PORT Adelaide’s young guns have narrowly fallen to a near full-strength Carlton side in stifling heat at AAMI Stadium.
The brave Power, missing more than six first-choice players, led by seven points at half time and got within 10 in a thrilling final term, but couldn’t edge ahead of the Blues, losing by 15 points, 0.12.13 (85) to 1.13.13 (100).
Steve Salopek was brilliant with three goals, while Dean Brogan and Dom Cassisi were superb at the stoppages.
Tough midfielder Matt Thomas kept Carlton ball magnet Nick Stevens to five touches in the opening three quarters and Warren Tredrea (two goals) and Adam Cockshell (two goals) provided sparks up forward.
This might have been one of Port Adelaide’s youngest ever sides, but it was the club’s senior players who helped the Power race to a 22-point lead in the first quarter.
Brogan, the oldest man on the field, handed young Blue Shaun Hampson a lesson in the ruck and gathered six possessions for the term.
Tredrea continued his resurgence with a clever left-foot snap and when Brogan helped set up Cassisi for the Power’s second goal the home side looked the goods.
Youngsters Greg Bentley, Thomas and Paul Stewart got involved as the Power streamed out of defence in numbers and edged further ahead with a goal to Tom Logan.
The inexperienced Power backs were determined to run and carry the ball, but several nervous and errant handballs brought Port Adelaide undone.
Ryan Jackson ignited the Blues in the best possible way with a nine-pointer from a Port Adelaide turnover, and Carlton grabbed the lead at the first change.
Coach Mark Williams was caught out after using all his interchanges in the 30-degree heat, with the Power forced to play with 17 men when Greg Bentley was sent off with the blood rule.
The Power regained their composure in a seesawing second term.
Brogan relived his former NBL glory in the opening minutes when he patted the ball to ground and re-gathered it before dribbling through his first goal for the game. Another clever tap from the Power big man set up a goal for lightning quick Danyle Pearce, who finished with five touches for the quarter.
Hampson escaped Brogan’s clutches and kicked the first of two goals, but two late goals from Salopek and a second to Tredrea swung the lead back Port Adelaide’s way at the main break.
The third term proved the Power’s undoing, with Carlton moving up a gear and slamming on five unanswered goals.
Young ruckman Fabian Deluca provided good support to Brogan and Pearce and debutant Marlon Motlop looked dangerous up forward, but the Power couldn’t find the middle of the sticks and Carlton went into the final term with a handy 21-point lead.
With Tredrea and Brogan on ice, Williams called on his youngsters in the final term and they didn’t disappoint. Adam Cockshell hauled in his second of three big grabs for the game and slotted through his first goal.
Ryan Williams impressed in his first game and goals to Thomas and Salopek got the Power within 11 points. But a second goal to Hampson late in the term put the game out of Port Adelaide’s reach.
Carlton 1.3.7 1.5.9 1.10.11 1.13.13 (100)
Port Adelaide 0.3.5 0.8.7 0.8.11 0.12.13 (85)
GOALS
Carlton: Nine-point goals: Jackson. Goals: Fevola 2, Thornton 2, Hampson 2, Edwards, Pfeiffer, Cloke, Kreuzer, Gibbs, Russell, Murphy
Port Adelaide: Nine-point goals: Nil. Goals: Salopek 3, Tredrea 2, Cockshell 2, Logan, Pearce, Brogan, Cassisi, Thomas
BEST
Carlton: Pfeiffer, Houlihan, Fevola, Waite, Hampson, Scotland
Port Adelaide: Salopek, Brogan, Thomas, Cassisi
INJURIES
Carlton: Fisher (dislocated finger)
Port Adelaide: Chaplin (broken hand), Surjan (rolled ankle)
Reports: Nil
Umpires: S McLaren, S Jeffrey, C Bowen, S Hay
Official crowd: 9,133 at AAMI Stadium