CO-CAPTAIN Sam Docherty said that Carlton would continue to control what it could but accepts that performances like last weekend warrant recent backlash.

After a 28-point loss to Port Adelaide on Saturday, Docherty admitted he knew there would be repercussions following a performance that wasn’t his side’s best.

With turnovers and skill errors being the key area of improvement for Carlton, Docherty assured fans that the work was being done to ensure that there wouldn't be a repeat.

“I think it showed on the weekend that our skill level just has to get better and that comes from a lot of hard work,” Docherty said. 

“There’s a lot of breakdowns in our game where we get things where we want and then we just miss a skill that good teams don’t and that’s me included.

"I dropped two marks on the weekend that costs us two goals, you can’t do anything about it except work harder.”

Despite the two wins so far in the season's opening month, Docherty said that the Blues have not played their best footy yet this year. 

With significant tests coming up against top-six sides, Docherty said the focus is on consistency and finding the right mix for the group. 

“I don’t think we’ve played at our best so far this year and I think that shows a group that is developing and trying to learn exactly who we are as a group,” he said. 

“I don’t think we’ve got to our best footy at the moment, but that’s part of our growth as a group and having a pretty unstable group over the past three years, we’re still trying to build the right mix going forward for us.”

Ahead of this weekend's match against his old side, Docherty noted that the group is fully aware of the expectations that are being held externally on them, and that his side is up for the challenge against the top sides. 

“Our group is ready for the expectation and we’re fully aware of where it is and aware of what we need to do to be a better side,” he said. 

“We’re working bloody hard as a footy club, every team is, but I think we’re working really hard to be a top footy side in the future and that’s what you need to do.

“You’ve got to work unbelievably hard on your touch, your kicking, your craft, your marking, your ability to be able to defend and if everyone is on the same page and working just as hard as each other, which I believe we are, it will turn and that’s what we have to believe in and that’s what we’re doing.”