Round 19
	V
Carlton 5.15 (45)		Port Adelaide 7.12 (54)

Carlton has officially claimed the first wooden in its history despite giving second-placed Port Adelaide a mighty scare in their round 19 clash at Optus Oval.

The Blues’ nine point loss, combined with Richmond’s win over Fremantle at the MCG ensures that Carlton will finish on the bottom for the first time since the foundation of the VFL/AFL in 1897.

But on the day when Carlton fans were organising a petition in a bid to oust president John Elliott – the Blues’ players showed similar fighting spirit to finish all over the top of a tiring Power side, who just managed to hang on for a 7.12 (54) to 5.15 (45) victory despite not kicking a goal in the final term.

And it was an effort that certainly pleased embattled coach Wayne Brittain, whose job was under scrutiny going into this game after the Blues’ lost by 108 points to Collingwood last week.

“It was a far better effort,” he said.

“Now we just have to make sure we sustain that type of effort over the last three games and if we do then we can grow from that performance.”

And what made Carlton’s second half comeback even more remarkable was the fact they failed to kick a goal in the first half.

In fact the Blues’ half-time score of 0.4 (4) was their lowest score to half-time in a home match at Optus Oval since 1901 while as a result of this defeat the Blues have gone through an entire season winless at their home ground for the first time.

But after Corey McKernan kicked the Blues’ first goal at the five minute mark of the third term they were a changed side.

In fact the Blues dominated the quarter but kicked a wasteful 3.9 to the Power’s 4.1 as they struggled to come to terms with the vicious cross breeze that ruined the match as a spectacle.

But in the final term Carlton dominated a side being widely tipped to win this year’s premiership with only their only poor finishing and the superb defensive work by Brett Montgomery preventing a shock win by the home side.

And it was veteran former captain Craig Bradley – playing possibly the last game of his long and decorated career at Optus Oval – who inspired the Blues all day with his goal at 18 minute mark of the last term cutting the margin to nine points.

The incredibly fit 38-year-old finished the game with 30 possessions and received great support from Trent Hotton – who lifted the Blues after half-time in attack - as well as youngster Sam Cranage, who finished with 25 touches.

Brittain said after the game he hoped Bradley would win the Blues’ best and fairest this season in what could still be his final season despite his stellar form.

“Every year he just gives more. He’s an absolute marvel,” Brittain said of Bradley.

As for Port the best that can be said of their performance was that they won and as a result maintained the pressure on Brisbane in the race for top spot.

And while the Power had excuses for their poor performance given that Gavin Wanganeen, Damien Hardwick, Adam Kingsley and Nick Stevens were all missing through injury and suspension – they had far too few contributors against Carlton.

In fact if it was not for the efforts of Roger James, Josh Carr, Stuart Dew, Warren Tredrea and Montgomery’s superb final quarter, the Power would have lost to a team that has won only two games all season and now finds themselves three and a half games adrift of their nearest rivals with just three rounds remaining.

But Port coach Mark Williams was pleased with the win saying he knew Carlton would hit back hard after last week’s embarrassing loss to Collingwood.

“Carlton is such a proud side and I thought Wayne did a great job to get his players up and they really had a crack,” he said.

“All credit to them but again our side refused to lose and they stood up and kept at it.”

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