CARLTON has continued its brilliant run of form with a 50-point win against Port Adelaide.

The Blues were brutal in all facets of the game against the in-form side of the competition, leading from start to finish in the 18.14 (122) to 10.12 (72) victory.

The home side was dealt a double blow early, with Matthew Owies out of the game minutes before the bounce due to calf tightness, while Harry McKay was subbed out in the first term following a knee injury. 

However, in their absence, career-best four-goal hauls from Jack Silvagni and Jesse Motlop led the way in attack, while the Blues were brilliantly defensively to celebrate Jacob Weitering’s 150th game with a win.

Quarter one

Channelling the form displayed in previous weeks, Carlton’s start was ferocious, outhunting a strong contested unit to get the game on its terms from the outset. The Blues had 10 of the first 15 inside 50s under the roof, stopping their opponents at the source to see the play live in their forward half early. After some half chances went begging, it was Jack Silvagni who electrified the Carlton faithful, soccering home from close range before marking strongly and converting minutes later. Brodie Kemp and Jacob Weitering were intercepting well behind the ball, but the Blues soon found themselves a key target down at the other end: after landing awkwardly on his right knee, Harry McKay was subbed out of the game for Paddy Dow. It coincided with a shift in momentum towards Port, who got right back into the game in the contest and on the scoreboard. A late inclusion for Matthew Owies, Jesse Motlop calmed things down with a goal from a free kick, giving the Blues a 10-point buffer at the first change.

Quarter two

It was that man Motlop who lit up the second quarter, and what a way to do it. By the six-minute mark of the second term, Motlop - playing his first game against the team where his dad played - had a career-high four goals, wreaking havoc inside the Blues’ defensive 50. He wasn’t alone, as in the absence of McKay, Charlie Curnow was forced to be the lone figurehead: as such, Carlton turned to its smalls. Matthew Cottrell, David Cuningham and Jack Martin all got in on the act as the team surged to a 40-point lead at one point. The Blues’ midfielders were brutal, registering seven inside 50s - for a return of four goals - to none, with five of Carlton’s nine goals coming from midfield possession chains in the first half. Blake Acres and Mitch McGovern typified Carlton’s approach, aggressive in defence, which deprived Port Adelaide of any marks inside the opening 20 minutes. Similar to the first term, the highly regarded Power surged again, but the Blues’ defence held firm to take a 31-point lead into the main break.

Quarter three

The second half started in the same manner as the first — with a Jack Silvagni goal. It set the tone for what would prove to be a chaotic quarter, with neither team able to wrestle the ascendancy in an end-to-end term. The margin stayed between 30 and 40 points for the entirety of the term, with both teams trading five goals apiece in an at times feisty affair under the roof. Forced to fight through significant attention in an undersized forward line, Curnow finally got some scoreboard reward, while Patrick Cripps willed himself and his team over the line at a critical time. First, he snapped truly from a set shot, before a desperate smother ended in Silvagni kicking a career-high fourth goal. There was not a dominant ball winner for the Blues (the Power had the top-three disposal getters at half time), but it was their tenacity in defence and efficiency going forward which were the highlights for Michael Voss’ side.

Quarter four

The opening minutes of the final quarter were crucial: the last time the two sides met, the Blues nearly let a 50-point lead slip, so nipping Port in the bud was paramount. The player who did exactly that was Lachie Fogarty, bringing up the ton on the scoreboard as the Blues put their opponents to the sword. Sam Walsh well and truly got going in the final term, having seven disposals inside the opening 10 minutes. McGovern continued to shine in the back half, turning defence into attack with a game-high nine intercepts, while Nic Newman got in on the offensive act with a last-quarter goal. The Blues iced the game from there, emerging 50-point winners. 

Three things we learned

1. Has anybody ever seen Nick Duigan and Jesse Motlop in the same room? There were more than a few similarities with Motlop’s performance and that of the Carlton cult hero in the 2013 elimination final. Only included in the team as the Blues were running out (Matthew Owies experienced calf tightness in the warm-up), Motlop kicked four goals, all coming inside the first six minutes of the second term. Matching Duigan’s scoreboard haul, it was some way for Motlop to mark his senior return, particularly with dad Daniel in the crowd. 

2. The way Carlton’s attack stood up in the absence of Harry McKay would’ve pleased Michael Voss to no end. With McKay going down, the Blues had Curnow as their focal point, Silvagni supporting and a series of smalls at the fall of the ball. All of them got involved, both on the scoreboard and in the pressure stakes. Silvagni played a starring role with four goals, but alongside Motlop, the other forwards in Cottrell (two), Cuningham, Fogarty and Martin all registered majors. 

3. On face value, Carlton’s ability to kick 18 goals was the key on the day. However, the flip side was the Blues’ brilliance in defence. Despite conceding more inside 50s than the potent Power, Carlton’s backs held firm, led by the brilliant Mitch McGovern. After sustaining a cork in the west six days ago, McGovern showed no ill effects, finishing with 21 disposals, 10 rebound 50s and nine intercepts.

CARLTON                  3.6     9.8     14.10        18.14 (122)
PORT ADELAIDE      2.2     4.7     9.9            10.12 (72)

GOALS
Carlton: Motlop 4, Silvagni 4, Curnow 3, Cottrell 2, Cripps, Cuningham, Fogarty, Martin, Newman

BESTS
Carlton: Silvagni, McGovern, Cripps, Acres, Newman, Docherty, De Koning