Marc Murphy has endured a tough start to his time as Carlton captain. Source: Getty Images
CARLTON can still make the finals if it loses to West Coast this weekend, says Malcolm Blight, who played in the North Melbourne team that won the 1975 flag from a disastrous 0-4 start.
No side since the final eight system started in 1994 has even made the finals after losing its first four games, with just four in all VFL-AFL history making finals from 0-4.
Another loss would heap pressure on the Blues, given they sacked Brett Ratten to win a premiership under coach Mick Malthouse.
Blight's Kangaroos had lost the 1974 Grand Final and, amid infighting and rumours early the next season, lost to Hawthorn, Melbourne, Carlton and Fitzroy. But just as the Roos turned it around under Ron Barassi, he believes Carlton can do something similar.
"I reckon it is one of my strongest memories of playing in a great team. It was at 0-4 and things were starting to go awry. There were whispers in the corridors and that kind of stuff -- the coach is no good, the committee is no good, the players are no good," Blight said yesterday.
"We went into a room at Arden St and the coach spoke and then the president Allen Aylett spoke. He said 'if any of you don't want to be here, walk out and don't come back. If you don't want to listen, get out of my sight. The coach is in charge now and he will be in charge long after you go.' It was one of the most spellbinding four minutes of solidarity and strength you have ever seen."
The Roos would go on to win an historic first flag in 1975, and then beat Collingwood in 1977 the week after the tied Grand Final.
Blight said history showed Mick Malthouse was too good not to turn around Carlton's shaky start to the season.
"I said to someone the other day that 0-4 is nothing . . . 0-6 is not pretty. Carlton's position I don't think is desperate at all. I seriously don't. They have a tough draw but they have played all right. As long as everyone sticks. The alternative is everyone starts fighting and dagging each other.
"I don't know a team Mick has coached which didn't play for him with his style and his way. He has been fantastic. Do you agree with everything he does? Of course not. But he has strong belief in his way and history says he does it well."
North Melbourne is the only team to win the flag from a 0-4 start. It finished third in '75 in a 12-team competition.
Collingwood in 1959, Richmond in 1924 and South Melbourne in 1923 also made the finals from a winless first month.
STUCK IN THE BLOCKS
THE BLUES FIRST THREE RETURNS FOR 2013
Rd1 Richmond 14.22 (106) d Carlton 14.17 (101)
Rd2 Collingwood 17.15 (117) d Carlton 15.10 (100)
Rd 3 Geelong 18.11 (119) d Carlton 15.13 (103)
THE NEXT THREE OPPONENTS
Rd4 West Coast v Carlton (Patersons)
Rd5 Carlton v Adelaide (MCG)
Rd6 Carlton v Melbourne (MCG)
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