CARLTON has fallen by 28 points at the MCG to Port Adelaide.

Trailing at every change, the Blues were outclassed by a superior Port, despite the best efforts from Sam Walsh in the middle and Adam Saad in defence.

Quarter one:

It was an even contest to begin with, as both sides struggled to convert their inside 50s into goals. Carlton’s ball movement into the forward line was solid, with Sam Walsh getting busy in the contest early. Port got the first goal on the board through Charlie Dixon, with its midfield able to provide clean movement through the corridor. Lachie Fogarty got the Blues on the board after a fantastic chasedown tackle from Adam Saad at the other end of the ground. Aliir Aliir gave Carlton trouble in their forward 50, with his contested marking making it difficult for the forwards to get their hands to the footy. Walsh’s work-rate was capped off with a set-shot goal. Two late goals gave Port some breathing room, before an individual effort from Levi Casboult saw the Blues within a kick at the first change.

Quarter two:

Saad was pivotal in getting the ball moving from the defensive end as the Blues otherwise had difficulty getting the ball into their forward line. Port Adelaide set up well behind the ball, leaving Carlton scrambling to cover opposition players when the ball was moved quickly. Sam Docherty and Liam Jones were put under the pump with Port’s repeat forward entries, but a Harry McKay assist for Casboult's second kept the Blues within touching distance. Patrick Cripps continued to control the clearances out of the middle and provide a physical contest, but inaccuracy and inefficiency was to Carlton’s detriment as Port Adelaide capitalised on a bevy of Blues errors. 

Quarter three: 

McKay gave the Blues the start they desperately needed, slotting a goal in the first minute of the term. Port answered quickly with two goals in a row, as the visitors began to control the ball out of the middle. When Carlton did get the ball into their forward line, accuracy in front of goal was an issue. Mitch McGovern kicked an important goal to give the Blues some momentum, but it was one of just two Carlton goals from seven scoring shots. It was all Port in the second half of the term, capitalising on their opportunities on the back of clean ball movement around the ground to extend the lead to 43 points at the final change.

Quarter four: 

Carlton buckled down in the defensive half, attempting to minimise the effect of Port Adelaide’s forwards. Docherty and Plowman put up a fight, before a goal from Matthew Cottrell gave Carlton a bright spark in the closing stages. McGovern played at both ends of the ground as the Blues looked to stem the flow on the scoreboard. With the sting taken out of the contest, late goals to Jack Newnes and Marc Pittonet brought some respectability to the scoreboard, but it was otherwise too little, too late for the Blues. 

Three things from the match

1. With pre-match commentary focussing on Port Adelaide's contested ball-winning ability, the Blues matched Port in the contest. With the Blues falling seven behind in contested possessions and recording more clearances and tackles than the opposition, it was the uncontested side of the game where the Blues were stung: the Power managed +58 uncontested possessions and +16 marks.

2. In his 100th game for the Club, there was nothing surer than Sam Docherty would put his body on the line for the team. Finishing with 25 disposals, Docherty - who's been through his fair share of battles in recent seasons - ended the game with heavy strapping on his shoulder after going back with the flight against a marauding Charlie Dixon.

3. Matthew Cottrell is slotting into the line-up nicely. After a slow start possession-wise, Cottrell used his running power to build into the contest in the second half, finishing with seven disposals and kicking a memorable goal in his first outing on the MCG.

CARLTON                3.3    4.5      6.10    9.14 (68)
PORT ADELAIDE    4.2    8.4      14.5    15.6 (96)

GOALS

Carlton: Casboult 2, Fogarty, Walsh, McKay, McGovern, Cottrell, Newnes, Pittonet

BEST

Carlton: Walsh, Saad, Cripps, Docherty, Casboult

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