PORT Adelaide's winning streak has been stopped at three after Carlton came from behind to take a 26-point victory in an enthralling contest at AAMI Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

The Blues trailed by nine points at three-quarter time, but piled on four unanswered goals in the last term to set up the win, 17.16 (118) to 14.8 (92).

Carlton’s small forward line loomed as the threat ahead of the anticipated clash, but it was the visitors’ tall timber that troubled the Port Adelaide defence.

Setanta O’hAilpin continued his emergence as the most improved key forward in the game with three goals, and Matthew Kreuzer showed up experienced ruckman Dean Brogan, finishing with three goals, 19 disposals and eight marks.

Jarrad Waite and Ryan Houlihan also created headaches for the Power, with two goals apiece.

Midfielder Steven Salopek (three goals) emerged as an unlikely leading goalkicker for the home side and livewires Daniel Motlop (two goals) and Cameron Hitchcock (two goals) were also dangerous.

Carlton skipper Chris Judd (27 possessions and a goal) and Kade Simpson (29 possessions and a goal) were instrumental around the stoppages, while defender Jordan Russell (22 possessions) did a superb job on elusive Power forward Robbie Gray.

Kane Cornes (27 disposals and four clearances) held Blues star Marc Murphy to just eight possessions at half time. Captain Dom Cassisi (21 disposals), Jason Davenport (22 possessions and a goal) and Hitchcock (17 disposals) were among Port Adelaide’s better players.

The lead seesawed in the tight first half, with neither side able to gain more than a two-goal buffer.

O’hAilpin escaped Alipate Carlile’s grasp to kick two first-half goals, but Motlop was up to the challenge at the other end.

Motlop hopped, skipped and jumped past Bryce Gibbs to kick two goals in the second quarter and give the home side a narrow one-point lead at half time.

Carlton, who were a man down after losing Lucas in the first term, appeared in trouble in the third quarter when the Power slammed on four unanswered goals but finished full of running in the final term to secure the spirited win.

Carlton  4.1  8.4  11.10  17. 16 (118)
Port Adelaide  3.3  8.5  13.7  14.8 (92)

GOALS
Carlton: O’hAilpin 3, Kreuzer 3, Houlihan 2, Waite 2, Yarran 2, Carrazzo, Garlett, Simpson, Judd, Scotland
Port Adelaide: Salopek 3, Motlop 2, Hitchcock 2, Westhoff, Schulz, Ebert, Gray, C Cornes, Davenport, Surjan

BEST
Carlton: Judd, Simpson, Kreuzer, Carrazzo, Russell, Gibbs, Armfield, Yarran
Port Adelaide: K Cornes, Cassisi, Davenport, Salopek, Hitchcock

INJURIES
Carlton: Lucas (hamstring), White (shoulder)
Port Adelaide: Davenport (cheek)

Reports: Waite (striking on Davenport)

Umpires: Hay, Ryan, Armstrong

Official crowd: 30228 at AAMI Stadium

The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL.