Of course you can have it both ways.So the ladder is a joke but then you use the ladder to minimise Carlton's wins...?
Either the ladder at this point accurately reflects the quality of the team or it doesn't and is meaningless. You can't have it both ways
A ladder after round 3, when some teams have had byes and others haven't is obviously flawed.
And even at rd3, you can already get a read on teams that are going to be bottom 4 battlers and those who are looking strong.
Carlton aint played any strong teams yet, the Pies have.