BRENDON Bolton has implored Carlton fans to keep faith in the path the third-year coach and his team are on despite a third loss to start the season on Friday night.
The Blues were cut down by Collingwood's 10-goal streak either side of quarter-time as their early 19-point lead vanished before the first break.
Carlton has now lost 12 of its last 13 matches and slumped to a 0-3 record for the fifth time in the past six years.
There remains no statement on what would be an acceptable number of wins in 2018, only Bolton's belief that his players will be better the more they play together.
"Quite simply, we've done what we said we were going to do and what our supporters wanted two years ago," Bolton said post-match.
"We had to go to the draft – we've done that – and we've got some young talent in.
"It's talented, it's a little inexperienced, as we've said, (but) we'll hold them to account, we'll never accept defeat and in time, once they build together and they have enough experience, this will kick off.
"That's been the story, it's been totally transparent, we're not deviating from that, hence Paddy Dow's at our footy club (and) Sam Petrevski-Seton.
"All those young, drafted guys that we know are talented, they'll get better and better, but they're very much in their infancy in their AFL career. But we won't use that as an excuse."
The Blues won the inside-50 count for the second straight week (55-50) for no result and Bolton blamed a lack of execution of "some of the fundamentals".
He stopped short of earmarking replacements from the VFL, and defended the non-selection of key forward Harry McKay, the No.10 draft pick in 2015, who has played only two career games.
"He plays in the most difficult position, I've said that publicly a few times. Centre half-forward or full-forward; it's an incredibly difficult position to play," Bolton said of McKay.
"He's had a lot of interruption with injury, let it be the toe or the back, so he hasn't really yet completed a full pre-season.
"Like many ‘Bluebaggers’, me included, we'd love to have him out there.
"It's just about getting some continuity of football and training, so it's not one or the other. When he gets that, and then some form, we'll have a good look at him."
Bolton pointed to a long list of young footballers, headlined by athletic forward Charlie Curnow, as reason for hope in the long term at Ikon Park.
"You asked what the supporters need to be excited about," he said.
"Now, although there are still some building blocks to go, you look at Charlie, Zac Fisher, Dow, Petrevski-Seton, even (Jarrod) Garlett – and we haven't got (Jarrod) Pickett out there at the moment.
"But there are all those little signs of excitement that we just know, if held to high account and standards and (with more) time together, they're going to make us smile."
