Jordan Russell Media Conference.
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CARLTON'S stunning 83-point demolition of Richmond on Thursday night might have been the perfect start to the season, but the Blues aren't about to get ahead of themselves.

"Ratts just emphasised the point that it's only round one, and we've still got another 21 rounds plus finals – if we get there," midfielder Jordan Russell said on Friday morning.

"It was a great win, but we will just put the focus to next week and the Brisbane Lions.

"We are expected to play good footy week in and week out, and that's the pressure we've put on ourselves."

But while the lid might be firmly on at Visy Park, Russell admitted there were plenty of positives to take out of the match including the spread of goal scorers, the play of the four debutants and the overall level of pressure applied.

"We've waited six months to get a crack at another team and we put in a pretty polished, four-quarter performance last night," he said.

"The young boys came in and adapted really well straight away. They stepped in and didn't look out of place. They all came in and chased and pressured and tackled which was exactly what we wanted them to do.

"Our pressure was a big highlight before the game and I think we stuck to our guns there for four quarters.

"We had five or six midfielders who kicked goals. That lightens the load on Fev and allows him to just go out and play his normal game. If there are other targets it does take the pressure off him and it's a great way to score more goals for the team."

Russell played a slightly different role than he has become accustomed to in recent years and he said it was a sign of things to come.

"I think I might be pushed up the ground a bit more onto the wing or half-back," he said.

"I think it's a good thing. It gives someone else a bit of a chance up forward. You've got to be versatile and able to play anywhere so it's good for me and hopefully it's good for the team."