Carlton assistant coach Alan Richardson says the AFL club’s embattled head coach Brett Ratten is remaining good and upbeat despite his uncertain future.

There is strong speculation that Ratten will be replaced by former Collingwood premiership coach Mick Malthouse, even though the Blues have mentioned no choice will be produced before Carlton’s season ends against St Kilda on Sunday.

But Richardson defended Ratten’s overall performance and stated the coach’s only focus was to finish the season strongly against the Saints and help the crew atone for final round’s shock reduction to Gold Coast, which ended their finals hopes.

“He’s exceptionally optimistic and constructive about coaching the group to reply to the weekend,” Richardson told reporters on Wednesday.

“In Brett Ratten’s mind right now, from what we see as coaches, it is about producing up for an extremely disappointing overall performance.

“It is received absolutely nothing to do with Brett Ratten in terms of his own potential.

“It is all about generating sure that we respond as a footy club and a footy team this week.”

Ratten was originally scheduled to front Wednesday’s media conference, prior to the club manufactured a switch on Tuesday night, choosing not to topic the coach to more public scrutiny.

But Richardson defended Ratten’s functionality, saying if Carlton could beat the Saints on Sunday and finish with a 12-ten record, that would be a respectable achievement given their bad run with injuries.

“It truly is been a reasonably successful season provided the circumstances,” Richardson mentioned.

“There’s other footy clubs in the competitors that have struggled when they’ve had important personnel out.”

He described Ratten as a selfless, excellent man or woman and a fantastic coach and felt the gamers would agree.

“If you are asking me do I assume the players are supportive of the coaching group and Brett Ratten, I assume they’re completely supportive,” he stated.

A video score evaluation proved a essential final-expression turning point as a depleted Carlton fought out a useful AFL win more than the Western Bulldogs at Etihad Stadium on Saturday evening.

Carlton had trailed by as several as 25 points for the duration of the first half but fought back to win 16.6 (102) to twelve.twelve (84).

While the Dogs entered the match on a 4-game losing streak and the Blues’ win was not quite sufficient to lift them into the top eight, the 4 points and the battle Carlton showed were a welcome tonic following their horror week.

They had lost skipper Chris Judd to a four-match suspension and Matthew Kreuzer and Lachie Henderson to injury, with late withdrawal Mitch Robinson also adding to numerous missing initial-selection players, forcing the Blues to area 3 AFL debutants.

But with Heath Scotland (31 disposals) and Brock McLean (29) gathering a heap of the ball, Andrew Collins (3 targets) proving an unlikely target in attack, Chris Yarran including dazzle in defence and Jeff Garlett firing up forward, the makeshift Blues outfit triumphed.

Bryce Gibbs overcame a poor start to kick two crucial last-expression objectives, with Eddie Betts also snaring two majors in a nerve-tingling, drama-packed last quarter.

It began with 3 lead changes, Bret Thornton and Gibbs each goaling to put Carlton a point up, either side of Luke Dahlhaus kicking his fourth for the Dogs.

Betts made it a seven-point lead with a brilliant snap from tight in the pocket, before a rushed behind decreased the gap to a straight kick.

Then came the pivotal episode.

Thornton gave away a totally free kick for a deliberate rushed behind.

Dahlhaus took the shot, which was initially named a aim to degree the scores.

But, after desperate Carlton protests, a video assessment exposed the shot grazed the publish.

The score was modified to a behind and the Blues stayed ahead for the rest of the match.

Dogs midfielder Ryan Griffen had a likelihood to give his side the lead practically quickly after, but missed a snap.

The Blues produced him pay, Betts setting up a Gibbs goal, then scoring a single himself to seal the win.

Griffen and Tom Liberatore, with 28 touches every, fought tough for the Canines, who lost Shaun Higgins to a hamstring injury early in the second half.

Carlton coach Brett Ratten mentioned it was no shock that after generating 6 forced changes and bringing in three 1st-gamers the Blues took time to get going.

