CARLTON coach Brett Ratten admits his team was not hungry enough for the contest in what turned out to be a six-goal loss to West Coast on Sunday. 

Speaking after the defeat, Ratten said West Coast's endeavour was far greater than his own team's. 

"I thought we played too cute, gave them some confidence and then we couldn't get anything back. Their mojo was up and we found it really hard," Ratten said after the game. 

"I thought our appetite might have been down a fraction today as well. We over-finessed with the ball and they were probably really hungry." 

Ratten praised the Eagles, who he said could play a big role in this year's finals series.

"I've seen them a fair bit and I think their work rate and what they've done as a team has been great. They've been able to back it up week in, week out and it is a credit to 'Woosha' and his group in changing the game plan and getting the success he has so far," he said.

"There's no doubt about it (the Eagles playing finals). When you've got a forward line of their structure and when you've got Cox and Naitanui getting their hands on the ball and Kerr and co. underneath, the ball is going their way and that really helps them. I think they can (play finals)."

The Blues were hit hard when a knee injury to Michael Jamison resulted in the key defender being subbed off before half-time.

Jamison had returned to the field after the initial injury but the Blues eventually made the call to end his day.

Ratten said Jamison would undergo scans on his knee on Monday to determine the severity of the knock.

"We will have to wait and see. It's out of my area, diagnosing knees," he said. 

"I'd say it is on the milder side if we could get him back on. But it's still hard. Players have done amazing things to come back on, and then they've been diagnosed with things that keep them out for four or five weeks. We'll see."

In better injury news for the Blues, Ratten said midfielder Mitch Robinson and forward Jarrad Waite would return to the team for the upcoming clash against Richmond.

 Robinson was a late withdrawal from Sunday's loss due to general soreness while Waite missed with hamstring tightness.

 Ratten said having Robinson's hardness at the contested ball and Waite's size in the forward line would be a major boost.

"It will be good to get another focal point in Jarrad back up there," he said. 

"He's been a great target for us and I suppose not only his ability in the air but also his ability to win the ball at ground level is pretty critical."