CARLTON 15.14 (104) def PORT ADELAIDE 15.13 (103)
CARLTON has snatched the last spot in the top eight, in a thrilling one-point victory over Port Adelaide at AAMI Stadium after trialling by as much as 39-points midway through the third term.
In the last AFL match at AAMI Stadium before the move to Adelaide Oval in 2014, the home side jumped the Blues to lead by 16-points at quarter time.
The Power built on that momentum in the second term to lead by 32-points at half-time, as the Blues struggled to match Port’s intensity around the contest.
Port continued their dominance in the third term to take a 29-point buffer into the last change, as Carlton looked set to miss the finals in Mick Malthouse’s first year at the helm.
A fired up Carlton came out with an eight goal to three final quarter, stunning a Port Adelaide crowd which saw the lead change more than once.
Led by skipper Marc Murphy (3 goals, 23 disposals) and fellow South Australian Bryce Gibbs (1 goal, 26 disposals), the Blues dug deep enough to get the result they were after to play apart in this year’s finals series.
Carlton coach Mick Malthouse said after the match the Blues were able to sustain pressure and would grow as a result, but said ruckman Matthew Kreuzer had one of his poorer games.
“Once the door opened, we were able to keep the pressure coming and we’ll grow as a side because of this.
I think there was a comprehensive shift among all the players.
(Robbie) Warnock was pretty good for us. I don’t think (Matthew) Kreuzer would be all that happy with his performance.”
Carlton finishes the season in eighth position and will play a much anticipated blockbuster elimination final against either Richmond or Collingwood next weekend, depending on tomorrow’s results.
Port Adelaide, meanwhile, remain in seventh and should cap off 2013 as a successful year having not played finals since 2009.
Here are the match highlights:
PORT ADELAIDE 4.3 8.9 12.11 15.13 (103)
CARLTON 1.5 3.7 7.12 15.14 (104)
GOALS
Port Adelaide: Ebert 4, Schulz 4, Westhoff 2, Monfries, Boak, Logan, Young, Wingard
Carlton: Murphy 3, Garlett 2, Yarran 2, Betts 2, Simpson, Kreuzer, Gibbs, Curnow, Waite, Bell
BEST
Port Adelaide: Ebert, Cornes, Schulz, O’Shea, Colquhoun, Boak
Carlton: Murphy, Gibbs, Curnow, Walker, Betts, Yarran
INJURIES
Port Adelaide: Robbie Gray (quad) replaced in selected side by Brent Renouf
Carlton: Scotland (quad) replaced in selected side by Nick Duigan
SUBSTITUTES
Port Adelaide: Lewis Stevenson replaced Sam Colquhoun at three-quarter-time.
Carlton: Nick Duigan replaced Levi Casboult at half-time
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Nicholls, Meredith, Pannell
Official crowd: 45,127 at AAMI Stadium