Bitter Blues stuck in pothole

CARLTON president Mark LoGiudice says the Blues have a “hit a pothole’’ but maintains all key figures are united in their efforts to rebuild.

The Blues have faced fierce backlash from fans and the media over the past 48 hours after losing to North Melbourne by 86 points in Tasmania on Saturday night.

List management, game style and development have been central to the criticism.

LoGiudice said youth and injuries had contributed to the weekend’s defeat.

“We’ve hit a pothole in the road, but between youth and injuries, and I know others at the club can’t say this, but if you look at the facts, the loss is probably the result of those two things,’’ he said last night.

“I’m not making excuses, I'm just giving reasons. I understand fans are frustrated, but a rebuild requires patience.

“As a fan and as a member, I’m also frustrated, but we need to have patience.”

LoGiudice and chief executive Cain Little watched the game together on Saturday night.

“It was tough,” the president said.

He stressed coach Brendon Bolton, list manager Stephen Silvagni, head of football Andrew McKay, himself, the board and executive were “absolutely together”.

“Our members need to be supportive of our coaches, our players, and it is frustrating, I get it,” he said.

“Everyone knows where we are at, everyone understands it, it’s a plan which has been in place for the past two and half years, just strip this list right back to where it had to be.”

The Blues have turned over 42 players in the past three offseasons.

“We know where we are at and we know there is lots of work to do,” LoGiudice said.

“This part of the strategy — losing isn’t part of the strategy, but the build of the list — you have to a holistic view of the entire football club.

“No one has spoken about the $20 million grant we just got from the state government. Why aren’t we talking about that?

“We are getting the whole club ready.

“Yes, football is the core business, but you have to prepare the entire football club.

“Remember, you need money to invest in football and we didn’t have money threefour years ago.”

LoGiudice stressed that the third and fourth years of a rebuild were historically the toughest.

“It is when you’ve got the most amount of changes all coming together — it’s compounding’’ he said.