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Brendon Bolton says Blues are ‘building resilience’ despite heavy loss to Essendon

The pressure notch just went up a little more after a big loss to Essendon, but Brendon Bolton says his players haven’t lost belief. Plus the coach on Dale Thomas and Patrick Cripps.

Brendon Bolton: “What I love about the group is they haven’t lost belief.” Pic: Getty Images
Brendon Bolton: “What I love about the group is they haven’t lost belief.” Pic: Getty Images

CARLTON coach Brendon Bolton says he has not lost the faith of his playing group despite another heavy defeat to Essendon.

The Blues remained chained to the bottom of the ladder two wins below beleaguered Gold Coast and have won only four of their past 43 matches.

An unwavering Bolton had a blunt message for dumped veteran Dale Thomas, saying he had to perform strongly in the VFL after he was caught drinking alcohol two days before a game last weekend.

Thomas had a day out on Sunday, gathering 32 possessions for the Northern Blues but is no guarantee to receive a call-up against Brisbane on Saturday.

“Considering the scenario we were in, I’m glad he responded. He let us down,” Bolton said.

“He made a very, very poor error of judgment. He got carried away in the moment.”

The 41-point loss to the Bombers intensifies the pressure on Bolton amid a make-or-break middle part of the season.

Dale Thomas dominated for the Northern Blues. Pic: Getty Images
Dale Thomas dominated for the Northern Blues. Pic: Getty Images
Brendon Bolton says the Blues still believe. Pic: AAP
Brendon Bolton says the Blues still believe. Pic: AAP

But Bolton said his players had not checked out.

“What I love about the group is they haven’t lost belief, they’re building resilience,” Bolton said.

“The biggest worry is when you are not getting effort and by and large we are getting effort, but we hurt ourselves today in particular.”

Bolton said the Blues cost themselves with their poor conversion on goal, a failure to kick to the advantage of the forwards, and positioning problems in the front half.

He also said Patrick Cripps played a sacrificial role for the team in winning only 11 possessions.

Bolton said it would be difficult to tell Cripps to rest, even if the huge workload was taking a toll.

“He played forward a little bit, but ‘Crippa’ played a really selfless role today,” he said.

“I know he never got a lot of the ball, he got tagged, that happens.

It was another dirty day for the Blues. Pic: Getty Images
It was another dirty day for the Blues. Pic: Getty Images

“But sometimes too you have got players in sacrificial roles in positions in and around stoppages and Cripps tried to do that for a fair period.”

Bolton said he was frustrated by the increasing losses but would continue to be selfless and giving in his day-to-day operations at the club.

“I’m human, I’m frustrated, but I’m determined as ever and invested in trying to help our staff and players,” he said.

“My main worry is not about myself. If you under pressure and you are feeling heat the easiest thing is to go internal.

“One of my strategies is to go and do something for someone else and then you think less about yourself.”

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Original URL: https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/more-news/brendon-bolton-says-blues-are-building-resilience-despite-heavy-loss-to-essendon/news-story/ecd53ab37cd1d36a21b9411a886f46b6