CARLTON'S late push toward a finals berth is gathering momentum after the hard-edged Blues inflicted a 96-point thumping on a listless Essendon at the MCG on Saturday.

Brett Ratten's side struggled with injuries and form through the middle part of the season, but the coach feels like the stars are finally starting to align for Carlton's finals bid.

"I think sometimes the tide turns. You can go through a bit of storm and the sun is starting to come out a little bit, but we know each week is do or die for us," Ratten said.

"The pressure will be on, but the really pleasing part is the players are really thriving in this pressured environment.  

"You know that in the long term that puts you in really good stead because footy is a pressure environment. Finals are about pressure … when you get into that environment it's about pressure and I think we're starting to really adapt where in previous years we weren't as steely as a group.

"I've seen this year, and especially through this period, us take another step in regards to that."

The Blues have now won five of their past seven games, but must beat Gold Coast and St Kilda to give themselves a chance at squeezing into the eight.

The Bombers bullied Carlton into submission when the teams met back in round four, but the Blues returned the favour with interest during the polished display.

"We just wanted to come out and play well and keep our season alive," skipper Chris Judd replied when asked if the hurt of the round four loss had been a spur for the rematch.

"I think if you're getting motivated by losses that happened three months ago you're probably missing the point."

Judd and Marc Murphy both had their guernseys ripped in skirmishes during the first quarter and there was an all-in wrestle at the quarter-time break, but Ratten denied he had put an emphasis on a show of strength in preparation for the game.

"Sometimes you don't set the agenda on the physicality stakes of the AFL competition - it's actually set - and if you don't match or better the opposition you get brushed aside," he said.

"We just had a few weeks where we weren't as physical as the opposition.

"Essendon [in round four] was one, Port Adelaide was another - they got on the front foot to create momentum or a pro-activeness in their group, which really made us reactive.

"I think that's something that we've kept going forward with."