Finals might be assured for Port Adelaide but Carlton must pick up four points to hold off the challenge of the Lions. We’ll have live scores from 4.40pm AEST.
The finals are rapidly approaching, and while many AFL teams won’t be able to break into the top eight this year, there’s still a slew of other clubs vying for positions and desperate not to drop points over the final weeks of the year.
One of the big winners from the Essendon scandal that has dominated the headlines in the past week, Carlton are now up inside the eight and will be looking to hold on to that position here.
They stand level on points with Brisbane in 10th position and just one win clear of a number of chasing clubs including North Melbourne, Adelaide and West Coast—making the four points on offer here incredibly important for their finals chances.
The Power are eight points clear in seventh spot and should be right to finish inside the top eight this year, though they’ll know that absolutely anything can happen.
They won’t want to give their opponents a single sniff, and with the prospect of moving 12 points clear on the board, they too will be desperate for the four points.
Carlton won an intriguing match between these two teams back in Round 8, finishing with an 18-point win on the day.
They’ve also won six of the last seven fixtures between these two clubs, including three of the last four at AAMI Stadium.
It will be interesting to see how the Power respond this week after being thrashed by Fremantle last week.
They could potentially expose the Blues in open space (with Carlton ranked fourth last for total possessions and disposals this year), though they will no doubt be wary of the threat that they provide at stoppages (where they rank third for contested possessions).
This one is shaping up as a cracking contest indeed and you won’t want to miss a minute; make sure you join us live from 4.40pm AEST.
Prediction: Carlton by six points.
Brent Ford
Roar Guru
Awesome coverage Dan, you and SF covered two of the best games all season and you both did it to perfection, still can't believe Carlton even came back! Mick might've died had they not gotten up. :)
Brendon
Guest
+1 eddy betts' goal should never have been allowed
Stavros
Guest
It did look good. I do also like their new one. Why do Collingwood get to decide whether they wear it or not. Is it the AFL's competition or not? Also, letting Carlton wear that away strip was ridiculous. From behind it was difficult at times. Lift your game Demetriou.
Bill C
Guest
Port Adelaide should wear that strip ALL the time. That IS Port Adelaide.
Jack
Guest
Happy days
Dan Talintyre
Roar Guru
FULL TIME —— CARLTON 104 (15.14) BEAT PORT ADELAIDE 103 (15.13) And that's it from me! Hope you enjoyed this thrilling game of footy; make sure you keep it on The Roar for all the latest post-match reaction and analysis. Looking forward to finals footy this year!!
Dan Talintyre
Roar Guru
FULL TIME —— CARLTON 104 (15.14) BEAT PORT ADELAIDE 103 (15.13) POST-MATCH STATISTICS GOALS Port Adelaide—Ebert (4), Schulz (4), Westoff (2), Boak, Monfries, Wingard, Young, Logan Carlton—Murphy (3), Yarran (2), Betts (2), Garlett (2), Gibbs, Simpson, Kruezer, Bell, Waite, Curnow DISPOSALS Port Adelaide (358) led Carlton (274) TACKLES Carlton (44) led Port Adelaide (34) CLEARANCES Carlton (47) led Port Adelaide (36) INSIDE 50'S Carlton (51) led Port Adelaide (47) ————— STANDOUT INDIVIDUAL PERFORMANCES Kane Cornes (Port Adelaide) — 34 disposals, four tackles Brad Ebert (Port Adelaide) — 23 disposals, four goals, three tackles Marc Murphy (Carlton) — 23 disposals, five tackles, three goals Bryce Gibbs (Carlton) — 26 disposals, one tackle, one goal
Jayden
Guest
Carlton were lucky to have sealed their finals spot tonight, and they know it. Broadbent should of scored a goal. Port were robbed. That was criminal that they lost.
