AFL Round 22 Port Adelaide v Carlton: All the news and fallout from Adelaide Oval

Sometimes flicking on the Power switch is not as easy as it sounds and that’s the area Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley is desperate to address before finals.

Slow starts are an area Ken Hinkley hopes to address as his Port Adelaide side prepares for a mini-final then the major round.

The Power was sluggish out of the blocks for a second consecutive week against Carlton at Adelaide Oval on Saturday, after again going into the game as short-priced favourites.

Seven days earlier, Port Adelaide trailed the 17th-placed Crows by 19 points at the long break, having been restricted to just one goal.

It was a similar story early versus the Blues, who at quarter-time led the clearances 12-8, inside 50s 14-13, disposal count 111-99 and 2.6 to 2.2 on the scoreboard.

Watch The 2021 Toyota AFL Premiership Season Live & On-Demand on Kayo. New to Kayo? Try 14-Days Free Now >

Carlton surged ahead by as many as 23 points midway through the second term, before

Port Adelaide was able to kick into gear, booting 19 unanswered goals to end the match.

The fact the Power was able to wrest control of both games, grinding out a four-point victory last week and boosting its percentage with a 95-point demolition on Saturday, would have pleased Hinkley.

But he said his side, which moved into second spot on the ladder post-match, could not afford to give away early leads against the best teams in the competition in coming weeks.

Port Adelaide faces the Western Bulldogs in next weekend’s final minor round, in a game that will shape the top four.

Travis Boak congratulates Marc Murphy on his 300th game at the final siren.

“We need to get our starts right,” Hinkley said.

“Next week against the Bulldogs, it feels like the start of the finals and you’re going to have to be at your absolute best.

“We did that with the Bulldogs last time we played them at Adelaide Oval — they took a five or six-goal headstart on us and it took a lot of work to get back in that game (Port Adelaide lost by 19 points).”

Port Adelaide also was behind early in recent games against St Kilda (trailed by 10 points at quarter-time) and Melbourne (down 19 after two quarters).

Hinkley did not think the Power’s opening quarter on Saturday was terrible, but at the first break he demanded his side be more accountable and defend with more urgency.

He became concerned with the start of the second term, as Carlton kicked the opening three majors.

“You expect a side like Carlton with all the challenges they’ve had during the week, they were going to bring something, particularly early in the game, but that seven or eight minutes of the second quarter got a bit out of control,” he said.

Xavier Duursma competes with Carlton big man Levi Casboult. Picture: Getty Images

“We’d much rather have a much stronger first quarter and early second quarter.”

In-form Power midfielder Willem Drew could not put a finger on why the side was not at its best from the outset again.

“Every team goes out there and wants to start the game on fire, unfortunately sometimes that might not be the case,” Drew told News Corp.

“Then it’s just about the ability to grind it back and we were definitely able to do that tonight.

“We want to be able to put pressure on sides straight away.

“We might review that (slow starts) this week, we’ll have to wait and see.”

Drew said the Power had to get back to basics after its early struggles against the Blues by sharing the ball more and being more simple with their possessions.

He said the hosts were also able to lift their defensive pressure.

The Port cheer squad drummer rallies the troops at Adelaide Oval. Picture: Getty Images

“We were disappointed with how it was in the first quarter and that definitely needed to change,” he said.

Hinkley said his charges had matured and were now able to fix issues in-game out on the field more often, as they did during the second term when they piled on the last six goals after trailing by 22 points 17 minutes in.

“For the last couple of years almost every time we’ve been in a thick position, we’ve been able to find a way to get through it,” he said.

“They grow in belief when that happens, they start to figure out ‘don’t panic, stay calm, know what we do, stick to the process’.

“The boys now understand that a bit better.”

Drew said playing the Bulldogs at Marvel Stadium would be a big test for the Power and knew a win would be important to keep momentum building for the finals.

Miles Bergman celebrates a goal with Karl Amon during the 19-goal rout. Picture: Getty Images

Hinkley: We’re in good shape, that’s all that matters

Port Adelaide’s blockbuster clash with the Western Bulldogs could decide the minor premiership and banish one of the few remaining criticisms of the surging Power ahead of its premiership assault.

Port tuned up for its finals run with a 95-point thumping of Carlton at Adelaide Oval on Saturday that sealed a top-four berth, with the Power now eyeing a top-two finish, along with fellow premiership aspirants the Dogs, Geelong and Melbourne.

With a fit list and the momentum of a five-game winning streak, everything is coming together at the right time for Ken Hinkley’s men.

The only nagging doubt remaining about Port is the side’s inability to beat top-four calibre teams on the way to a 16-5 win-loss record.

That will change, of course, if the Power can overcome the Dogs at Marvel Stadium, but that aspect of the mouth-watering match-up isn’t important for Hinkley.

“It doesn’t matter,” Hinkley said.

“I get it, I understand it, but it doesn’t matter too much who you do or don’t beat through the 23 rounds.

“It works out that we haven’t beaten Geelong, the Bulldogs, Melbourne and Brisbane but it doesn’t mean we can’t beat them when the time comes.

Ken Hinkley catches up with Eddie Betts after the game. Picture: Getty Images

“We’ve worked really hard for 22 rounds to put ourselves in this position.

“We’ve said all through the year that there’s always going to be challenges, it’s never going to be perfect.

“It’s a test of your stamina, endurance and commitment, really, to get to the end of 23 rounds in pretty good shape.

“There are a lot of sides who would love to be where we, and other sides, are at the top of the ladder but you’ve still got to maximise your opportunity from here.”

Hinkley was thrilled with the way his team dominated proceedings with 19 unanswered goals against the Blues after falling behind by 23 points in the second quarter.

