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.
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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.
Bob
Guest
They beat Collingwood there in Round 14 last year.
Liam Salter
Roar Guru
MATCH REPORT 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. The first quarter started well enough for the Blues, with the prodigiously talented Charlie Curnow sending through their first within minutes. They were seemingly reinvigorated after a string of losses, and were playing very well - with vigour, intensity and determination. Port struck back with three goals of their own, but a trio of goals to Curnow, and majors to the skipper in Murphy and Cripps, meant the Blues had a surprise six point lead as we went to the first break. They looked … surprisingly lively. The second quarter, as most sensible pundits might’ve expected, saw Port surge back into the clash. They were hampered at first by the strong Carlton squad, but a strange touched goal for the Blues - by one of their own! - appeared to turn the momentum in Port’s direction. They slammed home five straight, and the Carlton side began to look a little disillusioned. The found a little inspiration, though, with a late Jarrod Pickett goal. As the third quarter began, it was evident that the Blues found a fair bit of inspiration. They dominated the quarter, in a way I haven’t seen them perform in a long while. They kept Port Adelaide scoreless in the ‘premiership quarter’ and reversed a impactful deficit in contested possessions, perhaps evident of their vigour through the term. It’s a pity they were frustrated by a little inaccuracy and another controversial disallowed goal, but they were within two points at the final change. It was either going to be an upset of mammoth proportions, or a gallant loss. It was the latter. They collapsed, a little, in the final term, with Port taking charge of the game, and running out 21 point winners after a five goals to one in the final quarter. Port, though, would be happy with the win - but frustrated by how much they were lacking at some points. It’s almost fitting Kade Simpson produced a fantastic game - 37 touches and saves a plenty in the backline. Ed Curnow, Cripps and skipper Murphy were also fine, whilst Charlie Curnow slotted four majors. Port’s Rockliff and Wingard accumulated plenty of the footy, whilst Gray slammed home a trio of goals, Westhoff showed plenty and Dixon + Thomas were fine the forward line. Carlton: 10.9 (69) Port Adelaide: 13.12 (90)
Birdman
Roar Rookie
I wonder when Port last won a game at the 'G?
Liam Salter
Roar Guru
And there's full time. Port Adelaide win by 21 points. Carlton: 10.9 (69) Port Adelaide: 13.12 (90)
Liam Salter
Roar Guru
BEHIND PORT ADELAIDE Ouch. Casboult the recipient of a free just out from goal, but it's a horrible kick and he's missed! Carlton: 10.9 (69) Port Adelaide: 13.12 (90)
Liam Salter
Roar Guru
BEHIND PORT ADELAIDE Late rushed behind for the Power. Carlton: 10.8 (68) Port Adelaide: 13.12 (90)
Peter the Scribe
Roar Guru
It does AD! But they couldn't keep it going dammit!
Liam Salter
Roar Guru
GOAL CARLTON Turnover for the Power out of defence, and Kennedy of the Blues takes the intercept mark. He'll go for goal, and he's got the late major. Carlton: 10.8 (68) Port Adelaide: 13.11 (89)
Liam Salter
Roar Guru
I genuinely feel a little disappointed.
Liam Salter
Roar Guru
GOAL PORT ADELAIDE Oh, that's a dreadful defensive mistake from the Blues. They've focused on trapping Robbie Gray on the boundary line, but Gray intelligently passes it to a totally unmarked Boak. Boak nails the goal, and correspondingly nails what is probably the last nail in Carlton's coffin today. Carlton: 9.8 (62) Port Adelaide: 13.11 (89)
User
Roar Rookie
Sounds like this will be similar to Carlton matches against wce and collingwood.
Liam Salter
Roar Guru
BEHIND PORT ADELAIDE Boak has a shot. The skipper's missed, narrowly, to the left. Carlton: 9.8 (62) Port Adelaide: 12.11 (83)
Liam Salter
Roar Guru
GOAL CARLTON Dow! Great effort from the top Carlton draftee, and he's snuck through a major from the tight angle. They have a hope? Maybe? Carlton: 9.8 (62) Port Adelaide: 12.10 (82)
Liam Salter
Roar Guru
GOAL PORT ADELAIDE And the door slams shut on the Blues. Rowe does well in preventing Dixon from marking metres from goal, but the Power flood the area with players and Carlton are unable to defend well enough. Eventually, it's Marshall who gathers and snaps the goal. Carlton: 8.8 (56) Port Adelaide: 12.10 (82)
Liam Salter
Roar Guru
BEHIND CARLTON Cripps gathers the ball, sells some candy and send through a ... behind. Carlton: 8.8 (56) Port Adelaide: 11.10 (76)
Liam Salter
Roar Guru
GOAL PORT ADELAIDE It goes from worrying to all out crisis for the Blues, as the Power win a clearance and Dixon marks inside 50. He sends through their third in as many minutes. Carlton: 8.7 (55) Port Adelaide: 11.10 (76)
Liam Salter
Roar Guru
GOAL PORT ADELAIDE Oh, that'll hurt Carlton. Two in a row for Port, this time a great snap from Wingard which rolls through for a major. Carlton has to respond, and quickly. Carlton: 8.7 (55) Port Adelaide: 10.10 (70)
Liam Salter
Roar Guru
GOAL PORT ADELAIDE Young Cameron Polson's given away a fifty in the midfield, and Port will head forward again. Trengrove sends it inside 50, Dixon can't mark, Thomas gathers and sends it to Motlop who SENDS THROUGH A BEAUTY OF A GOAL! Carlton: 8.7 (55) Port Adelaide: 9.10 (64)
Liam Salter
Roar Guru
Oh, no! That's a unfortunate free for young Silvangi to give away - a high on Thomas - but to be fair, it was there. The rain is falling in Melbourne now, but Thomas' shot has missed the lot and Carlton will mark + clear. Carlton: 8.7 (55) Port Adelaide: 8.10 (58)
Liam Salter
Roar Guru
BEHIND PORT ADELAIDE Quick, running shot for Sam Gray, but he's tackled as he kicks and he misses to the right. That's Port first score since the second term. Carlton: 8.7 (55) Port Adelaide: 8.10 (58)