NAB Cup Rd 2: Photo Gallery

CARLTON is into the semi-finals of the NAB Cup, but defender Bret Thornton says the club’s focus is on the regular season.

The Blues beat an under-manned Hawthorn by 24 points on Sunday afternoon to advance to this weekend’s clash with Geelong, but Thornton said the 2007 pre-season champs weren’t getting too excited.

“I think it’s a week by week thing – our main aim is the round one and the season proper,” he said at Visy Park on Monday morning.

“If we can get more pressure games into the young players who have come in over the last few weeks, that’s a real bonus for the club.

“We’re not getting carried away with [the win] – Hawthorn had a lot out – but to be five goals down in the second quarter and to overcome that, and come back and win, it was pleasing for a young group.

“They had 10 or 12 premiership players out, and as I said, we’re definitely not getting carried away, and it’s another big test this week against Geelong.

“I think Rats (coach Brett Ratten) said there was a possibility there might be a few rested, but I think they’ve had a plan in for round one and the season proper.”

The 25-year-old, in his eighth year at the Blues, said this pre-season had been like no other.

“We’ve had a massive pre-season ... with a new fitness guy coming in. Justin Cordy – he’s  been great.”

Plenty has been said about the game getting ugly with teams picking up aspects of Hawthorn’s 18-man zone, but Thornton said it wasn’t something the players noticed when on the ground.

“When you’re out there playing, it’s hard, you can’t really see that it’s ugly.

“I suppose from a supporter’s point-of-view and people at the game, they can see the zoning and all that makes it a bit ugly.

“But from a players point-of-view, when you’re out there, you can’t really feel that.”