But he stated some of the club’s lesser lights had taken the opportunity to advance their careers.

Ratten explained people gamers would want to maintain doing, as the injury crisis was not necessarily about to ease, with essential forward Jarrad Waite to once again be missing up coming round against Richmond and ruckman Matthew Kreuzer also uncertain to be offered.

“That’s no excuse for us. No matter what occurs in the next 6 weeks, wherever we finish up we’ll be a good deal much better as a football club for going by way of these experiences and how we deal with it,” Ratten explained.

Bulldogs coach Brendan McCartney mentioned his side had missed a great chance.

“We did a great deal appropriate to create the chance and then lost the opportunity,” he explained.

“We felt in the last quarter there have been just a considerable quantity of tiny 1-on-a single battles that they won.”

Carlton will bank on midfield gun Marc Murphy’s shoulder holding up as he seeks to help continue their AFL season revival against North Melbourne on Friday evening.

The reigning best and fairest has been named for the vital Etihad Stadium clash, even though in yet another significant improve, crucial defender Lachie Henderson will return from a groin injury a week earlier than expected.

Murphy, out since copping a serious shoulder injury in a massive bump from Adelaide’s Patrick Dangerfield in round eight, survived a fitness test earlier this week and again on Thursday.

The Blues have won just two of six video games in his absence.

Thursday’s test concerned fellow midfielders Ed Curnow and Andrew Carrazzo dishing out bumps and tackles to see how Murphy’s heavily-strapped left shoulder coped.

“It is fantastic to be back in the group,” Murphy explained right after coming by way of that examination.

“It is tough sitting in the stands viewing, so I am actually searching forward to tomorrow evening to be out playing yet again.

“Hopefully I can play my part in ensuring the group continues the form shown against Collingwood last week.”

Earlier, Murphy had used only his correct arm at times while marking at education.

But midfield coach Mark Riley insisted he had total selection of motion with the left and that the Blues would not be playing him if there was any danger of even more harm.

“We won’t be taking any hazards with a player of that good quality,” Riley informed reporters.

Henderson’s return is just as considerable, offered Carlton’s dearth of accessible tall players.

Even though he will be important to combat the Kangaroos’ in-type tall forwards, he could also be swung forward, exactly where the Blues lack a tall target right after Shaun Hampson went down final week with a season-ending knee injury.

The Blues will nonetheless have only one particular real ruckman, with Matthew Kreuzer to once more carry out that job almost unsupported, as he did superbly right after Hampson went off in final round’s watershed win above Collingwood.

Whilst the Kangaroos have Drew Petrie to back Todd Goldstein in the ruck, North coach Brad Scott stated it was not necessarily an benefit for his side that the Blues had only Kreuzer in that function.

“Kreuzer possibly played his greatest game for the year last week, so gamers like that, of that calibre, have a tendency to stage up below pressure,” Scott explained.

“He was magnificent final week.

“So you could seem at it as a weakness, not having a back-up for him.

“Or you could say Kreuzer’s going to devote the majority of time in the ruck. If he’s performing that, he’s going to be a quite influential player.”

Once ambushed, twice ready.

NSW are vowing they won’t be carried out in excess of a 2nd time at a jam-packed Suncorp Stadium in one more emotional State of Origin decider.

The Blues had been like deers in the headlights in last year’s pivotal series finale – Queensland’s desperation to send Darren Lockyer out a winner electrifying the currently-frenzied environment of the substantial-stakes encounter.

Down 24- barely half an hour into the contest, NSW were as very good as gone.

This year, it’s Petero Civoniceva’s turn to farewell the Maroons jumper – but this time, the Blues say they are ready for what’s coming.

“They had a lot to play for, it was a packed house, it was Locky’s farewell – it was a massive occasion and not a lot of of the boys had been beneath that sort of stress,” NSW back-rower Anthony Watmough said.

“It was a huge occasion and something we believed we had been ready for but we weren’t.

“We know what to anticipate now.

“We can go up there with all that hatred against us and attempt and use it to our advantage.”

