Port Adelaide
Form: WWWWWLL
Ranked: 4th
Carlton
Form: LLLWWWL
Ranked: 11th
Last time
In stormy conditions at AAMI Stadium, the Power dealt Carlton a master class in wet-weather football, leading from start to finish to claim its fourth win for the season in emphatic style.
Memorable moment: Hamish Hartlett bombed three times from outside 50 to earn the Brownlow votes and show the football world what a talent he is.
Round 10, 2012: Port Adelaide 14.15 (99) def Carlton 6.9 (45) at AAMI Stadium
Form Guide
Past 5: Power 1 v Blues 4
Past 23: Power 13 v Blues 9
The fine print
AFL Round 8
Carlton v Port Adelaide
Sunday May 19
Etihad Stadium
740 Bourke Street, Docklands, Victoria
First bounce: 1:10pm (local time) / 12:40pm (SA time)
Broadcast: Live on FOX FOOTY and Seven
portadelaidefc.com.au live coverage starts at 12:40pm
Twitter: #pafclive #aflbluespower
Buy tickets
After match function in the Victory Room, Etihad Stadium
Our top three
1. Travis Boak
Boak is second for Port's disposals and tackles and a resounding first for clearances, stoppages and inside 50s. His leadership in the Power’s two losses has been sound – undoubtedly the club’s best against the Kangaroos and one of its most reliable against the Tigers. That leadership will be important against an in-form Carlton side on foreign turf.
2. Brad Ebert
While it would seem Ebert is having a reduced impact on games with other midfielders standing up early this year, his stats don't lie - he's still one of the club's best. He’s been a quiet achiever for several weeks, but was clearly among Port's best against the Tigers. One of the Power’s leading disposal-getters, he needs to have another strong performance this weekend, as he did against the Blues last year.
3. Chad Wingard
Wingard’s strong start to the year hit a slight hurdle against the Tigers, but he was still dangerous and clocked 18 disposals and kicked 1.2. Although Jay Schulz continues to lead the Power on the scoreboard, Wingard remains a wildcard up forward. He will need to work hard to outlast the increased attention he will draw again this weekend though if he is to continue as the important part of Port’s forward attack he has so far been in 2013.
Final Word
A must-win game for Port Adelaide, this Round 8 clash has a fascinating build up.
Carlton sits 11th on the ladder and will be coming off a short, five-day break after narrowly going down to St Kilda on Monday night.
Port Adelaide is travelling to Melbourne to play at Etihad Stadium for the first time this year after two consecutive losses.
Both sides will be looking to get back on the winner’s list. Both will need to overcome injury complications.
Jasper Pittard will miss this weekend’s match while several Carlton players are a chance to return.
Senior coach Ken Hinkley told media he expects a range of questions to be debated at the selection table on Thursday.
Those questions include whether to play one or two ruckmen, and who comes out of the side for Cassisi.
The Power needs to put in a four-quarter performance this weekend, it sits precariously in fourth position on the ladder and a loss will likely push it out.
Its performance in the latter stages of opening quarters has been of concern over the past month and a turnaround in the way it runs out its starts is required.
Ken Hinkley avoided guaranteeing performance-improvement in that area this week.
But he expects it.
Current odds
Port Adelaide 3.40 – 1.32 Carlton
