Carlton celebrated one of their finest hours and consigned Port Adelaide to one of their worst by swooping from the clouds to claim a remarkable 12-point win at a slippery AAMI Stadium.

The Power led early and were up by as much as 38 points in the third, still up by 30 at the last change.

But a brilliant last term by the Blues, combined with some familiar mental fragility from the Power, saw Carlton fire through an incredible seven goals to nil in the last to win 10.15 (75) to 8.15 (63) and force Port to relive the nightmare of their eerily similar round four loss to Brisbane.

Carlton coach Brett Ratten said he had made reference to that game at the last change and heaped praise on his men for winning a match that takes them past Port as the side most likely to challenge for a top eight berth from the bottom half of the ladder.

"The Brisbane game gave us a lot of hope about what could happen, but we needed to apply the pressure and do the roles that were expected, and I thought we did that," he said.

"We're certainly getting confidence as a group.

"This was one of the great wins for us in 2008.

"It does keep us in contact with the eight. We've mentioned that a fair bit. We've had a big month of footy ahead of us with Port Adelaide, Collingwood, Essendon and Richmond. And we needed to get this win.

"I thought it was fantastic for us and it could help keep us in contact with the eight, and, maybe who knows down the track."

Blues skipper Chris Judd was by some distance the best man on the ground, while No.1 draft pick Matthew Kreuzer turned in a star-making performance by kicking three vital last term goals.

Bryce Gibbs did a fine job on Chad Cornes, and Kade Simpson was also strong all night, making the most telling contribution with a running goal to put the Blues in front for the first time all night deep in time-on.

Kane Cornes, Steve Salopek and Dean Brogan were among the best for a Power side whose season is now mentally if not mathematically shot.

Port's lead, which grew steadily across the first three terms, might have been more if David Rodan's potential goal of the year contender - he beat three opponents - had not been touched on the line, but as it was a 30-point lead at the last change seemed enough in the conditions.

But that reckoned without a youthful Carlton side championed by Judd and suddenly spearheaded by young giant Kreuzer, who took on leviathan proportions in the last to kick three of the first five goals of the term.

The last two arrived after a lengthy delay when Port defender Paul Stewart was stretchered off with concussion, Gray missing a pivotal shot on goal for the Power after waiting four minutes for his teammate to leave the field.

A frenzied five minutes followed as Port clung on to a one point advantage and players threw themselves in knowing the next score may win it.

Eventually the Blues broke forward, and Simpson fired truly on his left to take the visitors to a shocking triumph.

Ironically given the midweek war of words, Fevola had the pleasure of kicking the game's final goal after the siren.

"We really disappointed everyone today and I thought we probably played all over Carlton for a fair time on the night without getting any return but to their credit they kept coming," said Power coach Mark Williams.

"If Robbie Gray kicked that goal and not hit the post we'd have probably won, so it's as close as that."

Brought to you by AAP © 2024 AAP