Nathan Buckley is tipping Carlton to play finals this season for the first time since 2013.
The Blues hold their destiny in their own hands and can sure up a spot in September with a win in one or both of their last two games.
However, given recent form issues and coming up against in-form sides Melbourne and Collingwood in the final two rounds, Michael Voss’ side is suddenly under pressure to play finals.
Buckley stated the side was “out of form”, but said the players will be more responsible than coaches for determining the culture in what is potentially the last two weeks of their season.
“Carlton was in great shape early, their best football early in the season was as good as any. They buffered personnel concerns as well as anyone did throughout the second quarter of the season,” he said on SEN’s Whateley.
“(But) they’re not playing as well now. For whatever reason, they’re out of shape, they’re not connecting as well, there are elements of their game that haven’t quite come together and that was largely around transition and that’s starting to hurt them now, more so than the middle of the year.
“I don’t know how Vossy (Voss) handles it, but once again, the information that you glean inside of an organization, inside of a team, the players will make the determination and direction as much as the coaches will.”
The former Collingwood coach believes the role of Patrick Cripps will be pivotal.
Cripps is facing a two-week suspension if he is unsuccessful at the court on Tuesday night, but will nevertheless have a big off-field role if his ban remains.
“This is where Patty Cripps becomes crucial, he’s still got a big part to play,” Buckled added.
“Not matter if he’s playing or not, his energy and his direction and leadership around the organization is going to be really important over the next couple of weeks.”
Ultimately, Buckley believes the Blues may play finals regardless of whether or not they turn their form around.
Carlton is on 48 points and face two games where they’ll start outsiders to finish the home and away season. Among many scenarios for Carlton to miss the finals, the most likely is the Bulldogs – on 40 points – winning their final two games against GWS and Hawthorn and overtaking the Blues on percentage.
It would mean Richmond and the Dogs will fill 7th and 8th, but as Buckley notes, the Blues aren’t the ones doing the chasing.
“They could lose both games and still play finals, and I still think that’s the most likely outcome is that they sneak in,” he said.
“I don’t reckon they necessarily need to win a game for that to happen… they have to be caught and we’ve seen a lot of teams lose a lot of games when we potentially expected them to win.
“Everyone’s been falling over at hurdles, and maybe Carlton has done enough early in the season to qualify.”
Cripps will learn his court fate when proceedings kick off at 5pm AEST on Tuesday night.
His case will be heard second after West Coast’s Tim Kelly.
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