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Port Adelaide have defeated a surprisingly gallant Carlton outfit by 21 points in a fine game at the MCG, but the result will leave a lot more questions than answers.
» Click here to read the full match report
Final score
Carlton 10.9 (69)
Port Adelaide 13.12 (90)
Saturday’s early game takes us to the home of football, as a struggling Carlton host a high-flying Port Adelaide. Join The Roar for live commentary and scores from 1:45pm AEST.
It’s last place versus fifth place. Port Adelaide, as we know, have been rather good this year. Their last three outings?
A great victory over the premiers, a powerful win over the hapless Bulldogs and a fabulous win over Melbourne last weekend. That’s an imposing form-line.
Their opponents? Not nearly as good, evidently. A loss to Sydney, an absolute capitulation against Freo and a lively but ultimately unrewarding performance against the Pies last Sunday.
The hope for the Blues, however, is their peculiarly good recent form against the Power. They’ve got four wins to three in their last seven against the South Australians, and a few of those have been close run affairs.
Of note is their very good victory against the Power in mid-2016, where they etched out a two-point win. That’ll surely be inspiration.
Player wise, both teams have a few genuine superstars which should make this contest intriguing to watch.
Patrick Cripps and Charlie Curnow were excellent last week, while 300th gamer Kade Simpson’s importance was evidenced in a barnstorming third term.
The Power, as ever, were well served by a collective team effort against the Demons.
Selection wise, there’s been changes aplenty for the Blues. Lachie Plowman and Matthew Kruezer are out with injuries, while Cam O’Shea’s been omitted, Dale Thomas is out with suspension and youngster Lochie O’Brien has been managed. Marc Murphy, Jarrod Pickett, Andrew Phillips, Levi Casboult and Nick Graham all return to the side.
For Port Adelaide, there is just a duo of changes. Tom Jonas is out with injury and Darcy Byrne-Jones is omitted. Jack Homsch returns to the side, whilst Jack Trengrove is in for his first game at Port Adelaide.
Prediction
I understand it’s Kade Simpson’s 300th, and I know that Carlton will be absolutely gunning to provide a good performance, but I just can’t see them beating Port. Port are just too strong around the ground, and are gunning for a top four position. This is a game, that following all conventional logic, will result in Port Adelaide saluting victory.
Port by 34 points
Join The Roar for live scores and a blog of the match, starting from 1:45pm AEST.
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