CARLTON CEO Cain Liddle spoke to ABC ahead of Saturday’s game about Carlton’s position in the league.
Liddle can see the improvement at Carlton, both on and off the field, believing that the losses have come to top teams, a position he hopes to be in soon.
Liddle is confident that the group is getting better, noting that their good patches have been very positive.
“We’ve lost six games and five of those were to arguably the best teams going around,” Liddle said.
“We haven’t been able to string four quarters together and consistency is an issue.
“I think at our best this year, you can definitely see our improvement.
“I think those areas that we’re falling down, I can see what we’re trying to do, I can see the structure 'Teaguey' is trying to build: We haven’t quite got it yet, that’s what happens through these phases of learning.”
In terms of expectations for the team, Liddle admitted that the expectations have been high for the Blues, being one of the old Victorian sides who had a successful past, but that they’re on the right track to build momentum on and off the field.
“People went through eras where we were playing finals every other year, but the games changed [since then],” he said.
“I look at the backbone of our list, both in our mens and womens programs and I have great confidence so now it’s about being able to block out the noise, focus and keep showing confidence and belief in those people.”
Liddle’s confidence in David Teague is strong, noting that a lot of clubs have support systems for their coaches that can push them and make them better in the long run, such as Carlton has done with John Worsfold.
“Teague has a great relationship with John Worsfold, a premiership coach who has come on as a mentor,” he said.
“We chose to make that official because we really wanted ‘Woosha’ to spend some time in and around the Club and unfortunately, when you’ve got a premiership captain and coach, it’s very difficult to get him in and around the club without people talking so it was better to be transparent.
“He’s in an official mentoring role and we wanted him to be able to provide some feedback, not only to Teague but on his observations as well.”