Fellow back-rower Greg Bird added: “If you happen to be not up to it, they’re going to blow you off the paddock.

“That is what they did to us.

“We weren’t prepared and, although we felt our preparation was sound, something was identified lacking.

“I’m confident Ricky (coach Ricky Stuart) will determine that and make confident it does not occur once more.

“Otherwise, like game 3 final year, you can be beaten immediately after 20 minutes of football and taking part in catch-up with no genuine possibilities.”

Playing catch-up against the Maroons in Brisbane is fraught with danger.

The Blues have previously shown this series how not playing from behind can have an effect on their play.

Despite scoring very first in game one, a quick double to the Maroons just before the break had them on the back foot and, no matter their dominance for the duration of the 2nd time period, they were unable to nab the breakthrough try.

In game two, the Maroons in no way opened up a considerable lead, and the Blues had been capable to depend on their defence to carry them to victory.

“Repeat set immediately after repeat set, you do develop a great deal of self self-assurance in your defence and belief,” Bird stated.

“I think that showed in the way we completed that game.”

If that energy produced the belief, then final year’s disappointment might supply the determination.

“We had been in precisely the identical place now as we were (last year) and we allow it slip and blew it fully,” Bird mentioned.

“We worked hard for six weeks of prep and to no avail.

“It cut pretty deep, but hopefully that expertise on the field and the encounter in the sheds following the game … comes out in our gamers in a constructive reaction.”

Carlton coach Brett Ratten has finally admitted star AFL midfielder Chris Judd is carrying an injury, but says he’ll keep the exact nature of the ailment in-house.

Judd looked well below his best in Thursday night’s 10-point loss to West Coast in Perth, with the former Eagles skipper restricted to just 12 possessions by tagger Scott Selwood.

The match was Carlton’s fourth within the space of 18 days, and Ratten said the heavy workload had taken a toll on Judd’s body.

Ratten refused to go into details about Judd’s injury, but said he was hopeful the upcoming bye would give the 28-year-old enough time to recover ahead of season-defining clashes against Hawthorn and Collingwood.

“I think he’s really looking forward to the break,” Ratten said after the 10.19 (79) to 10.9 (69) loss, which left Carlton in ninth spot with a 6-6 record.

“He’s had to do a fair bit of work to get himself up to play each week.

“He’ll really thrive from having a few days off.

“He should be right, but he’s just got to work through this bit with that injury and take the time to heal.

“We’ve got 15 days so that will allow him to get a bit of recovery.”

Although Carlton have dropped five of their past six games, Ratten remains optimistic about his team’s finals chances after pushing Geelong and West Coast all the way in recent weeks.

“We haven’t lost hope, we’ve just lost two games of football by 12 and 10 points,” Ratten said.

“They’re arm-wrestles against very good teams.

“We’ve still got to aim to get as high as we can get. The great thing is we’re going to get (Jeremy) Laidler back, we’re going to start to get a few players back and that will start to help shape the team.

“We need to do a bit of work in making sure we have the opportunity, but we’ve just got challenges in front of us, like Hawthorn when we get back (after the bye).”

Meanwhile, injured Carlton duo Marc Murphy and Laidler are expected to receive a ‘please explain’ from the AFL after criticising the umpires of the Blues-Eagles match through twitter.

Murphy tweeted: “Ruined a good game these blokes”, while Laidler put up a post saying: “Are you not meant to try and b 1st in at the footy anymore. If u do u will be pinned for holding the ball. SHOCKING!!!”

Obtaining won the battle, NSW coach Ricky Stuart says the Blues now have to demonstrate they can win the war after Todd Carney stepped up to the plate to set up a State of Origin decider with a 16-12 win on Wednesday evening.

The Blues moved a single stage closer to ending Queensland’s record six-year dominance of the interstate traditional, Carney’s Origin second arriving right after a forgettable debut when he provided the spark which altered the program of the game.

Now Stuart says, the total team has to adjust the program of Origin history.

