Primus Predicts Mini-season
The Power responded to a difficult week off the field in the first half, shutting down the Blues' run and kicking six goals to lead by three points at the main break.
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The momentum of the game changed in the third quarter, as Marc Murphy, Mitch Robinson and Andrew Carrazzo gained control of the midfield, and Chris Yarran found space across half-back, but Carlton squandered opportunities in front of goal and led by only 16 points at the final change.
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Coach Matthew Primus urged his players to muster an effort like they had done in the final quarter against Richmond at TIO Stadium a week earlier, but Port Adelaide offered little resistance.
The Power failed to add to their three-quarter time score in the last term and conceded seven goals and watched the final margin swell to 62 points.
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It was the sixth 50-plus point defeat Port Adelaide has suffered this season after being competitive at different stages of the game.
The Power have now lost five of their last six games the week after playing in Darwin, but Chaplin said the problem was bigger than his team's ability to recover from the Northern Territory trip.
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"It was like Groundhog Day," Chaplin said after the game.
"Our first half was fantastic. We showed some real positives in terms of our pressure and our ability to close them down.
"We were still really confident going in at three-quarter time and we thought we had some run in our legs, but in the last quarter we just got taught a lesson in hard work and running ability and they just smashed us in every statistic.
"We couldn't get our hands on the ball. We just didn't seem to have the drive or the run and as a result the game got blown out, which was the most disappointing thing for us and also our supporters."
Chaplin was part of a defence that was under siege in the second half.
Carlton generated 30 inside 50ms to Port Adelaide's 19 after half-time, often using the speed of Yarran, Jeff Garlett and Eddie Betts to get behind the home team's zone.
Andrew Walker kicked six goals on three different opponents, and Garlett escaped Tom Logan's tag in the final quarter to kick three of his four goals.
"Carlton has got some got some pretty quick guys and we probably needed to be smarter with our positioning, in picking our line and getting back and helping our defenders," Chaplin said.
"They got a few goals over the back [of the zone] and when you're one-on-one inside 50m and there's no pressure on the ball coming in, good luck."
Port Adelaide, which has the bye this week, will have to wait for a chance to respond to the disappointing fade-out.
Midfielder Dom Cassisi (tibial fracture) and David Rodan (knee) are exected to be available for the club's next game against West Coast at Patersons Stadium in round 13.
Brave ruckman Dean Brogan should also be fit to play the Eagles, despite sustaining knocks to his knee and ribs, and also injuring his finger during the loss to Carlton.
Katrina Gill covers Port Adelaide news for afl.com.au. Follow her on Twitter: @AFL_KatrinaGill
