Carlton coach Mick Malthouse believes his Blues "own" eighth spot and it's theirs to lose in the final round.

Malthouse refused to reveal his thoughts on the Essendon sanction that has reignited the Blues' finals hopes, saying the saga had "been done to death".

Asked whether he felt his team deserved to play in the finals, Malthouse replied: "I don’t make the rules … We're in a different type of year than we've had in the past. Nonetheless, when (the AFL) say that that's your final eight and you happen to be in it, you’re in the finals …"

He preferred instead to discuss his team's make-or-break final-round clash with finals-bound Port Adelaide at AAMI Stadium on Saturday.

"We're currently eighth, so we own it," he told reporters at Visy Park on Friday. "There's one game to go, so that'll be the great test."

Malthouse said his club had already experienced an "emotional rollercoaster" of results before the Bombers were kicked out of the finals on Tuesday night. He added that it was "not necessarily a great thing".

But Malthouse was enthused to reiterate his comments from a week ago that the Blues had their destiny in their own hands.

Carlton could make the finals even if it loses to the Power, providing that Brisbane Lions lose to Geelong at Simonds Stadium, North Melbourne loses to Collingwood at the MCG, and either Adelaide or West Coast fails to bridge a significant percentage gap when they clash at Patersons Stadium.

"We just look after ourselves, and that's the fortunate position we're in at the moment," he said.

Malthouse said the Blues weren't playing poorly, but had been patchy.

Last week, for the second time this season, Carlton surrendered a significant lead to Essendon. However, Malthouse insisted his team had played "some damn good football" on the night and "had Essendon cold in many respects", but simply hadn't taken their chances in front of goal.

He denied some players were playing for their careers.

"They’re not going to be judged on one game. Albeit, I do value the big stage, so if there's a regular repeat offender who can’t measure up, logic says that you have to make a pretty firm decision on them," he said.

"I like to judge it on who played well against the top eight sides this year."

Malthouse confirmed that livewire forward Jeff Garlett – who has returned to the Blues line-up along with Andrew Walker, Matthew Kreuzer and David Ellard – had played in the VFL last week because of a "disciplinary issue".

The Blues leading goalkicker this season, Garlett had missed round 21 with a corked glute, and Malthouse said he was forced to serve his penance with the Northern Blues to prove "he's back in touch with reality".

"He's over it. He's a very valued person, a very valued player … and it's been resolved," he said of Garlett.

Malthouse said superstar midfielder Chris Judd would "most definitely" be a chance to return from a knee injury if the Blues make the finals.