Malthouse stands by Blues

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Carlton coach Mick Malthouse has hit back at critics after Robert Walls described the Blues as having gone backwards under their new mentor.

In his Fairfax Media column on Thursday, former Carlton premiership coach and player Walls wrote the club's board needed to tell fans which direction the Blues were heading in.

Walls asked whether sacked coach Brett Ratten had overachieved and if Carlton were still aiming for a premiership, as they were a year ago.

Malthouse, whose team are ninth with a 9-10 win-loss record, said he ignored Walls' opinion.

"I'm so used to Robbie Walls being a critic," he said.

"Robert is a very negative person so I take absolutely nothing in what Robert says.

"He lives in his own misery and so be it."

Walls was also critical of first-year captain Marc Murphy, who has battled injuries and being heavily tagged in 2013.

He said veteran Chris Judd should have stayed on as the club's captain and Carlton should have 'encouraged' him to do so.

Malthouse backed Murphy and said the 26-year-old needed time to grow into the role.

"Marc Murphy is made for captaincy but it will take some time because it's a learning process," he said.

The Blues go into Saturday's clash against Richmond at the MCG in losing form after being beaten by the Western Bulldogs and Fremantle in the past fortnight.

But Malthouse is remaining calm and said there was plenty the Blues had to work on.

"We don't whack people in here," he said.

"Contrary to what the media or public would like. We don't like certain things that take place but you've got to keep teaching, otherwise you'll never learn."

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