PORT Adelaide has squandered a 38-point third quarter lead to lose to Carlton by 12 points 10.15 (75) to 8.15 (63) in slippery conditions at AAMI Stadium.
The Power, not for the first time this season, dominated the first three quarters and led by 30 points at the final change, but were eclipsed seven goals-to-nil in the Blues’ barnstorming fourth quarter.
Port Adelaide had the chance to climb within two points of the top eight on Sunday night, but instead the Power further diminished their finals chances and will now face the tough task of beating Geelong in Geelong next week to keep their September dream alive.
David Rodan was impressive for the Power with two goals, while Steve Salopek, Peter Burgoyne and Tom Logan racked up plenty of possessions.
Kane Cornes gave former teammate Nick Stevens a night to forget and Alipate Carlile kept a frustrated Brendan Fevola to two goals.
The Power were determined to improve their record at home this season and they got off to the perfect start with the first three goals of the game.
Drizzling rain made conditions difficult and there were skill errors aplenty, but Port Adelaide opened its scoring with a goal to in-form forward Rodan.
The Blues desperately tried to respond and actually had more inside 50ms for the term, but were woefully inefficient going forward. Carlton’s poor disposal in attack also filtered through to defence when Marc Murphy and then Nick Stevens made disastrous errors at the kick-ins.
Murphy’s short kick found Travis Boak, who converted the 30m shot on goal and it was only an opportunist goal from local lad Bryce Gibbs, who was tagging Chad Cornes, that kept Carlton within 13 points at the first break.
Port Adelaide started the second term in similar fashion to the first with the first three goals. The Power’s class proved the difference as the Blues continued to waste opportunities in front of goal, booting 1.5 for the quarter.
Youngster Nathan Krakouer showed clean hands in dishing the ball to Steve Salopek who nailed a beautiful running goal.
Rodan made the most of just his third possession for the game with another goal from a clever sidestep.
The Blues looked like responding when number one draft-pick Matthew Kreuzer took aim from long range, but Chad Cornes provided the highlight of the quarter with a saving mark, with the flight of the ball on the goal line.
The Power moved the ball quickly from defence and when excitement machine Robbie Gray slotted his first, the margin was out to 30 points.
Carlton spearhead Fevola, who had already been involved in a scuffle with Michael Pettigrew in the first term, grew increasingly frustrated as the Blues midfielders put the ball everywhere but on his chest and the time bomb finally exploded just before half time.
Fevola, who had been well held by emerging defender Alipate Carlile, sprayed his first shot on goal out on the full and reacted by putting Carlile down behind the play.
Youngster Dennis Armfield managed to keep his composure in just his second game and gave Blues fans something to cheer about with the club’s first goal of the term, which reduced the margin to 23 at the main break.
Justin Westhoff started the third quarter in a flurry with a goal, off one step, in the opening 30 seconds. The former NAB Rising Star nominee maintained his dominance across half-forward with nine touches and five marks for the term.
Carlton persisted in turning the ball over and Simon Wiggins took the desperate measure of trying to free-up Chris Judd by delivering a glancing blow to the stomach of Judd’s tagger, Dom Cassisi.
But it was Port Adelaide’s skipper that got involved with Warren Tredrea swooping on another Blues mistake. Fevola finally got his name on the scoreboard late in the term with a goal to bring Carlton within 30 points at the final change.
Carlton managed to find the middle of the big sticks during the last quarter with goals to Kreuzer, Jarrad Waite and Eddie Betts bringing the Blues within an unlikely 11 points.
A sickening clash saw young Power defender Paul Stewart taken off the ground on a stretcher, but the stop in play failed to thwart Carlton’s run and another two goals in two minutes to impressive big man Kreuzer had Carlton within one point.
An arm wrestle ensued with both teams crumbling under the pressure, but a clever snap from Kade Simpson at the 31-minute-mark gave the Blues the lead for the first, and most important, time in the game. Fevola’s goal after the siren was a mere formality.
Port Adelaide 3.5 6.8 8.12 8.15 (63)
Carlton 1.4 2.9 3.12 10.15 (75)
GOALS
Port Adelaide: Rodan 2, Salopek, Motlop, Gray, Boak, Westhoff, Tredrea
Carlton: Kreuzer 3, Fevola 2, Gibbs, Armfield, Waite, Betts, Simpson
BEST
Port Adelaide: K Cornes, Rodan, Salopek, Carlile, Westhoff
Carlton: Murphy, Judd, Kreuzer, O’hAilpin, Bentick
INJURIES
Reports: Jordan Russell (Carlton) reported for forceful contact with Paul Stewart (Port Adelaide).
Umpires: Rosebury, Stevic, Keating
Official crowd: 29,240 at AAMI Stadium
