CARLTON was left heartbroken against ladder leaders Port Adelaide, falling by three points after a post-siren goal to Robbie Gray.
A compelling contest at the Gabba ended in the most extraordinary fashion, after the Blues overturned a three-quarter time deficit to lead by seven points late in the game.
However, the goal to Gray confined the Blues to an agonising defeat at the Gabba.
Q1 breakdown:
It was a hot start by Port Adelaide, which made the most of its opportunities to kick the first three goals of the game on the back of clean possession through the middle of the ground. However, the Blues regained some ascendency when Eddie Betts took to the skies before finding Michael Gibbons who finished truly. From that moment on, it was all Carlton with Sam Walsh, Harry McKay and Jack Martin finding the scoreboard. The Blues’ defenders did well to stand up against the relentless Power attack, while providing important rebound to help propel the Blues into attack. Carlton made the opposition pay for its carelessness, with all four goals for the quarter coming from turnovers.
Q2 breakdown:
The quarter started with a historic moment as Eddie Betts kicked his 300th goal in the Navy Blue, making him the third player in AFL history to achieve this milestone for two different clubs. However, Port Adelaide was able to wrestle back momentum with their repeated forward entries continuing to cause problems for the Blues. Port dominated the inside 50s, leading the count 25-16 at the main break, surging to the lead with back-to-back goals. The Blues were able to even up the clearances in the middle of the ground, with Patrick Cripps collecting four clearances and 10 disposals up until half time.
Q3 breakdown:
The third quarter started as a bit of a wrestle, as neither team were able to assert dominance. Harry McKay’s second goal of the day finally broke the deadlock, and saw the game tied up. Will Setterfield continued to embrace his role in the midfield, leading the tackle count up until three quarter time with nine tackles as well as 11 disposals. Following some late misses to Marc Murphy and Jack Martin, Port Adelaide would go into final change leading by one goal.
Q4 breakdown:
After providing the highlight of the game in the third term, Sam Walsh did the damage at the other end with his second goal of the game. Goals to Jack Newnes and Harry McKay followed, with the Blues battling manfully to hold on against a rampart Port. Following some missed opportunities to the Power, it looked as though the Blues would hold on: however, Gray would prove to break Carlton hearts on the siren.
Moment of the match:
When Carlton needed a leader to stand up, one of them did.
It came in the form of Sam Walsh. With reckless abandon, Walsh tracked back 50 metres into defensive 50, taking one of the most courageous marks you'll ever see with Charlie Dixon and a pack of five players coming in the other direction.
Three things from the game:
- Will Setterfield continues to impress with his play around the contest. The young Blue has grown since the restart of the season and once again demonstrated his potential with 13 disposals, 10 tackles and four clearances.
- Eddie Betts' place amongst the elite in the competition went to another level when he kicked his 300th goal in Navy Blue: naturally, it was a gem. He became the third player after Tony Lockett and Lance Franklin to kick 300 goals for two different clubs.
- Big Harry has found his groove. The tall forward continued to build on last week’s performance against the Western Bulldogs, providing another strong marking target up forward and kicking truly to finish the day with three goals.
CARLTON 4.2 5.4 6.6 9.7 (61)
PORT ADELAIDE 4.1 6.4 7.6 9.10 (64)
GOALS: McKay 3, Walsh 2, Betts, Gibbons, Martin, Newnes
BEST: Walsh, Curnow, Weitering, Cripps, Gibbons, Docherty, Plowman
