Brendon Bolton and Carlton need wins or pressure will go to whole new level, writes Jon Anderson

Carlton coach Brendon Bolton is entering dangerous territory as fans and former greats grow restless for results. So there’s no underestimating the enormity of today’s clash - and the next few weeks.

Brendon Bolton’s team faces a key clash against Gold Coast. Pic: Getty Images

WHEN a collection of Carlton club greats and assorted luminaries met last Sunday at a CFC life members’ function, it didn’t require too much singing syrup for the current side and its fortunes to become the pivotal topic.

Given the venue was Kew Golf Club, golf parlance would suggest the temperate preferred a rescue club when describing their club’s predicament, the more direct pulled out the Big Dog, the driver.

The rescue club users preached patience. They pointed to a city named Rome that took time to be rebuilt, and didn’t they do a fine job in the end?

ROBBO: HEAT ON BLUES, KANGAS

IN DEMAND: AFL’S OUT-OF-CONTRACT YOUNG GUNS

The Big Dogs said the Blues had been a five-time wooden spoon laughing stock for two decades and nothing had changed in recent times to suggest otherwise.

Many of those present were intimately associated with Carlton when it won eight premierships and played in 12 Grand Finals from 1968-95, so their expectations of success are naturally greater than the average AFL fan (Hawthorn supporters aside).

Brendon Bolton’s team need to start winning. Pic: Michael Klein.

Inevitably, coach Brendon Bolton became the subject of discussion. His record of 20 wins in 74 games (winning percentage of 27 per cent) was used as a tool to suggest he may not be the person to take the club to the promised land.

Bolton, 39, is younger than any of those making judgment calls, and indeed speaks a language foreign to the footy jargon of the 1960s, ’70s and ’80s. “Selection integrity” and “green shoots” being Bolton-isms that are wearing thin on some.

Bolton, in his fourth season as coach, has never chosen to indulge the media and unlike most AFL coaches, has no obvious relationships with the fourth estate. His after-match press conferences suggest he would rather be anywhere but, his demeanour ranging from dismissive to cold.

There was a suggestion last year he use christian names when he responded to media questions, but that was short-lived and Bolton quickly reverted to a suspicious attitude towards journos.

Then again, how a coach gets on with the press is hardly going to determine his team’s on-field success as Mick Malthouse proved over the years, although interestingly Malthouse always had a small group that he trusted.

Carlton president Mark LoGiudice has maintained the faith. Picture: Kylie Else

Importantly, Bolton has enjoyed strong support from president Mark LoGiudice, who will have served five years in that role this June. Considering the lack of on-field success, LoGiudice and his board have done an impressive job off it and have been staunch regarding Bolton.

That won’t change even if the Blues lose to the so-called pre-season easybeats Gold Coast at Metricon Stadium. But confidence will erode if they remain without a win when matched against the Western Bulldogs, Hawthorn and North Melbourne through Rounds 5-7.

If unsuccessful you will hear names such as Tom Elliott as a potential president, or possibly even a pair of highly-credentialed Blues in dual premiership captain Mike Fitzpatrick and former Blues CEO and MCC secretary Stephen Gough.

And if the board falls then the coach goes with it. While such talk may seem premature, and the side has been competitive in three losses this year, a couple of uncompetitive floggings would really increase the heat.

Bolton’s performance has been clouded by a list that has changed more than any in the competition, and in winning seven games in his debut year of 2016 and six in 2017 before a miserable two last season. But the rebuild didn’t truly begin until 2018, when stripping the list bare in 2016 may have been a better option.

What he and his coaching staff can be judged on is player development. Harry McKay is a poster boy this year. Patrick Cripps has displayed improvement each season to be one of the best in the game and Charlie Curnow is headed in the right direction.

Charlie Curnow, Patrick Cripps and Harry McKay are the future at Ikon Park. Pic: Getty Images

Liam Jones has enjoyed a rebirth in defence, something that began at VFL level under Northern Blues coach Josh Fraser, and David Cuningham has shown some positive signs this year.

Bolton has remained particularly supportive of his younger players, many of them high draft picks, even when form hasn’t always warranted selection.

It naturally enough prompts frustrations from VFL level, although his desire to get games into the likes of Paddy Dow, Zac Fisher, Lochie O’Brien, Sam Petrevski-Seton and Cameron Polson appears to sometimes outweigh straight form comparisons.

The problem with those young men consistently playing is they are raised in a losing AFL environment — Dow has played in two wins from 23 games and Fisher five in 37.

Can Bolton inspire his men for the weekly battle? Those present before games say it’s a strong part of his coaching, although on the ground it becomes the player’s responsibility to ensure he keeps his head over the ball, a criticism levelled at a couple of Blues in recent weeks.

You get the feeling anything short of 100 per cent commitment won’t be toleratedon Sunday at Metricon Stadium in a game that may well have far-reaching ramifications. For players and coach alike.

Originally published as Brendon Bolton and Carlton need wins or pressure will go to whole new level, writes Jon Anderson