Malthouse says top AFL picks untouchable Carlton coach Mick Malthouse is adamant AFL No.1 draft picks Matthew Kreuzer and Bryce Gibbs won't be released, calling them "untouchable." Carlton are two games outside the top eight heading into Saturday night's match against St Kilda at Etihad Stadium. Their inconsistent form has sparked speculation about whether the Blues might use Kreuzer and Gibbs as trade bait at the end of this season. "I can categorically tell you that Gibbs and Kreuzer are untouchable - I don't know how plain I can make that," Malthouse said on Friday. But Malthouse is also talking tough about his players after their worst performance of the season a week ago, when Collingwood beat them by 41 points. Triple-premiership coach Malthouse, in his first season at Carlton, says he will learn a lot about his players in Saturday's clash at Etihad Stadium. St Kilda have a four-game winning streak against Carlton. Malthouse added top teams would make a minimal number of changes to their playing list from one year to the next. "The further down the list you go, the more you make," he said. Every player will be analysed, like I have done at every football club. The list will be scrutinised. It's our job to look at every player. The Blues have lost their past four games, although these have all been against top-eight teams. While Carlton have a 6-8 win-loss record and sit two games outside the eight, the 16th-placed Saints (3-11) are out of finals contention. The Saints will be boosted by the return of forwards Stephen Milne and Nick Riewoldt. Carlton have recalled Sam Rowe for injured key forward Jarrad Waite and halfback Heath Scotland returns for Levi Casboult. Malthouse said the Blues had no excuses last week, although the departure of a limping Waite midway through the first term was a turning point. "We had a sizeable lead (28 points), we lost a player and for one reason or another players tended to back into their shells," Malthouse said. We lost our way. You are tested every week. It is how you respond to the game that we played, which we know was our worst game of the year. One of St Kilda's wins was against Carlton in round seven. Saints coach Scott Watters said the experience of Riewoldt and Milne would boost his side and has called on the players to raise their expectations after last week's encouraging loss to Fremantle. Certainly it adds to the look of our side. But I don't underestimate the energy and effort that was brought by the younger group last week," Watters said. Probably this week for us is raising our level of aspiration and our expectations. We were very competitive last week but this side needs to chase a win and chase it really aggressively. For three and a bit quarters, there was a lot to like about last week - but again, that only means something if you can continue it.