Carlton coach Mick Malthouse has backed his Blues to bounce back from their rollercoaster first half of the season. 

The Blues head into Friday night’s clash with Geelong in 12th position on the ladder, two wins outside the top eight. 

It’s prompted suggestions from some corners that Carlton should perhaps spend the rest of the season focusing on getting games into its youngest players. 

But Malthouse has reacted angrily to suggestions he should drop senior players for the sake of it, saying it won’t be happening on his watch.

“There’ll be no white flag here,” Malthouse said. “We will be picking our best side to win on a weekly basis.

“Whoever gets this notion to play all kids and drop senior players has never coached. That’s simply it.”

Malthouse described the weekend’s seven-point loss to Brisbane as “a blow not a knockout punch,” but even so, there are expected to be changes at the selection table this week.

Chris Judd, Andrew Walker and Ed Curnow are all in line for a possible return from injury, while Nick Graham and Blaine Johnson could also be in the mix after being named as emergencies last week.

The Round 12 clash with Geelong kicks off at Etihad Stadium on Friday night at 7.50pm AEST.