HERE'S what we learned from Saturday's loss to Carlton...
1. Mistakes costly
The free kick count wasn't in Port's favour, but nor were its skills [pic: AFL Photos]
Missing shots on goal is one thing, sloppy skills are another.
The skill rate for the Power was atrocious, at one point hitting a target with fewer than two out of five kicks. That came as the Blues kicked out towards a 24-point lead, and goes to show how important clean skills are in footy. Carlton scored 64 points from turnovers, and with 19 more clangers than the Blues, winning the match would have been quite the miracle for Port Adelaide...
2. One-and-a-bit doesn't cut it…
Yeah, there were some freak goals, but too few and too late in the game [pic: AFL Photos]
Port Adelaide looked the goods straight out of the blocks on Saturday, and it ended the game in much the same way.
But when Carlton had a run of four goals in the second quarter, and smashed the Power statistically and on the scoreboard in the third, well, it's hardly surprising Port lost. Yeah, it was a brilliant(ish) final term, but there's no guarantees in football and the Power wasn't entitled to win after dishing up some pretty poor footy for an hour before.
3. Under pressure
Carlton's high pressure game was on from the first bounce. [pic: AFL Photos]
Throughout the season, Port Adelaide has been tested by tackle-hungry, high pressure teams and has seemed to wilt when the heat is applied. Winning the contested possessions comfortably, laying 15 more tackles and having an edge at stoppages - areas Port prides itself on - it's little wonder the Blues were leading by 29 points early in the final term.
4. Leading light and leading goalkicker
He's been very, very good this year, and has gone from flying under the radar to hitting top form this month. [pic: AFL Photos]
Could Chad Wingard earn a second All-Australian nod this year? Could he win a second John Cahill Medal? You'd have to say he's pushing his credentials right now - again one of few players to perform on the day. Five goals - including an incredible boom from the corner of 50 and the boundary line in the final quarter - have rocketed him ahead in the Power's leading goal kicker stakes, but at this rate the Power's leading goal kicker might not crack the half-ton for the year.
portadelaidefc.com.au will have a special mid-season WWL on Wednesday...
