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 Charlie Curnow, and majors to the skipper in Marc Murphy and Patrick 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 Tom Rockliff and Chad Wingard accumulated plenty of the footy, while Robbie Gray slammed home a trio of goals, Justin Westhoff showed plenty and Charlie Dixon and Lindsay Thomas were fine the forward line.
Carlton 10.9 (69)
Port Adelaide 13.12 (90)
Pelican
Guest
Thanks K . I hadn't heard that.
Liam Salter
Roar Guru
Well this has become progressively awkward for me ?
Macca
Guest
I hate to tell you but you are arguing on a Monday, I made a perfectly correct statement - 2 goals were overturned, you for some unknown reason thought it needed to be corrected. As for Pickett's actions being weird, to me they simply looked like reflexes, Garlett kicked the ball low in a lot of congestion pretty much straight at Pickett, Picketts first reaction was to catch it, then he tried to withdraw his hand but it was too late, it was hardly like he chased the ball down in the square to punch it through.
Liam Salter
Roar Guru
Meh. I ain't arguing on a Monday morning. I just forgot you went to the game, and was making sure your realised that one goal was overturned because your player weirdly felt the need to put a touch on a ball going into goal?
Macca
Guest
What was there to correct? I said "they had the 2 goals overturned" that is a correct statement, the first was overturned correctly but unluckily given how long it took and how close it was to the ball being bounced and the game continuing and the second based on such flimsy evidence it should have stayed with umpires call, but there was still 2 goals overturned.
Liam Salter
Roar Guru
I was just trying to correct you, not open an umpiring can of worms!
Macca
Guest
Pickett did touch the first one but the ball had got all the way back to the middle before it was picked up, had they bounced the ball a matter of seconds earlier it would have been allowed. I didn't mention Weiterings "deliberate" when the ball slid off the side of his hand as he punched it forward under pressure, the carlton player who had their head taken off 30m out from goal directly in front that was missed, the numerous short passes the blues had called play on that were just as long as many others called a mark, Nick Graham being called to play on despite running directly t the man on the mark, Charlie Curnow being constantly pushed in the back as soon as he jumped at the ball, Weitering being called for holding Westhoff despite having his arms outstretched and Westhoff grabbing him, I could go on.
Liam Salter
Roar Guru
Macca - just to be a little pedantic, you really only had one goal overturned in contentious circumstances - that goal where it seemed to head through but the review said it skimmed the goal post when it didn't. The other was that kick in the second (?) quarter that Pickett weirdly touched as it was headed into goal. No big deal at all, just thought I'd throw that in there.
Macca
Guest
Yeah get Docherty back next year, hopefully land a free agent like Gaff or Sloane and either end up with Lukosius or hopefully trade pick 1 for Shiels and the side is massively transformed before we get to natural development and more games out of Murphy, Williamson Marchbank etc. The wheel is definitely starting to turn.
K
Guest
DBJ was late to training last week and as punishment was dropped.
Col from Brissie
Roar Guru
Yeah good news Macca and it won't be long before we get the news of Cripps extending for another 2 years. The players have obviously bought into the direction the club is taking and the coach. Will be interesting what they do come draft time but we already have the best 'new recruit' next year in Sam Docherty
Pelican
Guest
The umpires could stop having an issue of the week or match even. Stop over enforcing one rule in a reactionary fashion only to abandon it for the next cause. Pay all the frees you see and try to be consistent across time. If there is not a rule change stop interpreting them differently week to week.
Pelican
Guest
Macca I would have to agree re the umpires. A few times I wondered why but was thankful anyway. Port were on the wrong end some weeks back against Hawthorn
Macca
Guest
See Murphy has apparently resigned for 2 years Col, big vote of confidence
Macca
Guest
Garlett really impressed and every time Pickett was involved something good happened. Polson s energy and effort was fantastic, his foot skills just let him down badly, there is something to work with though. McKay has seemed to have given the selectors a reason to pick him with his VFL game on the weekend which is great, another tick for Bolton IMO that he forced Him to earn it. Phillips was good but Kreuzer would have been better. Casboült had a very tough gig, often left against 2 or 3 defenders, wasn't one of his better games but could have ended up with 2 or 3 goals Lots to like though, not least of which were C Curnows hands, M Kennedy's performance and the work rate.
Col from Brissie
Roar Guru
Much better efforts the last couple of weeks. We would be a much better team with Docherty, Marchbank and Plowman replacing Rowe, Mullett and Lamb down back. Williamson and Cunningham in for Graham and Polson with O'Brien, Byrne, Lang and Kerr putting pressure on spots in the team. I thought Phillips had a great game and with some continuity will develop into a very good ruck. i think Bolton needs to get as many games into Harry for the rest of the season as Levi floats in and out too much. I liked the glimpses we got from Pickett and hopefully he stays injury free as with him and Garlett we get the forward pressure we have been lacking.
Macca
Guest
The blues definitely had a crack, just let the,selves down with two 5 minute patches. I must say I have never been as frustrated with the umpiring a team an AFL game as I was yesterday, seemed like every 50/50 went against the blues, they had the 2 goals overturned, Port had numerous "advantages" recalled, a 50m penalty to Port that was closer to 70 but the 2 biggest head scrathers for me were a mark to Charlie Curnow that the boundary umpire called juggled (from directly behind him) when it clearly wasn't and the blocking in the ruck against Phillips at a critical centre bounce in the last quarter. Who knows if it would have made a difference and it is something that is just part of the game but When even the Port supporters sitting behind me were saying the blues were getting the rough end of the stick it was certainly a source of frustration.
Pelican
Guest
A good win at the MCG against a surprisingly tenacious Carlton. Jonas and DBJ were missed down back. Can't comprehend why DBJ was dropped. Carlton lifted a gear for Kade Simpson and he played a cracker. Ports mids seemed a bit flat today but they had a tough game last week. Lindsay Thomas has put a few games together in great form. Nice to be in the four if only for a day. Go the Suns. You never know.