While Carlton has confirmed the inevitable and admitted they are rebuilding, coach Mick Malthouse has declared his priority remains on winning matches, with the recruiting department focusing on the long-term future.

Ahead of a crunch clash against Essendon, Malthouse said on Friday he would pick the best team available for the rest of the season, warning the club's emerging talent there would not be a "free ticket" at selection.

While rebuilding clubs traditionally invest in youth, the Blues - particularly this early in the new season - will maintain their faith in the older brigade, provided form permits.

"Let's make this very, very clear. We will pick a side every week to run down the race to be as competitive as we can. This is not a free ticket to any player," Malthouse said.

"This is not throw out Judd, Carrazzo, Simpson, Walker, anyone who may or may not be able over the next two or three seasons, and play Dillon Viojo-Rainbow, Dylan Buckley, Billy Gowers. We will pick the side on merit to represent our football club as best we possibly can."

Blues president Mark LoGiudice and chief executive Steven Trigg have outlined their long-term vision in wake of a winless start to the season.

Out of contract at the end of the year, Malthouse clarified how he views his role in the rebuild, compared to that of new recruiting chief, club legend Steve Silvagni.

"This word (rebuild) is good because it tells you where the club is looking for the future. We (coaches) are looking at it on a day-to-day basis. The day-to-day running of a football organisation on field is totally different than what Steve Silvagni does," he said.

"Steve is looking to the future, I am looking at immediate, and we don't want to confuse that. That's been driven by the football club and I think that's the right way. We as a coaching panel are here to win games of football for our supporters. Steven is there to ensure in the future what he picks for our team takes us forward.

"There is a distinction and we are very aware of that distinction. If there is a confusion out there, it's not confusion in here."

Asked if he was happy with the public declaration of a rebuild, Malthouse responded: "It's not a matter of whether I am happy or sad or bad about it - that's simply the club's stance going forward is that . I can't allow myself to be drawn into a methodology that suggests we are going to be less than competitive because we play kids."

Malthouse said he had already addressed with his senior players what a rebuild meant for them, for it could stymie their motivation if it was felt any hope of playing in the finals in the next couple of years was out of the question.

"The president has a message to the fans and I have a message to the players, and that message is in here (the club) with the player group," he said.

The Blues have made four changes at selection, with Andrew Walker, returning after a serious knee injury which required stem cell treatment, Dennis Armfield, Patrick Cripps and Irish debutant Ciaran Byrne set to take to the field.

Simon White (knee) and Troy Menzel (calf) are injured while Jason Tutt and Clem Smith have been dropped.

Chris Judd joined teammates in a light run on Friday and told club staff he would be fit to play, amid suggestions he could be a late withdrawal because of a sore shoulder.

Blaine Boekhorst, the club's top draft pick last year, was again overlooked but Malthouse said he was "not far off" in terms of selection.

Crunched after quarter-time by the Eagles last week, Malthouse said the Blues had addressed several on-field issues - but would not provide specifics.

However, the issues are obvious. They have ranked 17th in disposal efficiency differential, and have the league's worst defence, conceding 118 points a game.

They have also been outscored from clearances by 14 points a game, while Cameron Wood has struggled in the ruck, with the Blues' being minus 7.5 overall in hit-out-to-advantage differential.

"They are bitterly disappointed in their performances of the last two games. There is no question about that. We trained very well for a number of months to address issues of last year," Malthouse said.

"We came into the season with a lot of optimism and we haven't really delivered that optimism yet. Players are acutely aware of it but there is breath in all of us, and while there is breath we will keep trying and we'll get it at some stage."