Match Day Gallery
Click Here
A SENSATIONAL seven goal to none last quarter from
Trailing by 38 points 19 minutes into the third quarter, the Blues kicked the last eight goals of the game to snatch an amazing win, 10.15 (75) to 8.15 (63).
Three last quarter goals to Matthew Kreuzer set the Blues alight, and Kade Simpson put his side in front for the first time all day 32 minutes into the last quarter.
The win keeps
Entering the match craving respect and with an identical 4-6 record to the Power, the Blues seemed to have cruelled their own chances with serially sloppy disposal during the first three quarters in the wintry Adelaide conditions braved by 29,240 fans.
The visitors had more possessions, won more hard ball, won the clearances and won the inside 50s, but left it to the last gasp to claim just their second win outside of Melbourne in the last four years.
The Blues had a host of prolific ballwinners, including Marc Murphy (33) and Chris Judd (32), while Kane Cornes led the way for Port with 30.
Kreuzer led the goalscoring for the Blues with his three, while Brendan Fevola ended with two, while for the home side David Rodan was the only multiple goalkicker with two.
The game started in steady rain, with Port having far the best of the opening and working out to a two goal lead after seven minutes through majors to small forwards Rodan and Daniel Motlop.
The Blues steadied but were their own worst enemies, with midfield turnovers and some poor goal shooting keeping the pressure off the home side. Murphy was finding plenty of the ball (nine touches for the quarter), but was the prime turnover culprit, running into open goal and missing, and then kicking in straight to Travis Boak after a Port point, who duly goaled from 30 out.
An opportunist goal to Bryce Gibbs – who had a surprise tagging job on Chad Cornes – kept the Blues in touch, and by quarter’s end they had more possession and more inside 50s than the Power, but still trailed by 13 points.
The second term started much the same way –
When Robbie Gray got on the end of a good Boak pass and goaled to take the margin past five goals, the Blues’ frustration started boiling over, with Fevola hitting out at Port full-back Alipate Carlile in a low-blow that may draw some scrutiny.
A goal to Dennis Armfield 28 minutes in – his first in the AFL – gave
To turn it around
A goal to Justin Westhoff in the first minute after the break further reinforced the home team’s position, and when it was followed by another to Port skipper Warren Tredrea – after yet another
Goals to Brendan Fevola and Matthew Kreuzer either side of the last break looked destined to keep the score respectable, but when Jarrad Waite burst through the middle and goaled from 50 after eight minutes suddenly the Blues were back within 17 points and on the charge.
An opportunist goal to livewire Eddie Betts soon after narrowed the margin to just 11 points, and memories of the awful last quarter fadeout against
When Kreuzer goaled again on the run from 50 after 21 minutes the margin was back to seven points, and when he repeated the dose after marking a pass from Murphy on 45 metres it was suddenly a one point ball game, and then Simpson finished it off.
The Blues now meet arch-rival Collingwood next Sunday at the MCG.
Port
Carlton: Kreuzer 3, Fevola 2, Gibbs, Armfield, Waite, Betts, Simpson
Carlton: Murphy, Judd, Kreuzer, O’hAilpin, Bentick
Reports: Jordan Russell (Carlton) reported for forceful contact with Paul Stewart (Port Adelaide).
Umpires: Rosebury, Stevic, Keating
Official crowd: 29,240 at AAMI Stadium
The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily of the clubs or the AFL.