“These boys have shown they can win an Origin game, now we have to display we can win an Origin series,” Stuart stated.

“We have to show to ourselves far more than anyone else that we can win an Origin series.”

Central to that will be Carney, who was 1 of a lot of Blues heroes Robbie Farah coming up with a marathon 64 tackles and Greg Bird taking out guy of the match honours.

With his side given the benefit of a one particular-man advantage immediately after Cooper Cronk was sin-binned for denying the Blues 5-eighth an opportunity to score, Carney hit the go button to modify the match irrevocably.

Getting just booted a penalty to lock it up at six-all, Carney brushed by means of an Ashley Harrison tackle on his own 20 metre line just before locating Brett Stewart in support for his 2nd attempt of the night.

Four minutes later it was 16-six to the Blues, Jarryd Hayne cleverly kicking the ball ahead immediately after being stripped by Johnathan Thurston to full a mesmerising spell for the house side.

“You do not get a lot of opportunities in Origin,” Stuart said.

“Just the pass to Brett Stewart was a hard talent.

“He took the line on a lot more tonight.”

Just as NSW did in Origin I when Michael Jennings was spelled for ten minutes, the Maroons paid dearly for Cronk’s binning, his choice to deny Carney a near particular 6 points instead becoming twelve by the time he returned.

Queensland captain Cameron Smith conceded Cronk’s stint off the area was pivotal.

“We struggled when Cooper got put in the sin-bin,” he explained.

“They scored two tries and we couldn’t recover … we had a great deal of area position in the 2nd half but unfortunately we could not get the win and which is one particular-all and we’ll go back to Brisbane for the decider.

Cronk did his finest to make amends with a brilliant kick-chase on his return which secured a repeat set for the Maroons, and then virtually like clockwork, Queensland started their late charge.

Two straight sets had been repelled by the Blues but a third was past them, Darius Boyd tapping back a Thurston bomb for Greg Inglis to stretch his Origin record tally to 14 tries.

It looked like the Maroons had broken NSW hearts when Brent Tate leapt highest to reel in a bomb in the corner, but just as he appeared set to fall over and score Jennings arrived to tap the ball out of his grasp.

The Blues had already had the life punched out of them on the stroke of halftime when immediately after a spirited opening stanza they went to the sheds trailing when Ben Hannant scored a minute prior to the break.

Stewart’s 25th-minute attempt appeared scant reward for NSW’s dominance of the opening period after Akuila Uate inexplicably allowed a bomb to bounce near his line and Boyd tapped back for Harrison to feed Hannant who dived over underneath the posts.

Having won the battle, NSW coach Ricky Stuart says the Blues now have to prove they can win the war after Todd Carney stepped up to the plate to set up a State of Origin decider with a 16-12 win on Wednesday night.

The Blues moved one step closer to ending Queensland’s record six-year dominance of the interstate classic, Carney’s Origin moment arriving after a forgettable debut when he provided the spark which changed the course of the game.

Now Stuart says, the entire team has to change the course of Origin history.

“These boys have shown they can win an Origin game, now we have to show we can win an Origin series,” Stuart said.

“We have to prove to ourselves more than anybody else that we can win an Origin series.”

Central to that will be Carney, who was one of many Blues heroes; Robbie Farah coming up with a marathon 64 tackles and Greg Bird taking out man of the match honours.

With his side given the benefit of a one-man advantage after Cooper Cronk was sin-binned for denying the Blues five-eighth an opportunity to score, Carney hit the go button to change the match irrevocably.

Having just booted a penalty to lock it up at 6-all, Carney brushed through an Ashley Harrison tackle on his own 20 metre line before finding Brett Stewart in support for his second try of the night.

Four minutes later it was 16-6 to the Blues, Jarryd Hayne cleverly kicking the ball ahead after being stripped by Johnathan Thurston to complete a mesmerising spell for the home side.

“You don’t get many opportunities in Origin,” Stuart said.

“Just the pass to Brett Stewart was a tough skill.

