Refining intricacies in fourth quarters will be a focal point for Carlton for the rest of the season, according to defender Sam Docherty.

Speaking on RSN 927 on Thursday, Docherty highlighted the Blues’ missed opportunities in the first half of the season and said the side would look to minimise costly “critical errors” when it recommences its season against GWS on Sunday. 

“A lot of games these days are decided by little moments in the last quarter,” Docherty explained. 

“For our group, it’s about working on our skill and making sure that mentally, under fatigue, we don’t make mistakes in those moments. 

“There’s probably four games that we let ourselves down in that our group is using as hunger and a drive to step up our training, to step up our skill level.”
 

With a long-term goal of “sustained success”, the 23-year-old anticipated growth to be gradual in the latter half of the season with the team continuing to learn and develop in all areas of its game.

“We’re evolving as we go slowly and we tinker with little bits of our game offensively and defensively every week,” he said.

“We’re building the foundations at the moment … we’re hoping to get sustained success on the back of that. 

“With the amount of work that we put in at the footy club in terms of our team game and our individual games, at some stage we’re going to shoot." 

Carlton will return from the bye as the league’s 17th-placed team on three wins and seven losses. 

And with the Blues set to face the top-of-the-table Giants at Etihad Stadium on Sunday, Docherty acknowledged the challenge that awaited his side. 

“The Giants are a really good side and they’ve got a really strong midfield,” he said.

“But I think anyone is beatable in today’s game … if you’re not ready to go then anyone can beat you on their day.”