CARLTON'S big man trio of Matthew Kreuzer, Shaun Hampson and Robbie Warnock are capable of playing successfully together in the same side, new Blues midfield coach Rob Wiley says.

And Carlton fans should get excited about Warnock's prospects of producing a breakthrough season in 2013, Wiley added.

Due to issues with injury, form and team balance, the three Blues ruckmen have played very little together, and when they have it has been with limited success, but Wiley is optimistic about making it work under new coach Mick Malthouse.

"I think the one good thing about those three players is that they're all athletic, they’re mobile, and you only have to look at the way Mick selects sides (to know) that those three players can certainly play in the one side," he said at Visy Park on Wednesday. 

"Warnock's another player that hasn’t played much footy here at Carlton and the pleasing thing is the way he's gone about his pre-season. He's taking all before him. 

"I think that's something that Carlton supporters can get really excited about – someone of the skill and athleticism of a Robbie Warnock."

Wiley, who doubles as Carlton's director of coaching and development, has long been a friend of Malthouse. They were premiership teammates at Richmond in 1980 and worked closely together at West Coast.

"He's changed slightly (over time), but what's given him success before with other teams he's introducing that here at Carlton," he said.

"And that's a lot of discipline, a lot of hard work, and working together. It's about being a team. 

"You can’t win games of football if there's only 18 contributors. It's about everyone contributing and everyone playing their role. That hasn’t changed in the way Mick's gone about it."

Wiley said the players were grasping Malthouse's new game plan, but refused to reveal any specifics.

"They've embraced it, they've met every challenge, they've trained with intensity, they've trained to try do what Mick's been asking of them. It's been a big tick for the players – they've certainly given it everything they've got so far," he said. 

"And we've still got a way to go. You don't learn that overnight – it takes quite a while …

"It's certainly about defence. It's about moving the football. It's about really trusting each other because (in) any good team there's a huge trust factor, and that's certainly the way we've been going about it."

Wiley said he had been impressed with Carlton's "sports science faculty" and cited Jeremy Laidler (knee) and Simon White as examples of great progress.

"Jeremy, with his knee injuries, we couldn’t be happier with the way he's gone about his business," he said. 

"He's a quality player and he's a good leader, gives great instruction on the field, so having him out there with the younger players is really important.

"That was Mick's message when he came here, he wanted to make the squad healthy... Simon White is another player who I don't think has had a pre-season in the three years he's been here.

"The up-and-coming younger players or middle-range players are getting a good pre-season behind them and that augurs well."