“He took the line on a lot more tonight.”

Just as NSW did in Origin I when Michael Jennings was spelled for ten minutes, the Maroons paid dearly for Cronk’s binning, his decision to deny Carney a near certain six points instead becoming 12 by the time he returned.

Queensland captain Cameron Smith conceded Cronk’s stint off the field was pivotal.

“We struggled when Cooper got put in the sin-bin,” he said.

“They scored two tries and we couldn’t recover … we had a lot of field position in the second half but unfortunately we couldn’t get the win and that’s one-all and we’ll go back to Brisbane for the decider.

Cronk did his best to make amends with a brilliant kick-chase on his return which secured a repeat set for the Maroons, and then almost like clockwork, Queensland started their late charge.

Two straight sets were repelled by the Blues but a third was beyond them, Darius Boyd tapping back a Thurston bomb for Greg Inglis to stretch his Origin record tally to 14 tries.

It looked like the Maroons had broken NSW hearts when Brent Tate leapt highest to reel in a bomb in the corner, but just as he seemed set to fall over and score Jennings arrived to tap the ball out of his grasp.

The Blues had already had the life punched out of them on the stroke of halftime when after a spirited opening stanza they went to the sheds trailing when Ben Hannant scored a minute before the break.

Stewart’s 25th-minute try seemed scant reward for NSW’s dominance of the opening period after Akuila Uate inexplicably allowed a bomb to bounce near his line and Boyd tapped back for Harrison to feed Hannant who dived over under the posts.

Queensland will attempt to silence a promote-out ANZ Stadium crowd early with a rapidly begin in Origin II tonight.

Queensland have won four of their final seven video games at the Sydney ground which was a hoodoo venue for them just before they began their six series streak in 2006.

NSW coach Ricky Stuart and his players will have the vast majority of the 80,000-strong crowd behind them but Queensland assistant coach Michael Hagan said the Maroons could turn that to their advantage with a strong start off.

“Suncorp Stadium is a fairly hostile surroundings for the Blues and you do not expect anything at all significantly less when you come down right here,” he explained

“It is great their followers have got behind their team.

“Great players like to play in front of big crowds regardless of whether they’re behind you or not, it tends to lift your functionality.

“We have got lots of large-match players who thrive on that kind of surroundings.”

Hagan confirmed five-eighth Johnathan Thurston a specified starter after rumours about his fitness surfaced late on Tuesday.

“I haven’t seen one thing to suggest Johnathan Thurston will not be one hundred per cent fit for the game,” he said.

“I am not sure the place that circulated from yesterday but he trained actually properly and got by means of our session without a problem and has not been underneath therapy for any injury.”

Queensland coach Mal Meninga’s concentrate has been on his players exhibiting far more intensity out of the blocks than they did in game a single.

The work they do on stopping big males Paul Gallen, rookie Tim Grant and James Tamou via the middle will be the key for Queensland.

Early-season premiership favourites Carlton slumped to their fourth loss in 5 AFL matches as they suffered a twelve-point defeat at the hands of Geelong in their round-11 clash on Friday night.

Defending premiers Geelong won 14.13 (97) to 11.19 (85) before a crowd of 47,632 at Etihad Stadium, growing the strain on Carlton coach Brett Ratten whose side’s grip on a leading-eight spot is searching shaky with a 6-five record.

Carlton’s Eddie Betts and Geelong’s Steven Motlop booted four targets every.

The Cats enhanced their record to 7-4 right after powerful-bodied midfielders Joel Selwood and Paul Chapman combined for 15 within-50 entries, 53 disposals and three ambitions.

Mitch Duncan, with 24 disposals and two targets, was an additional strong contributor and held Chris Judd for most of the game right up until the Blues skipper worked his way back into the game in the final phrase.

Important defender Michael Jamison held Geelong’s Tom Hawkins to one particular aim, even though running defender Bryce Gibbs had an entertaining duel with Cats’ star Steve Johnson who was aim-less.

