Coach David Teague concedes Carlton aren't progressing as quickly as they'd like but is confident their AFL "light bulb moment" isn't far away.
The Blues came into the season with high hopes but sit 3-6 before Saturday's clash with 17th-placed Hawthorn at the MCG.
"To be honest the progress probably hasn't been as quick with this group as it has in the past," Teague told reporters on Thursday.
"Probably early doors when I first took over, it was quicker. It's a tough one, it can be really frustrating, particularly for our fans.
"... We're probably not progressing as quick but we're still seeing small bits of growth and the challenge for us is to keep growing, keep our habits really strong.
"I'm reading a book at the moment 'Atomic Habits' and they talk about this light bulb moment where it just pops and right now we're waiting for that to happen.
"But we're really confident the way they train, the way they prepare it's going to happen at some stage."
Before the 2019 season, the Blues released a strategic plan that aimed to deliver premierships at both AFL and AFLW level by 2023.
Teague emphasised improvement was "never linear" but backed his 13th-placed side to find their groove.
"It isn't linear, we've seen other teams just pop really quickly and for us it hasn't happened," he said.
"We do feel confident though that when we start to win that we've built a foundation that will allow us to sustain that."
Meanwhile, Teague said he had no update on Patrick Cripps' contract situation, despite reports the co-captain will re-sign imminently.
Teague was also "pretty confident a deal will get done" with in-form Harry McKay, who is out of contract at season's end.
McKay (shoulder) will continue to play through a niggling shoulder injury.
Teague said the key forward had injured his shoulder a few weeks ago and had aggravated it in Sunday's loss to Melbourne - but the injury was getting better every week.
Jack Silvagni (concussion) will be in the mix to face Hawthorn but Teague expected Jack Martin (knee) to be another week away.
