Billionaire Carlton powerbroker Bruce Mathieson urges Blues fans to keep the faith with rebuild

BILLIONAIRE Carlton powerbroker Bruce Mathieson has urged Blues fans to keep the faith in the club’s long-term rebuild strategy despite continuing on-field struggles.

Carlton players walk off after another loss.

BILLIONAIRE Carlton powerbroker Bruce Mathieson has urged Blues fans to keep the faith in the club’s long-term strategy.

Mathieson said the rebuild under president Mark LoGiudice, coach Brendon Bolton and list boss Stephen Silvagni would start bearing fruit by the end of next season.

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“The club has worked on 2020 and that’s it - we’re going to have these periods,” Mathieson told the Herald Sun.

“I’m very relaxed still. Keep working to the plan.

Carlton coach Brendon Bolton. Picture: Michael Klein

“This is part of the sticking together and the hard bloody yards that we have to go through, whether we like it or not.

“We’ll get back, don’t worry.

“It’s all a big, long, slow process.”

The pokies king, a former Blues director who backed LoGiudice’s takeover of the club in June 2014, said injuries had cruelled the club’s progress in Bolton’s third-year in charge at Ikon Park.

All-Australian defender Sam Docherty has missed the entire season with an ACL, while skipper Marc Murphy (foot) has played just four games.

Caleb Marchbank hasn’t played since Round 6 and Levi Casboult returned after five weeks out from broken ribs in Saturday’s disastrous 57-point loss to Fremantle.

“That’s just crucial to us, we can’t afford to have one or two players (injured),” Mathieson said.

“I think it’s been quite clear that we have said we will start seeing results in 2020 and that’s about what it will be.”

Carlton were held goalless in the first half against the Dockers but Bolton praised his players for winning the second half by 13 points.

“It could have got really ugly but to the players’ credit, a bit of strong culture at half-time, they rallied each other,” Bolton said.

The 18th-placed Blues play resurgent Collingwood at the MCG on Sunday.

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