Carlton captain Marc Murphy says the last five games of the season are about providing Blues' fans with hope for the future.
The skipper said the club would find out what many of its young players could offer in the next couple of seasons from the remaining games.
Carlton plays Collingwood, the Brisbane Lions, Melbourne and Greater Western Sydney before finishing a horror season that has yielded just three wins against Hawthorn.
Speaking at the Peter Mac Cup breakfast on Wednesday, Murphy admitted to being frustrated by where the club found itself but said he was excited when he noted the improvement in young teammates.
"The reality of where we are at and where we want to go to is that we have to put in the hard yards and give guys opportunity," Murphy said.
"Frustration comes with that, but also excitement in seeing the improvement of young guys."
Interim coach John Barker, who has won two games since taking over from sacked coach Mick Malthouse after round nine, said it was important everyone at the club sung from the same hymn book.
"When you are pulling in that same direction that is when you get traction as a football club," Barker said.
The 40-year-old, who is a strong candidate for the vacant coaching position, said the selection process would take a natural course over the few weeks, before joking to the audience that he thought he was doing a pretty good job.
He said he was pleased with the way the club had was conducting the search for a new coach.
"I have had nothing but really clear conversations .... the board and the CEO have been really open and transparent about the process that is occurring," Barker said.
The Blues are 16th on the ladder after 17 games.