It was not without a challenge from the home favourites though, with the Blues demonstrating a ferocious defensive pressure early in the contest to take and hold the lead for the first three quarters.

Just as the Grand Prix saw Renault's excitement machine Sebastian Vettel struggle with power issues early, the Renault-backed Port Adelaide also struggled to find second gear early in its first battle for the year, with a jittery start allowing the Blues to dominate the early contest.

Playing a tougher, harder brand of football, Carlton got on top in clearances - with two goals from stoppage wins - and dominated the Power in contested possessions to extend a 22-point lead by quarter time.

The pressure was indicative through typically clean users like Kane Cornes unable to effectively use his nine touches.

Encouragingly, Power youngsters Ollie Wines and Jared Polec were able to win the early ball and create some opportunity for their team, but even they were caught out by the Blues’ supreme defensive pressure.

With few solutions presenting themselves early, the Power was given a breather to regroup and find another gear at the quarter time break.

It got a much needed boost in the second term through its X-factor forward Justin Westhoff slotting two goals in as many minutes to drive the Power back into the game from much-needed clearance wins from his teammates in the centre.

That improvement in the centre clearances saw the Power’s inside 50s soar, and so too did key forward Jay Schulz who leapt high for an early Mark of the Year contender to convert Port’s fourth for the match.

Westhoff needed a crash helmet as he clicked his own game up a level, grounded by Andrew Walker in a marking contest to earn his third goal on the back of a subsequent 50-metre penalty. 

And while Westhoff would spend the next five minutes recovering from that collision on the bench, the Blues mounted one of their own, with goals to Ed Curnow and Bryce Gibbs easing the margin back out to 24 points.

In a game where both teams played in waves of brilliance, it was Port Adelaide with the strong finish at half time with Ollie Wines and the masterful Westhoff kicking the Power back to within two goals at the long break.

Westhoff’s personal brilliance forward of centre masked crucial improvement from his teammates after the quarter time break.

Statistically, the Power was able to bridge large deficits it its key performance indicators of contested possessions and clearances and trailed the Blues on the disposal chart by just two touches at the long change.

That improvement on the stats sheet was translated into a combination of braver ball use around the ground and punishing runs upfield to a far more dynamic forward setup, with Westhoff, John Butcher, Robbie Gray and Jay Schulz all providing good marking options for the Power’s midfield.

That dynamic forward line came to the fore as Port Adelaide again lifted its game with a third term blitz.