CARLTON coach Brett Ratten believes his side is capable of bouncing back against the Brisbane Lions in next week's elimination final despite a 72-point loss to Adelaide at Etihad Stadium on Saturday.

Ratten said he had confidence in his players' maturity this year when considering how they would respond to a belting that cost them fifth position on the AFL ladder.

"There have been a lot of positives for us in the season itself, for 22 rounds," he said after the game.

"What we've done as a team [is become] able to play a little bit different at times instead of maybe having one way to play [because] if it doesn't work, we're in a bit of trouble.

"Today we just got beaten comprehensively, but I thought our group across the season has actually matured to play 'roll up your sleeves' type footy and then some really nice flowing, 'get the game on your terms' type footy as well.

"I think that's been a real plus, and I think that's been the maturity of our group. It's just another challenge for us.

"We have to play off a round 22 defeat that doesn't sit too well with us."

He said the side would not dwell on the loss and instead look to replicate the feat of the 1999 Carlton side that lost a qualifying final to the Lions by 73 points but won the next two games to earn a spot in the grand final.

"I spoke to the players and said our football club has been involved in games or finals series where we've actually lost in the first final or had a hiccup," he said.

"To get a home final would have been fabulous, and we still have that opportunity.

"You even reflect to 1999 when we lost that first final to Brisbane and you've got to regroup and come together as a team, and we'll have the same challenge in front of us this week."

Ratten blamed over-handballing and poor intensity in the time-on period of each quarter when assessing how the Blues fell away from an impressive start.

He added that the Crows' ability to score on the run and from stoppages mortally wounded his side.

"They had their whole game up and humming after that first 20 minutes where we were up and going," he said.

"It was pretty disappointing. You reflect on last time we played them, we couldn't score. Now we scored a bit, but they scored double. That was the problem."

Ratten admitted the Blues, without suspended tacklers Eddie Betts and Jeff Garlett and Cameron Cloke, struggled to put defensive pressure on the Crows as the game wore on.

He said all three players would be available to return to the side next week for their elimination final against the Lions.

"They'll play at Frankston tomorrow (Sunday) and we'll go down and watch them, and hopefully they feel they let the team down a bit today," he said.