The Preview | Round 5 V Port Adelaide
Written By Ari Stamatakos
Season So Far:
Back to reality. Carlton, after having the dream start, fell in an embarrassing fashion to the Gold Coast, at a ground where the Blues have had troubles for a long time. It was a performance typical of the old Carlton, a Carlton that dropped its heads and downed tools at the slight inconvenience.
This will be the first proper test for Michael Voss. Can he get this notoriously bratty side, back up and running the next game after a very disappointing loss. Because last week was more than an embarrassing loss, it was a systematic destruction of a game plan that everything thought was going to stack up to those of the best in the league.
The notoriously good midfield was absolutely smashed, with Adam Cerra and Matt Kennedy having hall of shame performances off the back of a stellar first three weeks. The back 6 were under the pump all day and were never able to stem the flow, whereas Harry McKay and Charlie Curnow both had games they would want to forget, missing shots that would normally be bread and butter for them. It was a horror day for the Blues and one that they would want to put past them pretty quickly.
Couple these horror events with the injury woes to Patrick Cripps, this game has only amplified in importance in the days following Sunday’s debacle. This game is absolutely massive for the Blues, the most important game of the season so far without a doubt.
We have seen over the last couple of years the character of this group. They are motivated by external factors. 2021 was the perfect year for that, whenever they suffered an embarrassing loss, they would tend to respond in a positive way the following week. The loss to Geelong in round 17, beat Collingwood the next week. Get smashed by North in round 19, beat the Saints by 30 the following week.
This shows that the group is a fear motivated group. They are motivated by the thought of being smashed week after week and embarrassed on the big stage. The more this group wins, the more complacent they will get. This means one of two things this week. Because there is still something to play for, expect a massive response from this group against the Power.
However, this also means that Voss has a massive job on his hands to keep this group motivated when it’s going well. However, for the time being, history tends to say that this group will be ready and hungry for a response this week.
Another reason why this group will be hungry for a win this week is the embarrassing nature of the last game between these two sides. In round 22 of 2021, in Marc Murphy’s 300th game, the Port Adelaide power kicked 19 unanswered goals from halfway through the 2nd quarter to beat Carlton by 95 points.
A horror day for the Blues, a day that spelt the end of David Teague’s tenure at the Carlton Football Club. A day that Carlton fans will look back on in horror and disgust as the worst possible scenario came to fruition that day.
This will be revenge day for some of those players. Some of those players were embarrassed and humiliated on the day when they farewelled the greatest players of the modern era. For some of those players, it was the worst day in their professional careers. If some of those players are serious about putting respect to the monogram on the front of their jumper, then they will go out there, on the MCG and punish a Port Adelaide team that is there for the taking. From a Carlton perspective, this must be a statement win, this must avenge the embarrassment that was 2021.
Moving to Adelaide, this couldn’t have been a worse start for the Power. After falling in humiliating fashion to the Dogs in the Prelim, they have had an absolute horror start to 2022. Going 0-4, in games that include a loss in the showdown after the siren, getting smashed by Hawthorn by 60 points and losing to the Dees after not kicking a goal in the first 2 and a half quarters.
No one would’ve predicted this horrendous start. However, this has only emphasised how important two players are to this Port Adelaide team. Charlie Dixson and Aliir Aliir. The absence of those two players has been absolutely crucial to the performance of Port this season.
This proud club will be looking to get their season underway. There is no way they won’t be ready from the opening bounce and will be looking to give Carlton hell from minute once. The Blues need to be on, if not, Port will be putting them to the sword very quickly.
Team News:
Prediction: Carlton by 3 points
