Australian Football

Match Report

Carlton fans finally have something to cheer about after the Blues scored a thrilling victory over Port Adelaide at the MCG on Saturday, giving caretaker coach John Barker his first win at the helm. The Blues led by nigh on four goals at the last change but had to withstand a withering final-quarter burst from the Power before holding on to win by just four points. The win was Carlton's first in Australia since round 20 last year, the Blues' only other win of 2015 coming at Wellington in New Zealand against St Kilda on ANZAC Day.

Early signs were ominous for the Blues as the Power kicked off with goals to Justin Westhoff and Chad Wingard within the first five minutes of the match. But Carlton settled after that and goals to Lachie Henderson, Nick Graham and Andrejs Everitt saw the Blues eight points clear half way through the term. Brad Ebert and Robbie Gray gave an seven-point lead to Port with majors at the 22 and 24-minute marks but another goal to Everitt saw Carlton back within a point at quarter time. 

The Blues opened the second term with a goal to Dennis Armfield to wrest back the lead but surrendered it soon after when Wingard kicked his second. The lead changed twice more when Levi Casboult goaled for the Blues at the six-minute mark and then Travis Boak answered for Port two minutes later. Carlton then  got on a roll. The Blues kicked the next four via Troy Menzel, Cameron Wood, Tom Bell and Everitt to take a 23-point lead and apparent control of the match. But the time-on period belonged to Port, and majors to Ollie Wines, Gray and Wingard saw the Power back within four points at half time. 

Momentum shifted back Carlton's way when play resumed. The Blues kicked the first three goals of the third term through Lachie Henderson, Graham and Armfield to lead by an even four goals at the 17-minute mark. Port hit back with the next two goals to Sam Colquhoun and Wingard but skipper Marc Murphy and Casboult again answered for the Blues who took a 23-point buffer into the last break.

They extended that to 29 points with a goal after just one minute to Troy Menzel to begin the last quarter but Port then mounted a serious challenge over the next 15  minutes. The Power added 4.2 - the goals kicked by Angus Monfries, Wingard, Justin Westhoff and Nathan Krakouer - to draw within three points. The game then became a lock-down, dour but thrilling affair, with scores few and far between. Henderson gave the Blues breathing space with a goal at the 18-minute mark but Boak made it a three-point game again with a goal for Port three minutes later. The ball bounced wildly between attack and defence for both sides over the next 10 minutes but neither side could manage a goal, and when the siren sounded with nearly 32 minutes on the clock the Blues were winners by four points.

Patrick Cripps was a matchwinner for the Blues, with 12 tackles and 31 disposals, with Murphy (29 possessions, six tackles) and Bell (25 touches, six marks) also playing vital roles. For Port, Boak (27 touches and six tackles), Wingard (five goals) and Wines (26 possessions and a goal) were among the best. 

The win lifted Carlton from 18th to 16th on the ladder, with the Blues to take on Gold Coast - who took their place at the foot of the ladder - at Docklands next Sunday. Port, now a game plus percentage away from the top eight, will have a bye in round 13. 

GOALS
Carlton: Everitt, Henderson 3; Graham, Armfield, Casboult, Menzel 2; Wood, Bell, Murphy,
Port Adelaide: Wingard 5; Gray, Boak, Westhoff 2; Ebert, Wines, Monfries, Colquhoun, Krakouer

BEST - THE AGE
Carlton: Cripps, Murphy, Rowe, Bell, Graham, Everitt, Henderson
Port Adelaide: Boak, Wines, Wingard, Krakouer, Hartlett, Broadbent

BEST - AFL.COM.AU
Carlton: Cripps, Carrazzo, Murphy, Rowe, Graham, Bell
Port Adelaide: Wingard, Boak, Wines, Hartlett, Impey, Colquhoun

INJURIES 
Carlton: Murphy (corked quad)
Port Adelaide: Gray (concussion)

SUBSTITUTES
Carlton: Andrew Walker replaced Cameron Wood in the final quarter
Port Adelaide: Brendon Ah Chee replaced Robbie Gray in the third quarter 

UMPIRES: Nicholls, Hosking, Wallace

TELEVISION BROADCAST: Fox Footy

COMMENTATORS: Eddie McGuire, Dwayne Russell, Jason Dunstall, Mark Ricciuto, Cameron Mooney