The Blues dominated the opening phrase, kicking 4 targets to Geelong’s two, but by halftime Carlton’s advantage had shrunk to five factors.

Betts booted three initial-quarter ambitions before an additional goalsneak Motlop kicked 3 majors to preserve the Cats in touch at halftime.

Right after a quiet initial half, Hawkins helped spark the Cats who grabbed the lead for the very first time considering that the initial minute of the match.

Geelong outscored the Blues 5 objectives to 3 in the 3rd phrase to hold a six-point break at 3-quarter time and one more 4 goals to two in the final quarter kept the Cats in management.

Selwood, with ten possessions and a traditional captain’s objective, led Geelong’s 3rd-quarter revival.

With five minutes left in the game, Mathew Stokes place the Cats 19 points ahead with a goal from a cost-free kick and the Blues could only handle one particular a lot more objective, a determined snap from Judd, who lifted with a 10-possession final quarter.

Kade Simpson and Brock McLean shared the midfield load for the Blues with Judd.

James Podsiadly was a late withdrawal from Geelong’s selected side with a sore hip.

Carlton encounter a challenging trip to Perth to play ladder leaders West Coast subsequent Thursday evening while Geelong have a bye.

In spite of the loss, Ratten could see optimistic indicators.

“We have been a great deal far more bolder with the football, we took the game on and it was true arm-wrestle,” he mentioned.

“The wheel is turning for us as a group.”

The Blues had 30 scoring shots to Geelong’s 27 and had been wasteful in front of goal.

“To kick 2.9 in the final quarter, that harm us,” Ratten mentioned.

Robbie Warnock (hip tightness) was substituted off in the 3rd term and Ratten mentioned he hoped his in-form ruckman would be match to take on the Eagles.

Geelong coach Chris Scott praised Selwood’s performance and stated the Cats were bettering, despite the fact that they are nevertheless to uncover top gear.

“We’re nevertheless in contention. It may not be clicking completely, but we surely aren’t believing the unfavorable press out there about us,” he stated.

Skipper Paul Gallen and fullback Brett Stewart sat out NSW team training on Thursday morning as coach Ricky Stuart worked his players ahead of the second State of Origin game on Wednesday.

Gallen stood on the sidelines at Kogarah Oval with his left leg heavily strapped immediately after tweaking his knee in Cronulla’s 29-twenty NRL loss to Parramatta on Monday.

Even so, the 30-year-old has mentioned his knee is far better than when he suffered the very same dilemma in the develop-up to the opening Origin game in Melbourne last month.

“It is certainly far better than it felt in game one particular,” Gallen informed Sydney radio 2UE on Wednesday evening.

“At 1 stage, I thought I was in danger of missing that game, but I played 80 minutes with no dramas.

Gallen sat out the final 25 minutes of Cronulla’s game on Monday.

“I was ready to go back on against Parramatta, but (coach) Shane (Flanagan) kept me back so I probably owe him 1,” he stated.

Gallen will join in with the rest of the squad in instruction on Friday as the Blues stage up their preparations to stop a seventh successive series defeat in the house match at ANZ Stadium.

Stewart has a modified training schedule with Manly due to a extended-standing knee issue that has blighted his occupation, but Blues officials have no doubt he will also take his place in the starting up line-up.

Stewart’s Manly teammate Anthony Watmough joined in with the side for the 1st time since reporting into camp on Monday.

The 27-year-old, who had two cortisone injections for a neck situation earlier this week, was withdrawn from a speak to session but, like Stewart and Gallen, is expected to take portion in a full session ahead of the weekend.

Meanwhile, Greg Bird has brushed aside Queensland coach Mal Meninga’s claim on Wednesday that the Blues are whingers and do not have the mentality for Origin.

Bird said the comments had not even been mentioned by the NSW players or workers.

“They’re entitled to their personal opinion and I never really have a comment on it,” Bird stated.

“I will go out and do my whingeing on the field. We’ve got a football game to win and we’ll be focusing on us and not what they are saying up there.”