In-form Carlton midfielder Adam Cerra has declared he won't view the Blues' 2023 campaign as a failure if the club fails to reach finals for a 10th successive year.
Cerra, who is yet to play in the September action himself after four years and Fremantle, was brought to Carlton ahead of their 2022 season - the club's first under senior coach Michael Voss.
The Blues fells short of the top eight last year despite high expectations, with the Victorian powerhouse again seen as no certainty to make the reach the post-season desire a star-studded list.
But should Carlton's last finals appearance from 2013 remain their most recent come the end of this year, Cerra has stated the club's 2023 season shouldn't be labelled as a failure.
The Blues midfielder, who has hit a purple patch of form across the past three rounds, told reporters that while finals is a goal the playing group is continuing to place a focus on the little wins from each week.
"Every day we're just trying to get better and progress. If we're improving from last year as a team, not just ladder position but that connection within the group and what we're building towards, I don't see it as a failure," Cerra said.
"Every week, Vossy's big on not just looking at the big picture, but looking at the little things week by week, just trying to get better. I definitely wouldn't call it a failure, even though it's our goal.
"It might be this year, it might be next year, but we want to get there as soon as possible.
"Every football club feels the pressure to make the finals. That's what the players want to play in, that's what the fans want to go and watch.
"I'd be lying if I said no one feels the pressure but it's something we embrace."
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On the day of former coach David Teague's sacking, Carlton president Luke Sayers declared the club expected to play finals the following year during Voss's maiden season at the helm.
The Blues narrowly fell short of the benchmark thanks to a one-point Round 23 loss to Collingwood that saw Voss' side fall to ninth place on the ladder and outside of the finals frame for the first time all season.
Home to two Coleman Medal winners and the reigning Brownlow medallist, the Blues' list on paper reads as one that should be competing atop the table this year.
After the opening eight rounds the Blues sit in eighth on the ladder with four wins, three losses and a draw to their name, and have defeated one side currently above them from three matches against fellow top-eight sides.
Carlton have faced four of the bottom six sides and have entered a challenging period of their season, with matches against the Western Bulldogs, Collingwood, Sydney and Melbourne coming in the next few weeks.
A loss in their clash with the Bulldogs this week would see the Blues record their fourth defeat in five rounds and potentially fall as low as 10th on the ladder.