The only negative came in the form of a knee injury to Scott Lycett, who was subbed out at three-quarter time.

The lead ruckman will have scans on his left knee, with Hinkley hopeful he will be fit to take on the Dogs.

“He banged his knee early on in the game to the point where he could keep going for a good bit,” the coach explained.

“But we got to three-quarter time and it was still giving him some grief so we made a decision that was sensible.

“The right thing for us to do was to look after him if we could and hopefully we can get him up and about so he can play next week.

“It’s a typical ruckman’s injury … when they clash knees you’re hoping all the time that there’s nothing more (to it) and we’re hopeful that’s the case with Scott.”

Top two in Power sights after Blues demolition

A top-two finish is within Port Adelaide’s grasp after the surging Power kicked 19 unanswered goals to lock up a double chance with a demoralising 95-point thumping of Carlton that will ratchet up the pressure on under-siege coach David Teague.

The Blues were brave early, leading by as much as 23 points, but their resistance completely crumbled in the face of ruthless Port’s astonishing blast of unanswered goals that set up the 21.14 (140) to 5.15 (45) belting at Adelaide Oval on Saturday.

It was a sour note for Marc Murphy to end his decorated 300-game career on, but it was also the latest planet to align for a fit-and-firing Power side that now has the momentum of a five-game winning streak with one round left before finals.

The result sets up a blockbuster clash against the Western Bulldogs at Marvel Stadium in round 23 with a top-two finish potentially on offer.

There was a lot for Ken Hinkley to like in the emphatic showing.

Aliir Aliir followed up his Showdown Medal-winning performance with another polished display across halfback, with Travis Boak, Karl Amon and Ollie Wines all prominent in a midfield unit that had plenty of contributors.

Port had 12 goalkickers as the Blues were reduced to witches’ hats, with Charlie Dixon leading the way with four.

Charlie Dixon and Ollie Wines enjoy a Power goal.

“They were able to put a bit of scoreboard pressure on us, but after that it became pretty much the way we like (the game) to be played,” Hinkley said.

“It was a pretty strong performance by the end, obviously.

“I don’t think you could wish to be in too much more control than we were able to be in that game, but let’s be fair to Carlton – they couldn’t have had much of a worse week when it comes to injuries.”

At the other end of the footy spectrum, Teague will face intensified scrutiny after his, albeit injury-depleted, team was overrun from the midway point of the second quarter, with Sam Walsh his side’s best player.

“I thought the way the guys cracked in early was really good, but against their bigger bodies we weren’t able to maintain it,” Teague said.

“”Once they really got going they were hard to catch, they ran hard forward and used the ball well, and we couldn’t win enough of the ball ourselves or control the ball once we won it.”

At the other end of the footy spectrum, Teague will face intensified scrutiny after his, albeit injury-depleted team, was overrun from the midway point of the second quarter, with Sam Walsh his side’s best player.

SHOWDOWN LETDOWN?

Hinkley’s men were coming off a tight win against Adelaide in a typically intense showdown clash and the Power wasn’t switched on early.

Murmurings of discontent rippled through the Port Adelaide faithful as the unfancied Blues took the fight up to the hot favourites, with Walsh leading the charge with 13 possessions in the first quarter.

The visitors led by four points as the second term got underway, and that margin blew out to 23 with Josh Honey booting back-to-back goals in his fifth AFL game.

POWER RESTORED

Boak’s kicking was a bit off early in the game, but the star veteran was instrumental as a sputtering Port roared to life in the second quarter.

Todd Marshall booted his second major 18 minutes in and it proved to be the first of the withering salvo of unanswered majors that tipped the contest on its head.

Orazio Fantasia gave his side the lead with a smooth snap on the run and Dixon, who had been blanketed by Jacob Weitering, made it a 15-point advantage with a goal shortly before halftime.

Port Adelaide stormed home in the second half to rout the Blues.

KILLER INSTINCT

The margin was 41 points at three-quarter time and the Power finished off the job in brutal fashion, despite losing Scott Lycett, who was subbed out as a precaution after he copped a kock to his left knee.

Dixon added two more goals as Port rained down nine majors on the hapless Blues, who didn’t manage a goal in the second half.

Port Adelaide’s 16th win of the season was its biggest of the campaign and Carlton’s largest losing margin this year as Teague’s side slumped to an 8-13 win-loss record.

300 AND DONE

Murphy’s chances of getting a winning send-off took a hit on match day when Patrick Cripps was ruled out with a quad injury, the star skipper departing the side along with midweek casualties Harry McKay, Liam Jones, Jack Silvagni and Jack Martin.

Murphy was given a guard of honour by both teams, the No. 1 pick at the 2005 draft finishing with 24 possessions in his farewell game.

POWER 2.2 8.6 12.11 21.14 (140)

BLUES 2.6 5.9 5.12 5.15 (45)

PHELAN’S BEST POWER: Aliir, Boak, Amon, Byrne-Jones, Wines, Rozee, Butters, Ladhams. BLUES: Walsh, Kennedy, Weitering, Murphy.

GOALS POWER: Dixon 4, Fantasia 3, Marshall 2, Georgiades 2, Bergman 2, Gray 2, Boak, Houston, Ladhams, Lycett, Mayes, Rozee. BLUES: Honey 2, Casboult, Kennedy, McGovern.

INJURIES POWER: S Lycett (knee). BLUES: Cripps (quad – late withdrawal).

UMPIRES Fleer, Gianfagna, Heffernan.

ADELAIDE OVAL

PLAYER OF THE YEAR

JASON PHELAN’S VOTES

3 A Aliir (Port)

2 T Boak (Port)

1 K Amon (Port)

Originally published as AFL Round 22 Port Adelaide v Carlton: All the news and fallout from Adelaide Oval