' envisage a forward line containing Betts, Garlett and Yarran.

"Too right I can," Malthouse told SEN on Wednesday morning.

"I think it will be a pretty handy forward line."

However, Yarran will not be permanently stationed there, with Malthouse aiming to use his class in the backline, on the wing or even in the middle.

"We've challenged our players to have a multi-positional type mindset," he said.

"We're trying to get a balance with the group that allows the opportunity to defend and attack.

"And that means Chris Yarran will play both ends of the ground."

The Blues broke through for their first win for the season against the Eagles and Malthouse said his players had made some important strides over the past month.

"I think it vindicates what we spoke about for the first month," he said.

"When you play good football sides, you must stay in the contest longer. 

"And we found that there were patches up to 10 minutes where (the opposition) took over and we didn't get back in the game."

Malthouse pointed to the group's work ethic in helping to allow the team to fight through a winless start to the year.

"Those who have got the desire and those who put the effort in get a good result," he said.

Some critics believe that, without Jarrad Waite or a power forward of similar ilk, the Blues will struggle in high-pressure finals games, but Malthouse's philosophy is that you don't rely on too few to kick a winning score.

"I wouldn't underestimate the power of being able to spread the workload, and most good sides are able to do that.

"Those are the sides that are very hard to stop, because you don't know who to stop."

Malthouse said he was teaching all of his players to become more flexible under his coaching system and revealed that as one of the reasons behind Jeremy Laidler's demotion to the VFL.

The Blues coach also labelled vice-captain Andrew Carrazzo "a marvel", in part for his run-with role on Geelong skipper Joel Selwood in round three, when he kept him to just 14 touches.

A week later, Selwood had AFL circles buzzing after his best-afield performance netted him 31 touches and 10 tackles against last year's premier the Sydney Swans on Friday night.