THROUGHOUT the week Carlton coach Brett Ratten demanded his players lift their intensity and urgency for the clash against arch-rivals Richmond after their disappointing 36-point loss to West Coast the previous week.
Their response was emphatic.
Speaking after the Blues 103-point thumping of a hapless Richmond side at the MCG, Ratten was "extremely happy" with how his charges responded to his challenge as their push towards that all-important top four berth continues.
"What we did is we challenged the group about how you respond to a performance of last week's calibre and to do what we did today was outstanding," he said.
"To see how the group has responded this year and knowing the maturity of the group, I thought we would respond really aggressively and to have Jarrad Waite back into the team gives us a great reference point to go to inside our forward 50.
"I thought we really set the scene early and that was something we wanted to do."
Waite kicked three goals as the Blues amassed 13 different goalkickers in the victory that was set-up by a dominance of the stoppages.
Carlton won the clearances 53-31 and centre clearances 22-9, with Robert Warnock and Matthew Kruezer dominating the Tigers ruck combination with 66 hit-outs to 33.
One man who did set the scene early around the packs was Chris Judd, with the Carlton captain desperate to avenge his disappointing 17-possession game against his former club the previous week.
The Carlton skipper had two crucial touches in the first 30 seconds and finished the match with 31 disposals that included 10 tackles, 11 clearances, 10 inside 50s and two goals in a best on ground performance.
But it was the return of cult-hero Mitch Robinson who Ratten said was crucial in the Blues recording their seventh consecutive victory over the Tigers. Robinson finished with 30-possessions and two goals.
"If he's not putting his head over the ball, he's hitting bodies and flying for it. There is not too many players in the competition that attack it as ferociously as he does," Ratten said.
With West Coast also challenging his side for a crucial top four berth, Ratten said the next month of football would prove telling for his side's top four aspirations.
"What we have seen in the season is the team evolving and new challenges are getting thrown at you. We want to play finals and we want to be in the best position that we can to make sure we have a chance to win finals and get a home final and being top four would be the easiest way to do it," he said.
"It's in our court to make sure we keep pushing on."
In injury news, Carlton defender Simon White is likely to miss next week's clash against the Western Bulldogs at Etihad Stadium next Sunday after suffering a hamstring injury.
Despite finishing the match on the bench, the news is brighter for Waite, with Ratten admitting he took a precautionary approach in his return from a three-week lay-off with a hamstring injury.
