Carlton coach Michael Voss insists he is not concerned by the Blues' second-half fade-outs as they slumped to 0-2.
For the second-straight Thursday night, Carlton managed just two goals after halftime to lose their clash with red-hot Hawthorn by 20 points - 12.8 (80) to 8.12 (60) - at the MCG. They had trailed by just five points at the final break.
It was a far superior performance to seven days earlier when they coughed up a 41-point lead to be stunned by wooden spoon fancies Richmond.
But heat will continue to rise at Ikon Park if wins don't come, with the result against Hawthorn a ninth loss from their last 11 games dating back to the end of 2024.
Voss responded "not at all" when asked if he had any concerns over Carlton's ability to run out games.
"We had a few inside-50s late. No, we run out games pretty well," he said after the Blues went goalless in the final term.
Carlton's hopes of upsetting the undefeated Hawks copped a pre-game blow when star forward Harry McKay was ruled out with illness.
McKay's absence came as Carlton welcomed back fellow forward Charlie Curnow, who had been recovering from knee issues following an off-season ankle operation.
Curnow looked like someone who hadn't played since last August, finishing with just five touches and failing to register a score.
"Competed really well," Voss said of Curnow.
"Where he's at in terms of his prep, it's his first game back in.
"Our commentary is always around Charlie being able to compete forward of the ball.
"I think it's up to you to decide you what you want to value in Charlie.
"If he kicks goals, it's 'we've only got one focal point', if he doesn't kick goals, then 'how come he couldn't have an influence on the game?', yet he brought the ball to ground.
"He'll get his rewards within our system, and we'll get to have him in over the course the next few weeks to be able to build his game."
Ruck Tom De Koning, who is considering a mammoth offer from St Kilda to leave Carlton at season's end, was outstanding but Hawthorn dominated when he had to rest and got stuck on the bench for extended periods numerous times.
"Sometimes it happens. It happens all the time. It's not an unusual thing," Voss said of De Koning getting stuck on the bench.
"Clearly, we'd like him on the ground, but there's some times when the play's on the other side of the field, and you can't make that happen."
Carlton, who have played finals the last two seasons, face the Western Bulldogs next Friday night to try and avoid going 0-3.
