Carlton coach Brett Ratten has urged his players to block out external criticism ahead of a season-defining stretch for the AFL club.

The Blues got their season back on track with a hard-fought 26-point win over West Coast at Subiaco Oval on Saturday night, lifting them a game and percentage clear of ninth-placed North Melbourne.

But with games against premiership contenders Collingwood, Geelong and Fremantle still to come over the final five rounds of the season, Ratten said his players could ill-afford to listen to the critics that have taken pot shots at the club in recent weeks.

"Everyone keeps telling us how bad we're going," Ratten said after the win over West Coast.

"If you listened to what was going on outside our football club you'd think we're in the bottom four.

"If we keep telling the players or they keep listening to it, they'll start to believe it.

"We're in the eight and we have a massive opportunity to keep pushing forward and winning games of football.

"From a positive point of view we need to tell them what they're doing well and give them a solution on how to fix it (if they're doing something wrong).

"... We'll have our ups and downs ... but we're not going to be worried what everyone says outside.

"We control our own destiny and we said that, we're in the top eight and we'll keep trudging on."

The Blues' Dennis Armfield was taken to a Perth hospital on Saturday night after copping a heavy hip-and-shoulder from Ashton Hams, who was reported for the contact.

But scans revealed no major damage and Armfield flew back to Melbourne with the rest of the team on Sunday.

Armfield is still in some doubt for Saturday's blockbuster clash with Collingwood at the MCG, while Jarrad Waite may also miss the match after being placed on report for a late bump on Adam Selwood.

Although Selwood suffered a suspected AC joint injury as a result of the bump, the contact was shoulder to shoulder and only a tad late.

Ratten said marking targets Setanta O'hAilpin and Brad Fisher were in line for a recall after Carlton's trio of small forwards Eddie Betts (three goals), Jeff Garlett (three) and Chris Yarran (two) were once again forced to save the day.

"We can't rely on the three small forwards," Ratten said.

"It's something we'll have to have a look at going forward to tinker with.

"I'm not saying it will change next week, but in the next five weeks there might be just something a bit different for the opposition to face."

West Coast led by 26 points at half-time but were blown away thereafter, with the Blues stringing together nine unanswered goals at one stage in the second half.

Despite the loss, Eagles coach John Worsfold felt his team were in "reasonable shape" ahead of Sunday's western derby against arch rivals Fremantle.

"I'm really happy with how the players have been coming on throughout the year, so look forward to it," Worsfold said.

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