CARLTON president Stephen Kernahan expects improvement at Carlton in 2011.

Speaking at the launch of the Blues' Hall of Fame and 1981-82 premiership reunion dinner, to be held at Crown on Saturday, March 26, Kernahan outlined an expectation that the club improve on the past two seasons' on-field performances.

The Blues finished seventh in 2009 and eighth in 2010, losing elimination finals to the Brisbane Lions and Sydney Swans respectively.

"We've got to keep getting better. Personally, I think we've just got to win a final," the former premiership captain said. "We've got to get to the second week of the finals, and from there you can go on.

"We weren't too far away from it last year. We gave Sydney a head start and then came home strongly and couldn't put them away, and we would have got a home final at the 'G the next week against the Bulldogs.

"So anything can happen from there. But that's in the past. We've got to firstly be in the position to play finals footy, and then win a final. "We need to get better at that and win one of those, and expose (our players) to big finals games."

With eight AFL coaches coming out of contract at the end of 2011, including Ratten, Kernahan believes scrutiny of those in charge of teams performing below expectations is inevitable.

But he stressed that the club remained fully supportive of Ratten's direction with the new season approaching.

"I think there's going to be pressure on every coach out there. It's been well stated that there's eight coaches out [of contract] at the end of the year, and whoever loses more games than the other will be under the pump all year, let's face it.

"I just want to state that the Carlton Football Club is right behind what our coach is doing, and we expect our side to go really well this year.

"Off the field we're going great. We've got a fantastic new facility here for the players and the community, we've raised a lot of capital to put into the football department, and I think we're ready to go.

"The pillars are in place, and now it's about on field, getting better."

At the launch, Kernahan, along with AFL Commission chairman Mike Fitzpatrick, who captained both flag-winning teams, and premiership coach David Parkin, unveiled the latest portrait by artist Jamie Cooper.

Cooper's painting features all 23 players who appeared in the two teams and will be auctioned off at the reunion dinner.

Reporting carltonfc.com.au & afl.com.au