Dan Talintyre
Roar Guru
FULL TIME —— CARLTON 104 (15.14) BEAT PORT ADELAIDE 103 (15.13) That was one of the most incredible games of footy we've seen all year. For those that thought the Brisbane-Geelong game earlier today was dramatic, this one perhaps even went one better!! Down by 39 points at three-quarter time away from home? What a win. One of the most incredible games seen all season. Carlton will play finals footy this year. What a game and what a finish as well! Full post-match statistics to come.
Dan Talintyre
Roar Guru
Q4 0:00 remaining. Carlton 104 (15.14) lead Port Adelaide 103 (15.13) AND THAT'S IT!! CARLTON HAVE WON AND ARE INTO THE FINALS!!! Somehow, somehow they won that. Nobody knows how. Incredible scenes at AAMI Stadium. Full stats and reaction to come. What an incredible game of footty!!!
Dan Talintyre
Roar Guru
Q4 0:10 remaining. Carlton 104 (15.14) lead Port Adelaide 103 (15.13) BROADBENT HITS THE POST!!! OH MY GOODNESS!!! ONE POINT IN IT. 10 SECONDS TO GO!!!
Dan Talintyre
Roar Guru
Q4 0:40 remaining. Carlton 104 (15.14) lead Port Adelaide 102 (15.12) Ball-up, centre field. Right in front of the interchange gates.
Dan Talintyre
Roar Guru
Q4 1:00 remaining. Carlton 104 (15.14) lead Port Adelaide 102 (15.12) Long ball and Yarran marks. Should chip it around and win this one.
Dan Talintyre
Roar Guru
Q4 1:00 remaining. Carlton 104 (15.14) lead Port Adelaide 102 (15.12) PORT INSIDE 50, BUT CARLTON CLEAR.
Jack
Guest
Port two goals from throws
Dan Talintyre
Roar Guru
Q4 2:00 remaining. Carlton 104 (15.14) lead Port Adelaide 102 (15.12) GOAL - SCHULZ (PORT) Carlton have won 11 of 14 centre clearances this half. Control well on the right, but Port break. Wingard sends it long. Young inside 50 and Schulz takes an incredible mark. Very tight angle. 20 out. Very tight. WHAT A GOAL!!! 2 MINUTES TO GO!!! 2 POINTS IN IT!!!
Dan Talintyre
Roar Guru
Q4 3:00 remaining. Carlton 104 (15.14) lead Port Adelaide 96 (14.12) GOAL - WAITE (BLUES) Too easy for Carlton. Gibbs breaks quickly to the right. Slams it long and Waite takes an easy mark, 25 out right in front. Power simply have nothing left to give. Bangs it through—that should do it, you'd think.
Dan Talintyre
Roar Guru
Q4 3:33 remaining. Carlton 98 (14.14) lead Port Adelaide 96 (14.12) GOAL - WINGARD (PORT) HANG ON A MINUTE!!! HANG ON A MINUTE!!! Wingard crumbs after a frantic scrap and kicks from 35 on a tight angle. Somehow gets it to go straight. Gap is back to two points. Four minutes to go. Carlton need to win to play finals footy this year.
Dan Talintyre
Roar Guru
Q4 4:23 remaining. Carlton 98 (14.14) lead Port Adelaide 90 (13.12) GOAL - GIBBS (BLUES) Incredible scenes at AAMI Stadium. 39 points down, now in front. Carlton on fire; Port don't look like they have a response. Gibbs cruises inside 50 and kicks another Blues goal!! Carlton's midfield is incredible! Blues—incredibly—lead by eight points. Have kicked seven goals this quarter.
Dan Talintyre
Roar Guru
Q4 4:44 remaining. Carlton 92 (13.14) lead Port Adelaide 90 (13.12) GOAL - BELL (BLUES) Port break well through Boak, but Carlton crumb well inside their own defensive 50. Wide to Cornes. Bell bangs it from 50 and we have a goal!!!! CARLTON ARE IN THE LEAD!!! BLUES LEAD!!!