DAVID Ellard says Carlton's goal of a top-four finish has not changed despite the Blues' up-and-down form after a blazing start to the season.

Carlton was installed as premiership favourite after it defeated Collingwood to remain undefeated after three rounds, but then hit a well-documented flat spot that saw the side lose three of its next five games.

The Blues' form before they bounced back with a 58-point win against last-placed Melbourne may have raised questions about their top-four credentials outside the club, but Ellard says confidence within the group remains rock solid.

"We still believe we're a top-four side, that's where we want to finish, we said that at the start of the year and nothing's changed," Ellard says. 

"That's where we want to be, we want to improve on last year, if we don't want to improve and go top four then there's something wrong. I don't think that [pre-season declaration] added expectation or anything - we know what we have to do."

Ellard didn't like all the theories about Carlton's inability to win the clearances and contested ball and the criticisms that came with them in recent weeks, but he knew only actions - not words - would put a stop to them.

The Blues went someway toward that goal with comprehensive wins in both areas against the Demons, but Ellard, who leads the club in average tackles per game, says the team will continue to improve at the stoppages.

"You can take a little bit of offence to that [criticism], I pride myself on contested footy and being in and under, but there's no doubt we did drop away in those areas," Ellard says.

"So it was good to get back in and show the rest of the comp that we can be that type of footy team.

"The competition is so close now that if you're off by a couple of per cent going into a game then you're going to pay for it. There's just so many teams pushing up now. You've got to be on your game every week or you'll pay the price."

Ellard had a slow start to the season after straining his left medial ligament in a NAB Cup match against the Brisbane Lions, but played his best game of the year last week, amassing 29 disposals while limiting Brent Moloney to just 13 touches.

It was Ellard's 31st game since debuting back in round seven of the 2008 season and while he feels like he's starting to hit his straps after missing the first five rounds this year, he'll never allow himself to feel comfortable.

"I played my first game in my first year in round seven and then I didn't play again until two years after that," he recalls.

"It took me a while scrapping away in the two's trying to get there and once you do get there you feel like there's a bit of pressure on you to perform each week because you are in that fringe bracket of players that can come in or out.

"I had one-year contracts until last year, so you do play each year like it's your last. Nothing's going to change there for me - that's the way that I've got to attack my footy."

Ellard has spent the first five years of his career wearing the unfashionable No.46 guernsey, but he has no plans to change it.

"It's what I was given when I first got here and it's what I'll stay with," he says.

"It's the number I've done a lot of hard work in and there's no reason to change now.

"It's where I've come from, I was the club's last pick in 2008, 46 is my number, it's a cleanskin locker, so hopefully one day my name will be the first to go on it."