Losing tight games is a habit Carlton need to kick before it costs their coach his career.

Having let winning chances slip in finals in the past two seasons, coach Brett Ratten's job hinges on leading the AFL club to their first post-season victory in a decade.

But those narrow September defeats are not isolated incidents.

Of nine games decided by single-figure margins Carlton have played in the past two seasons, the Blues have lost eight of them.

Ratten will feel more confident about his team's finals prospects this year if they can improve that record.

"It's nice to win a few games through the season where it's an arm wrestle right to the end and you get your nose in front," the coach said.

"Rehearsing those and getting results can be fairly critical in the (finals) lead-up."

Another message Ratten wants his players to take from the fade-out loss to Brisbane in the 2009 finals and their missed scoring chances in last September's five-point defeat from Sydney is that every act counts.

"We have to make sure we don't let our foot off the pedal, especially towards the back end of the season, but also in any game," he said.

"They're the biggest lessons - it's a game of inches and you've got to take your opportunities."

A theme of this pre-season has been toughening up mentally.

At their best last year, Carlton were electric, thrashing Geelong and St Kilda in the space of three rounds early in the season.

But they also copped some huge beltings and Ratten said at times last year their competitive spirit went missing.

"It comes down to consistency in our effort and our approach, which is something that we've had a look at over the off-season. We think mentally our group is a lot tougher."

Defensively, they conceded an average of three goals per game more than the competition's most miserly side, St Kilda, last year.

The Blues will borrow from the Saints and premiers Collingwood to tighten that aspect, with help from recruits to their coaching staff.

Ex-Magpies assistants Alan Richardson and Gavin Brown have come on board, along with John Barker, who spent time under Ross Lyon at the Saints before a stint with Hawthorn.

Mature-aged recruits Jeremy Laidler, from Geelong, and Nick Duigan, from SANFL club Norwood, will bolster the defensive depth.

So will the versatile Simon White, who played six games early last season, before injuries hit.

Young gun Bryce Gibbs will be freed up to be a permanent midfielder, after playing mainly in defence last season.

Former forward Chris Yarran will take over the creative role in defence.

In the ruck, much will depend on Robbie Warnock, given Sam Jacobs has been traded to Adelaide and Matthew Kreuzer is returning from a major knee injury.

Ratten said Kreuzer's competitive nature and work ethic, sorely missed after he was injured in round 13 last season, would help him make an impact.

But the Blues are wary of demanding too much of their young ruckman-forward in his comeback season, particularly given the potential stress on his knee of jumping at ruck contests.

In attack, Carlton got enormous impact from speedy small forwards Eddie Betts and Jeff Garlett, who kicked 81 goals between them last season.

But they will be hoping for more from tall forwards Lachie Henderson and Jarrad Waite.

Ratten expected former Brisbane player Henderson to benefit from having spent a season with the Blues, while Waite should be helped by a full pre-season, after coming off a serious knee injury last year.

Andrew Walker, nearly traded to Adelaide, will also be in attack, after shining with three goals in the finals loss to the Swans.

If those positional switches, improved mentality and a few trade secrets in the coaches' box can add up to an extra goal per game, it might be enough to swing Carlton's - and Ratten's - fortunes.

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