CARLTON coach Brett Ratten has laid down the challenge to his players to win three games in a row after their narrow six-point victory over the Lions at the Gabba on Saturday night.

The team faces unbeaten St Kilda at Docklands on Friday night and Ratten is aware of the Blues' poor record against the Saints in recent years.

"The win-loss in the last four or five years would be a landslide their way," Ratten said.

"They haven’t lost this year and don’t look like losing so that’s our challenge. I don’t know how many times we’ve won three (in a row) in the last four or five years so maybe that’s a great opportunity for our players."

Ratten declared Brendan Fevola best-on-ground after his eight-goal haul but added his full-forward had been in very good form all year.

"He was outstanding tonight, [with] his contribution to the team and just to win the footy," Ratten said.

Fevola had 3.3 to half time but kicked four in the third quarter to set up the victory after Lion Daniel Bradshaw was moved from full-back into attack.

Ratten said they had planned for the Bradshaw shift.

"We thought Bradshaw at half time would go forward, just with the way the game was panning out so we sort of predicted that," Ratten said.

"Maybe it gave Brendan a bit more freedom. He’s been in fairly good touch without getting a lot of reward.

"Tonight I thought that the delivery was to advantage and when you’ve got quality players, that’s all they need – just to put it to their favoured sides and they do their thing."

The victory is Carlton’s first on the road this season and Ratten said changes were made at training in an attempt to rectify the poor record.

"We changed a few little things this time around and it's paid handsome dividends," he said.

"We just changed the training schedule for the ground. Instead of being in the day we changed it to night and it seemed to really help the players relax a bit more."

Ratten praised his young defenders including Aaron Joseph, Steven Browne and Dennis Armfield for their composure against the proven match-winners Bradshaw and Jonathan Brown.

He said they formed a solid unit with Bret Thornton, Michael Jamison and Paul Bower, but that captain Chris Judd was the other stand-out player.

"I thought probably Brendan best-on-ground and then Chris. His form has been really outstanding so far this season," Ratten said.

Ratten also recognised the Lions' effort to haul in a 30-point three-quarter time deficit and almost snatch victory.

He said the home side gained control of the centre bounces and stoppages, which almost cost Carlton the game.

"We’ve had a few close games this season and gone down by a small margin," Ratten said.

"It would have been really heartbreaking for our group to work so hard and dominate the game and then to maybe fall over at the end."