Jimmy Bartel, James Hird dissect the 'disgraceful' issue holding Carlton back

Carlton have some serious issues, and the top of that list is their inability to hit targets inside 50, according to Geelong champion Jimmy Bartel.

The Blues won the contested possession count comfortably against GWS in round 11, but still suffered a 28-point loss and conceded 110 points.

Carlton butchered opportunity after opportunity, particularly in the first half, and the Geelong champion believes it is a failing of the club's development and coaching, saying it has been an issue for over two years now.

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"They just dump the ball inside forward 50. People ask - is it system or talent (with Carlton), and I think the system doesn't set up well because they're so heavily focused on stoppage, and I know I've mentioned it for two years, but clearly the development is not there," Bartel told Nine's Footy Furnace.

"Development doesn't just mean first to third-year players. I was still doing development work in my 15th year of football.

"Kick the ball to advantage (inside 50). If you can't do it properly, well then go work on it.

"If you look at their kicks inside 50 rating at the moment (in the competition), Charlie Curnow is 190th, George Hewett 200th, Blake Acres 223rd, Ollie Hollands 234th, Tom De Koning 235th and Harry McKay 239th out of the top 250 players. They're experienced players.

"If you're a forward or a midfielder, it's not that to look up and kicking it to advantage. It doesn't have to be lace-out, but they are giving their forwards no chance.

"Whoever is doing the skill development and forward structure (at Carlton) needs to have a good hard look at themselves, because they are disgraceful those numbers."

Former Essendon coach James Hird agreed, saying "it's an indictment on (Carlton's) development of players".

"Not the development of young players, the development of all their players, because you do need to practice kicking (inside 50)," Hird said.

"And I'll give you an example, I was talking to (Bombers captain) Zach Merrett during the other day and he'd just come off his own training session where he was telling me about kicking back shoulder, kicking front shoulder, kicking to the pool - he was practicing all of these different kicks.

"Looks like Carlton have not developed that at all in the last two years."

Hird feels the Blues are capable of winning their next three games given they play Essendon, North Melbourne and West Coast, but isn't sure they're a genuine finals threat.

"They're going to win three out of their next four, they've got one of the great runs and they'll be on the verge of the eight and people will think they're going OK, I think there's some systematic things they need to change if they want to make the eight, rather than just beat bottom sides," Hird said.

Carlton hits its bye week in round 12, giving them a chance to reset before the second half of the season.