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Brendon Bolton has overseen a 1-6 start to Carlton's campaign and says winning matches was more important to him than any comments from Eddie McGuire.

The president of your biggest rival calling for your head in the week that you're due to face them might normally deserve an equally bold response.

Or, at least you'd think, serve as a rallying cry for an underperforming side.

Not so for Carlton coach Brendon Bolton, who has responded maturely to incendiary comments from Collingwood boss Eddie McGuire, the most outspoken of AFL club presidents.

On Monday, McGuire said Blues president Mark LoGiudice should seek out four-time Hawthorn premiership coach Alastair Clarkson, for a breakfast with a view to luring him to Princes Park.

"I reckon he's doing a really good job at the moment, Brendon Bolton, but Carlton is a big club and it needs a big personality again," McGuire said, with the clear implication that Bolton lacked the character to lead Carlton up the table.

On Friday, a day out from tackling Collingwood at the MCG, Bolton insisted he didn't mind.

"I understand the role of the media," Bolton said.

"It's an opinion-based industry. I understand it, and he's in the media, he has to give opinions.

"We really respect the role of opinions and in media because it's what generates interest.

"We love the game, it gets people talking.

"I think for quite a while he's liked Clarko. Why wouldn't he?"

Bolton said he was hell-bent on improving the Blues, which started impressively this season without winning before a round seven slump last week to North Melbourne.

Bolton, previously an assistant under Clarkson at the Hawks, said McGuire's comments weren't motivation.

"My motivations are all driven around improving individuals within the club, helping our coaches drive towards where we want to get to," he said.

"When you've been in the caper quite a while, I know I've only been here into my fourth year but I've been in the system quite a while now.

"The distraction ... if that infiltrates you, you're in the wrong space. I'm not in that space."