ANOTHER heartstopper, another four points in the bag for the Blues.

Carlton emerged with a three-point victory over Port Adelaide at the MCG, making it four wins from five games to start the 2022 season.

After kicking out to a 50-point lead late in the second term, the Blues were roped back in by their opposition, but managed to hold on in gripping circumstances once again at the home of football.

Quarter one 

It was another fast start not only for Carlton, but for Charlie Curnow, who for the third time in four attempts kicked the opening goal of the game inside the first minute. A classic Harry McKay grab and snap saw the Blues extend their lead, while Jack Martin converted two handy goals. Sam Walsh was dominant early, gathering a career-high 16 disposals in the opening term alone. Port Adelaide had some good play in transition, moving the ball quickly and efficiently, but the backline - led by stand-in captain Jacob Weitering - were able to apply pressure and intercept when needed. George Hewett was involved all over the ground, contributing six score involvements and four clearances. The Blues took a 25-point lead into the first change thanks to a Curnow goal on the siren: four of Carlton's six goals where generated from clearance chains.

Quarter two 

An early dribbler from McKay was just the start that Carlton were hoping for, continuing their dominant form from the centre bounce. It was the quarter of clever goals, as Fisher slotted a goal of the year contender from the boundary while Corey Durdin snapped one over his shoulder for his first of the day.  Carlton was able to keep the ball moving, challenging the Port Adelaide defence to set up quickly behind the ball, with the work of Lewis Young and Weitering behind the ball continuing to thwart Port's forward forays. Matt Owies had a team-high five tackles in the first half, while the hard-working Silvagni finally got some reward for effort with a goal. The Blues ended the term leading by 49 points, dominating scores from both turnovers and clearances. 

Quarter three 

Port Adelaide came out with new intensity after half time, gaining plenty of possession in their forward half, resulting in two early goals. Curnow was the one to respond on the scoreboard for the Blues, with an impressive over-the-head snap providing some relief on the scoreboard.  Durdin was busy at the fall of the ball, while Will Setterfield’s work on the wing was positive for the Blues, getting involved in offence while also plugging a hole defensive. Port well and truly owned the second half of the term, kicking four unanswered goals to bring them within a big chance at the final change.

Quarter four

As Port Adelaide continued its surge, Carlton's defence held up well in the opening eight minutes of the term, thwarting its opposition on the scoreboard. However, an opportunistic goal from Sam Powell-Pepper and a contested mark from Robbie Gray brought the travellers within a kick. It was a much-needed goal from Curnow - his fifth of the game - that sparked the Blues. Matthew Cottrell, Nic Newman, Weitering and Young produced some crucial intercept marks behind the ball, but hearts were in mouths all over the MCG when Mitch Georgiades brought the margin back to three points. A contested mark from Harry McKay - just as he did against Hawthorn - proved to be the settler, as the Blues once again emerged with a nail-biting win at the MCG.

Three things for the game 

1. In the absence of Patrick Cripps, George Hewett and Sam Walsh stepped up in the midfield. When the Blues did the damage early, the duo combined for 26 disposals in the first term, with 16 attributed to Walsh. The co-vice captain finished with 38 disposals, one behind his career-best, while the big-bodied Hewett recorded 13 clearances: his most in 125 games of football.

2. The Blues are 4-1, a record they absolutely would have taken leading into the season. However, there's no doubt that the message of four-quarter football will be drilled into the side. Similar to the last game at the MCG against Hawthorn, the Blues were at their blistering best early, but held on by the skin of their collective teeth in another nail-biting win. It's better to learn winning rather than learning while losing, but the Blues will have to be mindful of lapses in the coming weeks.

3. We've heard for weeks about Carlton's dynamic duo in attack that if one doesn't get you, the other will. On Sunday, however, both Charlie Curnow and Harry McKay had a big say on the result. By virtue of his five goals, Curnow was the dominant forward on the ground, but that's not to discount the influence of McKay. The Coleman Medallist collected 18 disposals, kicked three goals and one of his five marks for the game proved to be the one which secured the result in his team's favour.

CARLTON                   6.4     12.6     13.8       14.10 (94)
PORT ADELAIDE       2.3     4.5       10.9       13.13 (91)

GOALS
Carlton: Curnow 5, McKay 3, Fisher 2, Martin 2, Durdin, Silvagni

BEST
Carlton: Walsh, Curnow, Hewett, McKay, Fisher, Williams, Martin