Goalkickers: J. Honey 2.1, M. McGovern 1.2, L. Casboult 1.1, M. Kennedy 1.1, C. Curnow 0.2, T. DeKoning 0.1, L. O'Brien 0.1, Rushed 0.6.

Reports: Nil.

Umpires: Craig Fleer, Andre Gianfagna, Andrew Heffernan.

Injuries: Nil.

Ladder: 13th.

Game Review

Torque 'em up: Ruthless Power demolish defenceless Blues
A fast-starting Carlton grinds to a halt as Port Adelaide lifts into top gear - By Riley Beveridge / Rose Zarucky.

Halfway through the second quarter on Saturday evening, the thought of an emphatic and significant percentage-boosting victory would have been the furthest thing from Port Adelaide's mind. Then trailing a depleted Carlton side by 23 points, the priority for Ken Hinkley would have been helping his team claw its way back into the contest, not the possibility of a barnstorming 95-point win and the idea of setting up the ideal platform to work its way into top-two contention by season's end. But such is the scoring power of the premiership hopefuls, and such was the sorry state of an undermanned and dispirited Blues side at the Adelaide Oval, that a remarkable run of 19 consecutive goals was inevitably around the corner. Port Adelaide had 12 individual goalkickers and simply did as it pleased after half-time, holding Carlton without a goal for the final 84 minutes of the contest – and for the entirety of the second half – to bring down the curtain on another hapless Blues season, and almost certainly on the coaching tenure of David Teague.

Travis Boak (31 disposals, one goal), Karl Amon (30 disposals, seven clearances) and Ollie Wines (30 disposals, seven tackles) were among the best in the utterly dominant 21.14 (140) to 5.15 (45) win. Charlie Dixon (five marks, four goals) did the bulk of the damage up forward, while Aliir Aliir (19 disposals, eight marks) was impenetrable down back. But this was as much about a dismal Carlton afternoon as it was about Port Adelaide's show of strength. Even with an extensive injury list watching on from the sidelines, it was brutal and indefensible from the Blues.And yet it didn't appear to be heading that way from the outset. Despite the weight it was carrying from a dark week for the club, it was actually Carlton who brought the effort and the intensity in the game's early stages. Marc Murphy, playing in his 300th and final match, had nine touches in the first quarter alone as the Blues shot into a surprise lead. Port Adelaide looked a side desperate to be sparked into life and a quickfire double from Carlton youngster Josh Honey gave them that warning. The hosts' deficit was 23 points when it finally put together its strongest period of football for the half, stringing together six consecutive goals in the next 18 minutes.

That was a sign that the Power had gone to a new level and the Blues, for all of their early fight, couldn't cope with the increased tempo of the match. Where the visitors were once staring at a sizeable advantage to take into the second half, they ultimately trailed by 15 points at the main break. After a relatively slow start by his lofty standards, Boak was the man helping to pick up the pace. He had a big say as Port Adelaide added four more unanswered goals in the third term, stretching its run to 10 straight majors as Hinkley's rampant side extended its lead well beyond 40 points. The Power smelt blood in the water. It also sensed the opportunity to close a percentage gap on the in-form Cats that was shortening with every consecutive goal. Nine more majors, including a fourth for Dixon and a third for Robbie Gray, did just that and piled the misery on their woeful opponents. As Port Adelaide eyes up the prospect of a home qualifying final – and potentially silverware by late September – Carlton is once again staring at a summer of turmoil.

Quarter one:
It was a hot start for the milestone man, with Marc Murphy gathering the ball in the contest early. Sam Walsh was influential in moving the ball out of Port’s forward half while Liam Stocker and Nic Newman battled it out in defence. Mitch McGovern made the most of his return, kicking the first goal for the Blues while Charlie Curnow was heavily involved in score assists. Carlton’s pressure was very high, causing some turnovers and poor decision making from Port Adelaide. Aliir Aliir was troublesome in the Blues’ forward line, taking intercept marks to stop shots on goal, however Jacob Weitering played a similarly impressive role down the other end. Matt Kennedy had four tackles in the first quarter alone, leading the way in terms of pressure and physicality for the Blues. The debutants found their feet in the opening quarter, with Brodie Kemp mounting back-half pressure while Corey Durdin’s speed in the forward 50 was critical.

Quarter two:
The first five minutes of the quarter were uneventful, with the two sides moving the ball from end to end without scoreboard impact. Levi Casboult got the ball rolling with a set-shot goal followed quickly by a goal from Josh Honey. Zac Fisher and Walsh were impactful and classy around the centre contests while Tom Williamson provided consistent marking in the defensive half. Kennedy took charge of the clearances in the absence of Patrick Cripps while a trick shot from Honey put the Blues in a healthy position, making it multiple goals in all three of his games this season. Weitering’s impact in the backline was undeniable while Adam Saad was kept busy as Port Adelaide surged forward out of the middle. The Power started to get on the front foot, moving the ball cleanly and quickly into their forward half. Port dominated the time inside 50 at the backend of the quarter, kicking six unanswered goals and ramping up the physical pressure around the contest.

