Carlton is content with its preparation in the lead-up to its massive season-opener against Richmond on April 2, having used its NAB Challenge campaign to help assemble a squad it thinks can get the job done against the Tigers.
 
So says coach Mick Malthouse, who saw plenty of positives out of a pre-season that saw the Blues drop games against West Coast and Geelong but narrowly hold off Collingwood in Bendigo last Sunday.
 
Even in the immediate aftermath of a 19-point loss to the Cats at Etihad Stadium on Sunday evening, Malthouse is confident the Blues are streets ahead of where they were in their preparations this time last year.
 
"In all honesty, we went in last year knowing there were a fair few players that were going to play who were underdone," Malthouse said after the match against the Cats.

"This year our goal was to play 30-odd players to give us a book of players we can go in against Richmond with knowing that, if some had been injured, we could actually see how the other players performed in those roles.
 
"That's exactly what we've done. We've been able to put games into guys, who haven't experienced the intensity of AFL football, albeit NAB [Challenge].
 
"We've increased the workload of players who needed to be increased and we've been able to protect the players who we know, through their professionalism and a number of years in it (the AFL system), they can come up pretty quickly."
 
Malthouse said the games against the Eagles (31-point loss), Magpies (seven-point win) and the Cats provided his side with an ideal build-up in what promises to be a tight tussle against Richmond early next month.

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The make-up of the Blues' tall backline is yet to be fully decided, but Malthouse indicated youngster Kristian Jaksch could join experienced leaders Michael Jamison and Sam Rowe in defence against the Tigers.
 
Jaksch, who stands at 196cm, had a tough battle with Mitch Clark, who booted three goals, against the Cats, but has shown real promise since coming over from Greater Western Sydney in the off-season.
 
"It gives us a good opportunity," Malthouse said. "Do we play him, Rowe and Jamison? My mind really was early in the week, we can play three of them if they play well.
 
"I don't really see why we couldn't play those three, because Richmond might give us that opportunity.
 
"And I think Jaksch has the capability on playing on a medium (forward) anyway."