An inspirational Patrick Cripps cameo has led Carlton to an important 16.11 (107) to 10.11 (71) win over Port Adelaide to vault back into top-four contention halfway through the AFL season.
The Blues entered Thursday night’s clash sitting eighth on the ladder, at risk of falling out, and the Power, on a three-game winning streak, loomed as a dangerous opponent even with Connor Rozee out injured.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Patrick Cripps opens fourth quarter with crucial goal.
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But Carlton showed the fight forged in last year’s finals run to break open a tense contest wide as soon as the fourth quarter got underway.
Straight out of the centre bounce Cripps’s first goal of the game pushed his side out to the game’s first three-kick lead — and he followed it up just a minute later with his second.
“What is that?! A superstar of the game, that is nuts,” James Brayshaw said in commentary on Channel 7.
“Two in a row to start this final term, taking it personally.”
Dale Thomas said Cripps seemed “a touch lucky — right place, right time” to find the ball in the pocket but praised his finish as “all class”.
“And on the back of the work rate, all night been in there, in and under. So often he’s the one who puts this side on his back. The captain. Follow me, I’ll take you to the promised land,” Thomas said.
Cripps curiously had just one clearance until two more late padded his stat in an area dominated by Jason Horne-Francis with 10 for Port Adelaide.
But those two crucial goals among a total of 11 score involvements for Cripps, edging out Horne-Francis’s 10, was the impact that mattered for the Carlton skipper.
“We talked about playing with courage, taking the game on,” Cripps told Channel 7.
“Early on in the year once we got up by a few goals we probably played a bit safe. Tonight we played aggressive and that’s what kept the scoreboard ticking over.
“It’s always nice to kick a snag, two in a couple of minutes definitely gets the adrenaline going.”
Port got one back through Jed McEntree but the Blues almost put the result beyond doubt when their next two inside 50s resulted in goals to Zac Williams and Alex Cincotta.
The two sides went goal for goal over the next 15 minutes until Williams kicked his third of the game from a set shot with four minutes left on the clock.
Cincotta’s goal was reward for an impressive effort restricting Port star Zak Butters, particularly in the final term.
“First for the year, I wasn’t expecting it but I got it through. Pretty stoked,” Cincotta said.
“I don’t know (how I was able to shut him down). He’s a very good player.
“I just try and get on their back and be really physical, just really pressure them and make sure their disposals aren’t effective.
“If I can do that I’m doing my job. Zak’s a great player so credit to him.”
Carlton midfielder Sam Walsh produced another standout display, collecting a game-high 33 disposals with nine inside-50s and 13 tackles.
His teammate Nic Newman was also influential with 29 touches, and Cripps, who alongside his one clearance had just 13 disposals to three-quarter time, finished with 22 touches.
Carlton’s brilliant last term came after a tight first three quarters.
The second quarter was punctuated by the first flashpoint of the AFL’s midweek change to the holding-the-ball interpretation, which gives players less time to dispose of the footy.
Port’s Kane Farrell was caught in a Matthew Owies tackle and was swung 360 degrees before getting a kick away, only to be adjudged holding the ball.
Farrell gave away a 50m penalty for dissent, but overall the tweak to the contentious rule had minimal impact — about half a dozen holding-the-ball calls were made in the game.
The Farrell decision came as Port scored a wayward 1.6 for the second term to trail by three points at halftime.
Both sides logged three goals in the third term, with Carlton up by seven points at three-quarter-time, 8.10 to 7.9.
Cripps then took centre stage and the Blues went on to celebrate just their second ever win at Adelaide Oval.
On the other side of the coin, Port’s capitulation in the fourth quarter will shine a spotlight on their ability to compete with the best.
They conceded seven goals from stoppages in the last term alone — an immediate point of review for coach Ken Hinkley.
“Disappointing result in the end, we really competed well for the first three quarters and they were able to get on top of us late,” Butters said.
“We lost a bit of method and a bit of our way in stoppage, they were able to dominate from there. Sort of a flow-on effect from there.
“Bit disappointing not to be able to stop it and stop their momentum but I thought it was a good contest. Shows you’ve got to play four good quarters, not three. We’ve got some things to work on.”
– with AAP