Former Carlton assistant coach Tony Liberatore has accused the club of "tanking" matches at the end of last season.

The Blues lost their final 11 matches in 2007, ensuring they won few enough matches to earn a priority national draft pick, which they used to pick up talented young ruckman Matthew Kreuzer.

Liberatore, who was part of the Blues coaching staff during that time, told the Nine Network's AFL Footy Show that winning "wasn't the be all and end all" for the club during the final matches of the year.

Asked if he felt that constituted tanking, he said: "I would have to say yes."

Brett Ratten took over from Denis Pagan as caretaker coach for the final six games of last season, before being given the job permanently.

Liberatore said the coaching staff had never talked about tanking, he believed the players were always trying to win and he was not aware of any directive from Blues executives to lose matches.

"I never heard (a directive to lose), but I could feel it, if that makes sense," Liberatore said.

"Nobody ever said we're not going to win today but the feeling in the group was that it was a bit of a laugh."

He said he did not believe the club picked sides to win in the final rounds, but admitted other coaches might disagree.

"Another coach might say `yes' because we're looking to develop young players," he said.

"But if there's a situation where there's a guy who can wait until the end of the year to have an operation on his ankle or knee or whatever, something minor, but he can play and the decision's made let's put him out to pasture right away, I say they're doing the wrong thing."

Liberatore was an assistant for four years under Pagan, but Ratten opted not to renew his contract once he took over the position permanently.

Ratten was asked about the tanking issue during the Blues' losing run last season and consistently vehemently denied the club tried to lose matches.

A Carlton spokesman told the Footy Show Liberatore's view was nothing more than a personal opinion.

Tanking has been a topical issue in recent days, after Sydney coach Paul Roos was investigated and eventually cleared over claims he instructed a player to perform below his best in a pre-season match.

It is the second time in a matter of weeks Liberatore has taken a swipe at one of his former employers.

Last month, the former Western Bulldogs Brownlow Medallist said Bulldogs chief executive Campbell Rose was a divisive figure who should be sacked and that 'Dogs coach Rodney Eade should also get his marching orders if he could not guide the club to the finals this year.

The Carlton club later issued a statement emphatically denying the claims and said they would hold a press conference about the issue on Friday.

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