PORT ADELAIDE onballer Steven Salopek believes his side got ahead of itself after falling to Carlton by 26 points at AAMI Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

The Power had earned a reputation as fast finishers, after coming from behind to win their past three games, and Salopek said the Port Adelaide players expected an undermanned and underdone Carlton to drop off in the final term.

The home side had the benefit of an extra two-day break between games, while Carlton was further disadvantaged by losing young midfielder Kane Lucas to a hamstring injury in the first term. Port Adelaide took a nine-point lead into the final change but managed just one more goal for the match, the Blues adding six in the final quarter to run out comfortable winners.

Salopek said it was disappointing the Power were unable to deliver on what they saw as a physical advantage.

“We spoke at three-quarter time about how much run we had left in our legs because they’d had a six-day break and we’d had eight days, and I think it just got ahead of us,” Salopek said.

“We need to address that, because it’s been a feature of our last three or four wins. We have been behind at three-quarter time in those games, and this time we led at the last break and couldn’t get away with it.

“We just dropped our guard, but you can’t take anything away from Carlton. They are a terrific side and are obviously the real deal this year.”

The defeat ended a three-game winning streak for the Power, which has slipped back to eighth on the AFL ladder.

Salopek said it was important his side rebounded with a win over Melbourne in Darwin next Saturday night.

“We knew at the start of the year that we had some younger guys in the team, and that it would be a rollercoaster for most of the year. We’ve had three wins on the trot and now we’ve come down,” he said.

“We’ll need to regroup and prepare well for Melbourne, because now we’re the team with the six-day break.”

Salopek was one of Port Adelaide’s best performers on Sunday, finishing with 16 disposals, two clearances and three long-range goals.

The 24-year-old said it was unusual to see his name at the top of the goalkicking list.

“I don’t think I’ve ever kicked three goals in a game, but I’ll take it,” he said.

“You’ve got to hedge your bets and go, because sometimes the ball just pops out. If it pops out your way, you might get onto it, and it was nice to finish off with three goals.”