With Carlton riding high in the AFL top four, Brett Ratten says he is coaching better than ever and is confident of being offered a new contract.

Ratten was put on notice at the start of the season when club president Stephen Kernahan said he expected the Blues to win a final this year.

Ratten has guided the Blues to the elimination final in each of the past two seasons, losing knockout games to Brisbane and Sydney.

He and the Western Bulldogs' Rodney Eade are among six AFL coaches currently out of contract at the end of this year.

Eade says he and the Bulldogs have already begun talks about 2012 and beyond.

Ratten's position has been strengthened by a likely top-four finish.

"I'm personally confident of being here next year," Ratten said on Wednesday.

"There's no doubt I'm a more rounded coach this year in comparison to last year.

"Players giving me feedback has been fantastic and that's been a key to my growth as a person and also as a coach."

Ratten said he was now better able to handle issues involved with coaching other than game-day strategies.

"As a young coach you might know a lot more about the tactical side of things but from the management side, how to deal with all that," said Ratten, 40.

"It's something you have to learn and grow along the way.

"I don't think you can flick a switch and be the best coach in your first year."

Ratten said he shielded himself from constant speculation about his position and had no interest in participating in commentary on his job.

"I don't look at the papers, I don't listen to any of the radios and I don't watch any of the footy shows," he said.

"I'm not worried what people think.

"They can say I'm in jeopardy ... that's the biggest thing about coaching and hearing chinese whispers, third-party conversations, rumours and innuendos.

"I can only deal with what I can control and that's getting this team to a point of winning finals and playing in finals and being a powerhouse again."

Meanwhile Eade was unwilling to be drawn on whether he would remain with the 12th-placed Bulldogs or possibly move to Adelaide, following Neil Craig's decision to quit on Monday.

"I haven't thought about it at this stage," Eade said.

"I don't know if that (Adelaide) is an option. That's all speculation.

"Certainly I'd like to be here. Firstly I'm concentrating on the season so that's all hypothetical.

"There's a process in place with the Bulldogs, which has begun.

"The main thing is I want to coach AFL footy.

"My main focus is the next six weeks."

Eade is in his seventh season with the Bulldogs.

His side have reached the preliminary final in each of the past three years but injuries to key players have not helped their finals hopes in recent weeks.

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