Quarter three:
It wasn’t the start Carlton were after, as Connor Rozee slotted the first goal of the term. Paddy Dow lifted for the Blues, clearing the ball from the centre bounce and bombing it long down the line. Port’s pressure around ball ups saw them take the ball cleanly and efficiently forward, providing quality scoring opportunities. Port Adelaide’s forward chains were getting impossible to defend, with open players and accurate kicking aplenty. When Carlton did manage to get the ball down their end, their inaccuracy in front of goal and entering the forward 50 was costly. Stocker managed five intercept possessions for the quarter as the ball lived in the Power’s half.

Quarter four:
Saad was battling for the Blues in the defensive half, using his chase and pinpoint kicking to try and draw the ball forward. While there were more chances for Carlton in the forward 50, more misses in front of goal saw Port Adelaide’s goal streak continued to be unbroken. Tom De Koning wrestled in the ruck, as well as using some aerial prowess around the field, as the Power continued to have their way with the ball. Port Adelaide piled on the goals, with Charlie Dixon joining the party late and the Power finishing with 19 unanswered goals.

It's 300 and out for Murphy
After a 16-year Carlton career, Saturday's clash was Marc Murphy's 300th and final game for the Blues. The former club captain put on a show early, winning nine disposals and three clearances in the opening term alone. He dovetailed nicely with a player he'd taken under his wing at Ikon Park, Sam Walsh, with the youngster collecting 30 disposals, five clearances and six tackles himself amid another busy afternoon for the fellow No.1 selection. Murphy's influence waned as the game went on, as did the impact of almost every Carlton player, as his night – and his career – finished in unwanted circumstances.

Blues latest horror lapse 'indefensible' for Teague.
Carlton looked up for the fight early and were largely the more dominant team in the first one and a half quarters. The Blues even led by 23 points midway through the second term and looked like causing a major upset. But such has been a major problem for the Blues under David Teague, once the Power started rolling, they had no answers. Port Adelaide went on a dominant run, kicking 19-straight goals as the Blues looked completely discombobulated in a remarkable 118-point turnaround. “I hate to say it but this is the reason why David Teague is in the situation he’s in,” David King said on Fox Footy. It comes amid Carlton’s mid-season review with the writing already on the wall that Teague is in the firing line. This may well have been the final nail in the coffin. “It’s been the same problem all season, multiple goals kicked against them. How many times have they had five plus goals kicked against them in succession?” Jonathan Brown said. “Spare a thought for him, what’s going through his mind at the moment, there would be a lot of anxiety about his position and other staff members and players to a degree.” David King added: “All jokes aside this is indefensible really for David Teague.”

Sour end to retiring milestone Blues champion career
Playing in his 300th game and last in the AFL, Marc Murphy didn’t get the send off he or the club would’ve liked. Murphy saw a bigger midfield role with the Blues going into match missing so many of its stars including Patrick Cripps, Sam Docherty, Liam Jones, Jack Martin, Harry McKay, Jack Silvagni and and Zac Williams. And he had great impact particularly in the first quarter where he racked up nine disposals. “Close to best player on the ground he was at quarter time. He was terrific early, bit quieter in that second quarter but it’s just a reflection of that Carlton midfield that struggled really,” Jonathan Brown said. He finished with 24 disposals and sick tackles in an otherwise disappointing day for one of the club’s best servants. “It’s a difficult situation for him and not at all how he might’ve envisioned, but it’s the way this season’s been,” Hudson said post-match. Brown added: “He was one of their better players today. He’s been a champion of the game.”

Best: S. Walsh, M. Kennedy, M. Murphy, P. Dow, J. Weitering.

Team

Medical Sub.: Sam Petrevski-Seton (not used).

In: Levi Casboult, Corey Durdin, Brodie Kemp, Mitch McGovern, Sam Petrevski-Seton
Out: Liam Jones (knee), Jack Silvagni (hip), Harry McKay (shoulder), Jack Martin (hamstring), Patrick Cripps (quad).

Note; Patrick Cripps pulled out of the game due to a quad injury on the morning of the match allowing for the debut of Corey Durdin who came into the side as his replacement.

Interesting Facts

1. This was the first time since Round 1, 2019 that two Carlton players have made their debut in the same game, this does not include players ho had played senior football at another rival club.
2. Carlton would kick its fifth and final goal at the 14th minute mark of the second quarter, then Port Power would only kick goals from there on.
3. Port Power kicked 19 consecutive unanswered goals with the Blues only adding a paltry six behinds after half time.

Milestones

300 Games: Marc Murphy
Last Game: Marc Murphy
Last Game (Carlton): Sam Petrevski-Seton
Debut: Corey Durdin, Brodie Kemp

AFLCA Votes

10 - Aliir Aliir (PORT)
7 - Karl Amon (PORT)
4 - Travis Boak (PORT)
3 - Connor Rozee (PORT)
2 - Miles Bergman (PORT)
2 - Ollie Wines (PORT)
1 - Darcy Byrne-Jones (PORT)
1 - Zak Butters (PORT)

Brownlow Votes

3 - Travis Boak (PORT)
2 - Karl Amon (PORT)
1 - Ollie Wines (PORT)

Best & Fairest Votes

Jacob Weitering 9, Sam Walsh 4, Adam Saad 4, Nic Newman 3, Josh Honey 1, Charlie Curnow 1, Lachie Plowman 1, Tom De Koning 1, Eddie Betts 1, Levi Casboult 1, Mitch McGovern 1, Corey Durdin 1