Carlton rid itself of two "unnecessary burdens" in its 36-point win over St Kilda on Saturday night, the club's first win since round 10 as the Blues revived their finals hopes.

Coach Mick Malthouse said the club's supposed hexes – beating St Kilda and winning at Etihad Stadium – were expunged after the breakthrough victory.

The Saints have held an extraordinary record over the Blues in recent years, winning 16 of the past 18 meetings before Saturday night's game. Malthouse said he didn't understand the record, or why the Saints had troubled the Blues, but was pleased to turn it around.

And while the club wants to play more home games at the MCG in coming seasons, Malthouse said its recent run at the ground suggested it had no problem implementing its game plan.  

"You come into a football club and you don't know about what worries people or the club, and sometimes you end up with an unnecessary burden," Malthouse said.
 
"The Saints have been good. Have they bullied us? Have they been too good forward, too good back, too good in the midfield? The significance of getting out there and winning the game automatically lifts part of that burden."
 
"And then the negativity about this ground. I don't think it's in great shape, let me tell you for a start off. That was an irrelevance because both sides played on it.

"But 'can't play at Etihad'. It's the home ground at this stage. I think we've proven beyond doubt we can play at this ground. We played Hawthorn here, yes they beat us, but it wasn't the ground.
 
"We played Port when they were in good touch, we beat them. We played St Kilda who came off a good-touch game last week, we beat them. The ground is now no longer an issue. We've got rid of a few unnecessary burdens."

Chris Judd was excellent in the win with 28 disposals, while Lachie Henderson's four-goal performance proved he can shift forward perhaps more permanently.

"I think it'd be fair to say most backline players who are worth their salt have been forwards ... who have been pushed out of the forward line for one reason or another, and they know how to read the play," Malthouse said.

"He's equally as comfortable in the backline as he is in the forward line. We'll have to grow our backs and see whether we can use him on the forward line more often. If that's not the case he'll go back there."