IT WAS a scrappy game from both sides on Saturday night, but the Blues were able to keep fighting until the end to come out on top. 

With neither side able to play clean, consistent footy, it was the little things that kept Carlton in the game - as well as the growth and development of their players. 

Senior Coach David Teague was impressed with his side’s ability to tough out the game, especially with last quarter fade-outs being an issue they were eager to address. 

“You can very easily get frustrated, you can dominate the play or own periods of the play, which we did for short periods of time and when the score doesn’t go on, sometimes it has a negative effect,” Teague said. 

“I thought our guys remained in the moment, they kept competing and particularly in the last quarter, I was really impressed.” 

The conditions were slippery due to the humidity of the Gold Coast, similar to a game played in the wet.

Teague noted the side might have played dry-weather footy for too long, but eventually paid mind to the conditions in front of them. 

“We probably stayed in dry mode for a little bit too long in terms of going backwards and mishandling the ball and balancing up the contest for those conditions,” he said. 

“I thought the boys adjusted really well and we started getting the ball from the contest forward and we were able to keep it in our front half.” 

Teague was particularly impressed with the backline’s efforts, reiterating that they were up for the challenge that had been set for them in the first two losses of the season. 

“I thought Jacob Weitering behind the ball was outstanding and he’s probably not alone,” he said. 

“I think Liam Jones again had a quite a few intercept possessions, so the backline probably got really challenged after the Collingwood game and in the last two weeks, the way they’ve really bought into their role and getting their job done has been something they should be really proud of.”

With a home game against Port Adelaide looming, Teague hopes the Blues can bring the same adaptability that they showed against Gold Coast to the MCG next Saturday. 

“We changed up our structure a few times throughout the game and I liked the way the players adjusted to that,” he said. 

“We had an extra up at the stoppages and [Jack] Bowes up the back was hurting us so we went back to six forwards to engage him and I thought that shifted the game at times, then later in the game we changed again.” 

While playing at the home of football is always special, Teague admitted the thing he was most excited for was to see the MCG filled with Bluebaggers, being as loud as they can be. 

“One of the things I am really looking forward to is our fans coming out next week,” he said. 

“I can’t wait to play against a great opposition in Port, I can’t wait for our members, supporters and fans to fill the ‘G and make it as loud as they can and give Port a little bit of their own medicine when we go over there.”