STUNG by its loss to Geelong, Port Adelaide comes into its last game before the bye needing to win to keep its season alive.
OPPOSING FORCES
PORT ADELAIDE
LAST MATCH: Round 11: Port Adelaide 11.3 (69) def by Geelong 14.8 (92)
CARLTON
LAST MATCH: Round 10: Carlton 14.6 (90) def by Adelaide Crows 14.15 (99)
HEAD TO HEAD
Port Adelaide 15 v 11 Carlton
LAST FIVE
Port Adelaide 3 v 2 Carlton
THIS YEAR
Port Adelaide: LLWWWLLLWWL v LLLWLLLLLL Carlton
PLAYBILL
Round 12
Carlton v Port Adelaide
MCG
Saturday 20 June
First Bounce: 1:40pm (local) / 1:10pm (SA) / 11:40pm (AWST)
Hashtags: #AFLBluesPower
Broadcast: Channel 7 (South Australia), Fox Footy (national), FIVEaa (SA)
YOU’RE INVITED
Pre-game events
March to the ‘G’
The March to the ‘G’ is back
The River Terrace, Federation Square
Meet: 11:00am
Begins: 12.20pm
Arrival: 12.40pm
Post Match Function
Yarra Park Room
Level 3, MCG
Commencing at the completion of the game.
Selected players, coaches and officials in attendance.
All members and supporters welcome.
TIME MACHINE
Round 22, 2014: Port Adelaide ran rampant in a 103-point win at Adelaide Oval, with Robbie Gray booting four goals and Wingard, Neade and Westhoff three apiece.
PORT ADELAIDE 5.6 9.12 16.15 20.20 (140)
CARLTON 1.2 2.4 3.7 5.7 (37)
Best: Gray, Boak, Wingard, Hartlett, Westhoff, Carlile
Goals: Gray 4, Wingard, Neade, Westhoff 3, Schulz 2, Ebert, Boak, White, Monfries, Hartlett
at the Adelaide Oval
FOUR QUARTERS
THE STAKES
The stakes are high for Port Adelaide to get a win over the Blues and turn around its inconsistent form. With the bye approaching, the Power will be keen to enter their mid-season break with an even ledger. In their first game post-Chris Judd, Carlton will be desperate to improve on their disappointing start to the season and send out their champion with a win.
THE STOCKS
An injury to Matt White against Geelong means Ken Hinkley will have to look to the Magpies for some speed. Brendon Ah Chee made a return from injury in the reserves last week, while Kane Mitchell is pushing for selection after a best on-field performance in the SANFL. For the Blues, midfielder Bryce Gibbs faces a test to prove his fitness, while Judd’s retirement forces another change in the side.
THE HISTORY
The history between the two sides is relatively even, with Port Adelaide holding a narrow 15-11 lead in the head-to-head battle. The most recent game was in Round 22 last year, where Port Adelaide delivered a 103-point annihilation.
THE VIBE
As the bye approaches it is crunch time for Port Adelaide. A win will take them to the mid-season break on an even ledger with six wins and six losses, and keeps them in touch with a number of teams in the top eight.
