The sometimes "undisciplined" tag applied by Gold Coast stopper Andrew Raines to Patrick Cripps will help Carlton in the long term, according to caretaker Blues coach John Barker.

Raines gave away six free kicks and was reported during his close-checking game on emerging Blues midfielder Cripps, who emerged from a trying day to have 20 disposals and play a handy role in Carlton's 34-point win over the Suns at Etihad Stadium on Sunday.

The report came after Raines struck Cripps off the ball during the third quarter during what was the Blues' second straight win – the first time they have won consecutive games since round 10 last season.

Speaking after the game, Barker said it was an important day for Cripps' football education.

"I think it's really good for the Carlton football club that that occurred today," Barker said.

"[Cripps] gets educated on what that looks like, he gets to learn how to cope with that, and has to start to work out mechanisms with which to deal with those situations because I'm sure they'll be coming thick and fast throughout his future."

Barker believed Cripps dealt with the challenge well.

"I thought he did well. We moved him into different positions which allowed him to mechanically help the way he burst away from it."

Gold Coast coach Rodney Eade said that 29-year-old former Richmond and Brisbane Lions tagger Raines – promoted off the rookie list due to the Suns' hefty injury toll – had been worn down by his younger opponent's run.

"I thought his first quarter was fantastic. He kept Cripps to three possessions, did really well," Eade said.

"Then they made a move of putting Cripps to half-forward coming up ... really testing Andrew. And then I thought he became undisciplined to be honest.

"He's playing with bone on bone in his knee. He's done a terrific job for us coming off the rookie list but he was recruited  really to help our depth in our NEAFL.

"He physically just can't carry out the game, and that's why he was carrying on."

Barker thought the Blues' showing had been mixed overall, with their inaccurate kicking (14.19) meaning that the margin should have been greater.

"We made it a little bit harder on ourselves with the way we went about it today."

"I just thought there were some patches today where we weren't as quite up for the fight. Good footy teams bring that stuff consistently from the start of games to the end. Our ball use was a little bit off at times as well, but more importantly, we need to bring a level of competitiveness in the contest more consistently."

"I think our confidence is growing, but we've got to just remain tempered to because wins are hard to come by. The AFL's a pretty solid environment, and the second you think you're going a little bit better than you are, reality kicks in really quickly."

Barker was pleased with the 19-disposal, eight mark game of ruckman Matthew Kreuzer.

He added that forward Troy Menzel's right knee will be assessed after he was substituted out in the third quarter.