In football, like with so many things in life, confidence can be the key to achieving great things. 

After opening the season with four losses, Blues players were the first to admit that as a group, their confidence was in tatters.

But something seemed to click in Carlton’s Round 5 win over the Western Bulldogs. The team played with more aggression, managed to execute their skills, and exuded a level of confidence that had been lacking in previous weeks.

Speaking to radio Fiveaa, Carlton coach Mick Malthouse said he isn’t sure where the spark came from, but the challenge his group now faces is to keep the fire burning.

“I’m not the first to say that confidence is one of those things that you don’t know where it comes from, and you don’t know where it goes to,” Malthouse said.

“But you certainly know when you haven’t got it, and you know a team that has got it.”

Malthouse said as criticism fell thick and fast in those opening rounds, internally his team remained very strong.

He says the players and staff drew strength from each other, as they united in a bid to start and turn the season around.

“We’ve all had flat spots,” Malthouse said. “But the most important thing is that you never lose faith or you don’t lose respect for people inside your organisation, and we just kept on keeping on.

“As it turned out, we were able to turn it around against a very good football side and a very well coached side.”

On-field leadership was an area that came under heavy scrutiny.

The Blues’ eight-man leadership group, headed up by captain Marc Murphy, were criticised for being too quiet. 

While that criticism was dismissed by the playing group, the players agreed they all needed to step up. 

Malthouse said he was pleased with the response, but he says Murphy's leadership was never in question. 

“I think when you look at some captains, it’s the work they do off the field with their teammates that really is encouraging,” Malthouse said.  

“Marc Murphy is one of those blokes – he’s relentless there – he just works with his teammates to make sure that they know that he’s there with them, so I’m delighted the way he’s coming along as a leader.”