Carlton is a mentally stronger team compared to a year ago, coach Brett Ratten said on Sunday after the Blues broke into the eight with a 30-point win over Collingwood at the MCG.

For the second time in seven days the Blues staged a stirring second-half revival to defeat a side which made last year's finals series.

Last week it defeated Port Adelaide after being more than six goals behind in the third quarter. This time the Blues overran arch-rival Collingwood after trailing by four goals in the third term.

Ratten said the arrival of superstar Chris Judd combined with more stability within the side had led to the Blues' rise up the ladder in 2008.

He said the players were now taking more responsibility for what happened out on the field rather than waiting for something to be orchestrated from the coaches' box.

"I think with Chris coming into our team, it gives some other players a bit of relief. And he takes up a lot of slack for some others," Ratten said.

"I think across the board we're a lot mentally tougher across the group."

"I think they're taking more responsibility for what's thrown in front of them, how they deal with it."

"Sometimes you can't get the runner out there to say roll over or pick him up or do this. I think we're getting a real understanding for what's expected week in week out for a Carlton player."

Ratten said the Blues had finally developed the 'synergy and cohesion' which was missing earlier this season when it opened its campaign with three losses on the trot.

"I think now that we've got most of the blokes settled … everyone's starting to understand each other a bit more," he said.

"OK, we're behind but we can work our way through this. I think it's a lot better. Maybe the way we approach it, too."

"If we get behind do we need to come out and go in five minutes of footy and become even again, no we just put our head down and work our way through it."

Ratten said he urged his players at three-quarter time, when scores were level, to lift in the final term.

"I just spoke to the players about this is what we play for. Eighty-odd thousand, a chance to make the eight, how much do we want it as opposed to them?" he said.

"To be challenged against a very good team, 80,000 people, you get to see personally where you are individually and as a team. And I thought our group was outstanding."