Round 11 (Sir Doug Nicholls Round)
Port Adelaide v Carlton
7.35pm, Saturday 23rd May 2026
Adelaide Oval
Carlton produced a withering display of fast link-up handball-based footy to thrash Port Adelaide 13.14 (92) to 8.10 (58) at Adelaide Oval on Saturday night.
It’s the Blues’ second successive win under new coach Josh Fraser, who replaced Michael Voss during the week.
While the Patrick Cripps-led Blues were skilful, committed and methodical in their ball use, the Power were the complete opposite.
Disinterested, soft and not committed to the cause, save for Jason Horne-Francis with 32 possessions and three goals and as usual Captain Zak Butters in his 150th game.
Captain Cripps was magnificent with 31 disposals, eight clearances and a goal.
2021 Brownlow medallist Ollie Wines had a shocker for Port with just five touches and Todd Marshall played as if he was afraid of body contact.
In contrast, youngster forward Jack Ison created headaches for opponents Aliir Aliir and Esava Ratugolea. Ison could have booted four goals instead of one goal three.
Cripps had plenty of midfield support with young gun Jagga Smith, 27 possessions, dancing away from stoppages with his power running.
Carlton kicked eight goals straight in the first and early in the second quarter despite losing forward Matt Carroll to a serious knee injury.
Blues forwards Mitch McGovern, ex-Sydney Swan Will Hayward and lively Brody Kemp kicked a brace of goals each for Carlton.
MARSHALL JUST NOT WITH IT
It was well touted that Port Adelaide’s Todd Marshall was to be a key defender. Apart from a standout performance in an open shootout game against Hawthorn at Marvel Stadium, Marshall has been injured, then dropped, recalled against Carlton where he played firstly as a forward despite the pre-season defender narrative.
He had zero impact and regardless of the medicos giving the all clear from his previous concussion history, is the Port tall on limited time? It seems and it would not surprise if Marshall makes the call and retires sooner rather than later for medical reasons courtesy of his concussion history.
PORT ADELAIDE 2.0 3.5 5.7 8.10 (58)
CARLTON 5.0 9.4 10.8 13.14 (92)
GOALS
Port Adelaide: Horne-Francis 3, Whitlock 2, Marshall, Georgiades, Durdin
Carlton: McGovern 2, Kemp 2, Hayward 2, Walsh, McKay, Ison, Hewett, Evans, Cripps, Byrne
BEST (Nick’s best)
Port Adelaide: Horne-Francis, Drew, Butters, Lai, Whitlock
Carlton: Cripps, Hewett, Walsh, McKay, Smith, Dean
INJURIES
Port Adelaide: Nil
Carlton: Carroll (knee)
Crowd: 40,597
Malarkey Votes
3 – P. Cripps (Car)
2 – J. Horne-Francis (Port)
1 – J. Smith (Car)
Read other Round 11 match reports HERE
Read more from Nick Kossatch (KOSSYPOWERMAN) HERE
Visit Nick’s website HERE
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About Nicholas Kossatch
Tall and intelligent and athletically built who calls a spade a spade. Love sports writing and sending letters and texts to the editor about AFL and the Port Adelaide Power - win, lose or draw. I do not sit on the fence. Soon to be 57! I played basketball and supers football having accomplished two Aust Masters Championships with the SA o35s (2006) and o40s (2009) and two All Australian Masters guernseys in 2008 and 2018. Have played amateur footy and a bit of cricket and basketball when living in Adelaide, Renmark, Paringa, Alice Springs and now Gladstone in Aueensland. I was also a sport newspaper journalist in the Alice (2013-15) and Gladstone (2015-20). Now I’m a postie and run a sport website Clear Play Media. Feel free to subscribe www.clearplaymedia.com. All free. And always after a unique sport story of any code.
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