BRETT Ratten could do nothing but fume after Carlton's narrow, season-ending loss to West Coast at Patersons Stadium.

He was fuming because it is now three consecutive years where Carlton has been knocked out of the finals by narrow margins.

He was quick to reel them off: seven points to the Brisbane Lions in 2009, five points to the Swans in 2010 and now three points to the Eagles. But this one, at this moment, seemingly hurt the most.

It was stinging because of what appeared to be a home-crowd decision that went against Carlton forward Andrew Walker, when many thought it should have been his kick, close to goal, in the dying minutes. If Walker had kicked the goal, Carlton would have been leading.

Instead, West Coast captain Darren Glass was awarded the kick.

When asked about it, a reporter said it appeared if Walker was held.

Ratten said: "You probably said the words. I don't even have to say it. Anyway, you can't do anything about it, it's a game of inches. I won't even comment any further."

He then made it clear he was sick of losing finals by tight margins.

However, he was confident those heartbreaking exits would help spur on the side in 2012.

"I think the players have got a fair bit of ammunition over the last three years to be this close but yet so far. And that's the hard thing," he said.

"Those types who are starting to get on a bit, they want to make sure that they get the opportunity to go further and have a chance of being there in the last Saturday in September, so that's something which will keep them driven."

Carlton captain Chris Judd was uncharacteristically quiet against his former side, finishing with just 17 disposals, but strong efforts from Mitch Robinson (15 kicks, 12 handballs and eight marks) and Marc Murphy (23 disposals, eight tackles and two goals) ensured a close contest.

But the Blues noticeably lacked a key forward, in the absence of Jarrad Waite and Matthew Kreuzer, and their forward line was wasteful, despite the best efforts of Walker, who led the team with three goals.

And Ratten said there were areas the club needed to strengthen to break into next season's top four, indicating the club would be active in the trade market and forwards were on his mind.

He also said he was "extremely confident" of keeping his job.

"We'll be fairly active (in the recruiting market)," Ratten said. "A blue-chip forward would be really good.

"We don't want to make a lot of changes but strategically we've already talked a fair bit on what we need. That will be a bit about balance, about adding to our midfield as well as getting some height into the team that plays consistently.

"Our players have grown enormously this year and I'm really proud. But that playing group probably won't play together ever again because we need change to go forward and succeed.

"We've made some real inroads around that top four area but we're still just a little bit short and as a football club we need to get there so we have a real chance of continuing in the finals series going forward."

Earlier, on ABC radio in Melbourne, Carlton president Stephen Kernahan all but confirmed Ratten's re-appointment.

Kernahan said Ratten had improved as a coach, was getting better, he had no doubt Ratten would be a top coach in the near future.