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Carlton coach Brendon Bolton has pledged a fight and a response against Collingwood in their AFL clash at the MCG.

Carlton coach Brendon Bolton believes his AFL battlers have more than enough credit in the bank this season to render last week's shocker to North Melbourne as a once-off and not a reversion to the mean.

The Kangaroos inflicted a 58-point loss on the Blues last Sunday, Carlton's worst defeat of 2019.

Other clubs might have been able to avoid questioning over a similar defeat.

Not the Blues or Bolton with the memory of their two-win campaign last year - the worst season by a non-expansion side since Fitzroy's dying days in the 1990s - firmly in the memory.

Bolton believes close losses to Gold Coast, Hawthorn, Sydney and Port Adelaide should be considered alongside their nightmare afternoon against the Roos.

"The one game doesn't define (us) or take us off course (the) belief that we can compete with teams," he said.

"We can catastrophise that one game.

"But if you go to the base of the whole year, there's been more than four quarters to look at.

"Pressure and heat comes with that. We understand it accept it.

"So we're going to make sure that steely resolve is there.

"We've addressed it firmly. Players have spoken about it all week led by the captain in particular. We're looking for a response."

The problem for Bolton is that this week they confront Collingwood, the form team of the competition.

Nathan Buckley's Magpies have won their past four matches and would be a major test for any side, let alone the one-win Blues.

Bolton, who has opted to field talls Levi Casboult, Mitch McGovern, Harry McKay, Charlie Curnow and recalled ruck Matthew Kreuzer in the same team, says he'll be creative in his lineup.

"We're probably going to mix things up with positions," he said, suggesting Liam Jones' concussion after a head clash with North's Cameron Zurhaar may have forced his hand.

"Our supporters would have just admired the way he's played this year and that courage," he said.

"This game requires you to put your body, mind and soul on the line ... it was a big hit. He'll miss this weekend and should be right next week."

Bolton said predictions of a heavy loss, and Collingwood president Eddie McGuire's call for his replacement, hadn't resonated.

"I don't care what the prediction is," he said.

"We're looking to make sure that this is a real fight. A real fight.

"They want to respond and we want to respond together as a footy club."