Carlton coach Brett Ratten hopes the Blues' 15-point come-from-behind AFL victory over Fremantle on Sunday will give his charges the belief needed to push for a finals berth this year.

The Blues trailed by 36 points early in the second quarter and were still 18 points in arrears at the final change, but booted seven goals to two in a dominant last-quarter performance to notch the 16.19 (115) to 15.10 (100) win.

Carlton skipper Chris Judd (35 possessions, nine tackles, five scoring assists) was inspirational in the second-half comeback, while fellow midfielder Bryce Gibbs (33 disposals, 10 inside 50s, two goals) and Andrew Carrazzo (33 disposals, two goals) provided excellent support.

Setanta O'hAilpin booted 4.3 in an intriguing battle against Antoni Grover, while Brendan Fevola chipped in with three in front of 34,720 fans at Subiaco Oval.

Ratten admitted his team's confidence had taken a battering following their 69-point loss to Essendon but believed the win over Fremantle, which lifted the Blues back to seventh on the table ahead of Saturday's clash with Richmond, was just the tonic needed.

"That's pretty critical for a team that travels and after the performance last week it's just a bit of a belief that, OK, it's good to get that," a relieved Ratten said.

Judd proved to be an unstoppable force on his former stomping ground, with his work in and around the stoppages helping turn the momentum Carlton's way.

"I think he had a few key tackles at certain points and turned the footy over," Ratten said.

"It was a massive game for us and he put it on the group at three-quarter time and he's the one that takes it a step further and leads by example."

However, Ratten was far from impressed with his team's tardy start to the match.

Carlton butchered possession time and again in the opening term and also committed four 50m penalties for the stanza, three of which resulted in goals.

"We couldn't get our hands on the footy and we made numerous mistakes, we were undisciplined," Ratten said.

"Did we play well? I thought we played well in patches but we let ourselves down at times.

"We made so many skill errors."

Carlton defender Mark Austin will be sweating on the outcome of the match review panel after being reported for striking Nic Suban in the opening quarter.

Ratten said axed pair Nick Stevens and Heath Scotland were a chance to earn a recall for the Tigers clash.

Fremantle's seventh loss on the trot leaves the Dockers (3-11) battling to avoid the wooden spoon.

Luke McPharlin (three goals), Hayden Ballantyne (three goals), Greg Broughton (31 possessions), Paul Hasleby and Steven Dodd battled valiantly for Fremantle but the home side simply ran out of puff, with Carlton posting 35 inside 50s to 17 in the second half.

"It (the run) disappears because I think we are the only side, along with possibly Melbourne, that are carrying six first-year players in our team," Fremantle coach Mark Harvey said.

"We know exactly what the problem is.

"At the moment we haven't got the availability of seasoned players and playmakers.

"Carlton running over the top off us is a common pattern at the moment."

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