PORT ADELAIDE coach Ken Hinkley has praised the “incredibly brave” performance by his side to overcome injuries, a taxing travel schedule and a plucky Carlton side at the Gabba on Sunday and maintain its spot at the top of the AFL ladder.

Port got over the line by three points with a goal to Robbie Gray after the siren (9.10 (64) to 9.7 (61)).

Gray was among a wasteful Port Adelaide side in the final quarter with Charlie Dixon and Todd Marshall also missing golden opportunities to give their side the lead earlier.

With injuries to Ryan Burton (quad) and Steven Motlop (ankle) ruling them out of the last quarter, Hinkley was proud of the resilience shown by his side for the second time in two weeks.

“It was just incredibly brave,” Hinkley said after the game.

“Both teams started really well and it became a real arm wrestle but the way we fought it out as a team, there’s something about the team at the moment and the boys’ belief in themselves and their resilience.

“I mean, we’re two down, back to back travel games and we were up at 5am and getting on the plane and playing in beautiful weather but (it was warm at) 25 degrees. There were a few things against us but Robbie Gray - he’s just been such a great player for us as a footy club and me as a coach.”

Gray had been relatively quiet by his standards until that point, but stepped up to slot the goal from a tough angle when it counted.

“You never underestimate what the champs of the game will do and normally the bigger the moment, the bigger they get,” Hinkley said.

“I’m lucky to have been around some really great players and Rob fits in that category of great players I have no doubt about that.

“I don’t know whether I thought he’d kick it, but I was bloody pleased he did.

“He hasn’t had his best start to the year, Rob gets lots of attention and works hard for every kick that he gets and he knows that’s his caper.

“But the good part about the team at the moment, it’s not one player, it’s the team and when the person has to step up, they step up and Rob’s turn was today after the siren.”

Hinkley praised his talls, particularly Charlie Dixon, who booted 3.4 and seven marks and ruckman Peter Ladhams, who stepped into the side for just his sixth career game to cover the injured Scott Lycett.

“Dixon was enormous, wasn’t he? He probably should have kicked five, maybe six,” Hinkley said.

“(Pete) got a lot of the footy for a ruckman and that’s what he brings, he’s almost another midfielder at ground level.

“Pete’s great weapon is that he can do a bit of that but it was a big game.

“Scott’s a big part of what we’re trying to do and Pete steps up and I don’t know when he last played.

“But I think there’s some depth underneath and we’ve been tested, like everyone’s going to be at this time of year, but I think we’ve still got some players yet to be seen.”

Hinkley said he thought his side had missed its opportunities to win with several spurned chances, including Marshall’s late snap which seemed a certainty but sailed wide.

“I think Carlton probably had chances too but it was a little like that,” the Port coach said.

“The group, what they’re doing and the way they’re doing it, the key word we talked about at three quarter time was resilience. There was no bigger test than again today, they’ve shown that now three or four times now, they’re a good team and deserve to be called a good team.

“The body of work has been pretty consistent and that’s why you get to be talked about as a pretty good team. You don’t keep it for more than a week, that’s the only trouble, you’ve got to go again and play next week.

“We’ve just got to be ready to play next week when we get back to Adelaide Oval – that’s also exciting for us to go home and play a game at Adelaide Oval when we haven’t played there since Round 2.

“I think the fans will be pretty happy to see the boys. I know the boys will be happy to see them and hear them. Even here the handful of people that worked hard to get here for us is important.

“There’s something special about the Port Adelaide fans, they just bring their passion to every game, winning or losing, they bring their passion.”

Port Adelaide will return to Adelaide Oval for the firs time since Round 2 to take on St Kilda next Saturday night.