Details: Adelaide Oval, Saturday 14 August, 4:35pm (AEST)
Broadcast: Fox Footy, Kayo, AFL App

The game in focus:

THE BLUES have two more games to make their mark on the 2021 season.

With Port Adelaide charging towards the finals, Carlton will have a big challenge fronting them at Adelaide Oval on Saturday.

The Power have won their last four games, so the Blues will have to shake their momentum with pressure and fast play to create an upset.

With milestone games for Marc Murphy and Brodie Kemp on opposite ends of the spectrum, the game is sure to have a lot of heart for the Navy Blue guernsey.

Blue focus:

The Power have an excellent intercept average for the season, and with the Blues’ top interceptor in Liam Jones out injured, it’ll be up to Jacob Weitering and new Blue Kemp to take on the marking contests.

Carlton and Port Adelaide don’t have much between them in terms of marks inside 50, but with the absence of Harry McKay, Mitch McGovern and Charlie Curnow will be the main targets in attack.

Ollie Wines and Willem Drew have been bulls in the midfield for Port, leading disposals, tackles and contested possessions for their side.

They’ll be a challenging matchup Sam Walsh and Ed Curnow, but the pair have a habit of pulling off the biggest of challenges.

Get excited about:

Mitch McGovern will return to the Blues after a very interrupted season with injury to his hamstring.

McGovern will make a big impact to the forward line in the absence of McKay, working with Charlie Curnow to create aerial contests.

Down the other end, Brodie Kemp will play his first game for the Blues since being drafted in 2019.

Plagued with injury, Kemp has produced consistent form in the VFL, allowing him to hone his defensive craft and be ready to strut his stuff at the AFL level for the first time.

Blue view: 

Marc Murphy will play his 300th and final game for Carlton this weekend.

It would be difficult to find a more illustrious career in the Navy Blue, with Murphy’s accolades and loyalty an outstanding tribute to the player that Murphy has been over 16 seasons.

When Murphy runs out for the final time on Saturday, Bluebaggers will be sure that Murphy gave everything he had to the Club and will leave IKON Park as a hero.

DESPITE a fast start from the Blues, they failed to kick a goal in the second half and let Port Adelaide kick 19 unanswered majors. 

Sam Walsh had 30 disposals while Matt Kennedy and Zac Fisher also played well. 

Quarter one: 

It was a hot start for the milestone man, with Marc Murphy gathering the ball in the contest early. Sam Walsh was influential in moving the ball out of Port’s forward half while Liam Stocker and Nic Newman battled it out in defence. Mitch McGovern made the most of his return, kicking the first goal for the Blues while Charlie Curnow was heavily involved in score assists. Carlton’s pressure was very high, causing some turnovers and poor decision making from Port Adelaide. Aliir Aliir was troublesome in the Blues’ forward line, taking intercept marks to stop shots on goal, however Jacob Weitering played a similarly impressive role down the other end. Matt Kennedy had four tackles in the first quarter alone, leading the way in terms of pressure and physicality for the Blues. The debutants found their feet in the opening quarter, with Brodie Kemp mounting back-half pressure while Corey Durdin’s speed in the forward 50 was critical. 

Quarter two:

The first five minutes of the quarter were uneventful, with the two sides moving the ball from end to end without scoreboard impact. Levi Casboult got the ball rolling with a set-shot goal followed quickly by a goal from Josh Honey. Zac Fisher and Walsh were impactful and classy around the centre contests while Tom Williamson provided consistent marking in the defensive half. Kennedy took charge of the clearances in the absence of Patrick Cripps while a trick shot from Honey put the Blues in a healthy position, making it multiple goals in all three of his games this season. Weitering’s impact in the backline was undeniable while Adam Saad was kept busy as Port Adelaide surged forward out of the middle. The Power started to get on the front foot, moving the ball cleanly and quickly into their forward half. Port dominated the time inside 50 at the backend of the quarter, kicking six unanswered goals and ramping up the physical pressure around the contest. 

Quarter three: 

It wasn’t the start Carlton were after, as Connor Rozee slotted the first goal of the term. Paddy Dow lifted for the Blues, clearing the ball from the centre bounce and bombing it long down the line. Port’s pressure around ball ups saw them take the ball cleanly and efficiently forward, providing quality scoring opportunities. Port Adelaide’s forward chains were getting impossible to defend, with open players and accurate kicking aplenty. When Carlton did manage to get the ball down their end, their inaccuracy in front of goal and entering the forward 50 was costly. Stocker managed five intercept possessions for the quarter as the ball lived in the Power’s half. 

Quarter four: 

Saad was battling for the Blues in the defensive half, using his chase and pinpoint kicking to try and draw the ball forward. While there were more chances for Carlton in the forward 50, more misses in front of goal saw Port Adelaide’s goal streak continued to be unbroken. Tom De Koning wrestled in the ruck, as well as using some aerial prowess around the field, as the Power continued to have their way with the ball. Port Adelaide piled on the goals, with Charlie Dixon joining the party late and the Power finishing with 19 unanswered goals.