After losing its third successive game, Port Adelaide can ill-afford to lose midfield star Hamish Hartlett – but that is a definite possibility after Hartlett suffered a brain fade that could result in him being suspended. During a stop-play midway through the third term, with the game slipping away from Port, Hartlett delivered a couple of jabs to Murphy, including one in the 'breadbasket' that winded the Blues skipper. At best, it was very silly. It was also a dirty day for Port's other playmakers. In the scene-setting first term, Brad Ebert, skipper Travis Boak and former skipper Domenic Cassisi had just four disposals between them. To cap it off, Cassisi hobbled off in the last quarter with a left hamstring injury.
2. Blues blaze, Power precise
Carlton should have been five goals in front at half-time after firing 18 scoring shots to just nine. Instead, it led by just 14 points. The problem was the Blues' lack of conversion, which was compounded by the Power's accuracy. By the main break, the Blues had blazed 8.10 to the Power's 7.2 and missed several set shots. Meanwhile, the dead-eye visitors could easily have been 9.0. The Power opened their account with a behind – a bouncing effort from Paul Stewart that should also have been a goal – before slotting seven goals without a miss. Port's final shot for the term was a poster from outside 50 from skipper Travis Boak. With Port's record of come-from-behind wins, Carlton fans had every right to be nervous.
3. Waite's back – part two
Jarrad Waite's long-awaited return to the Carlton line-up in round six was short-lived, with the star forward suspended for a match for misconduct (head-butting) – an act that also earned a club-imposed fine. His team missed him dreadfully in its narrow loss to St Kilda last Monday night. The big Blue wasn't at his best against the Power, but his presence and movement were critical in the first three quarters until he was subbed off. He missed a couple of gettable set shots before nailing a banana kick from the boundary, finishing with 12 disposals and six marks.
4. Milestone men
Four Blues achieved significant milestones – Heath Scotland reached his 250th game, skipper Marc Murphy and Andrew Walker notched 150, and prized draftee Troy Menzel made his debut – and each delivered. With Carlton being without both Eddie Betts and Chris Yarran for the first time, Murphy started forward and kicked three goals (and could have had at least another two), including a brilliant dribble goal from the boundary line. Walker was typically urgent at half-back, while the ever-reliable Scotland even slipped forward to caress two lovely goals from 50m. Menzel, the substitute, replaced Jarrad Waite at the last change and laid a great tackle that resulted in a goal to Mitch Robinson.
5. Carlton not so bad at Etihad
Before the match, the Blues had won only two of their previous 10 games at Etihad Stadium, including both matches this season. They also hadn’t beaten a top-eight side at their Docklands home ground for almost two years, losing six such clashes along the way, but they managed to break this hoodoo against the Power. The visitors have a an even worse record at the venue, having lost their past seven games there.
