Cripps helps fast-finishing Carlton down Port Adelaide

The Brownlow medallist's burst of two goals in two minutes in the final term was pivotal in the Blues' 16.11 (107) to 10.11 (71) victory at Adelaide Oval on Thursday night.

Cripps had been quiet until three-quarter-time, when the Blues led by just seven points.

But the inspirational skipper sparked a stunning final-term surge: the Blues booted eight goals to three to jump from eighth to fourth on the ladder.

Port remain third - like Carlton, they have eight wins and four losses.

Carlton midfielder Sam Walsh produced another standout display, his game-high 33 disposals included nine inside 50s and he laid 13 tackles.

His teammate Nic Newman was also influential with 29 touches and Cripps, who had just 13 disposals to three-quarter-time, finished with 22 possessions.

"He certainly is a really big believer in ... we weren't going to stop, we had to keep playing the same way and we're going to take them on," Blues coach Michael Voss said of Cripps.

"And it looked a bit like that, didn't it, at the start of the fourth quarter."

Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley said Carlton "spanked us" in their Cripps-led final quarter.

"Cripps is smart enough and clever enough to go forward and hit the scoreboard," Hinkley said.

"We're talking about a pretty good player, a Brownlow medallist, and sometimes they are hard to stop.

"But our players know that and they just need to take some responsibility in those moments to control their (Carlton's) weapons, which they have got a few."

Blues trio Charlie Curnow, Harry McKay and Zac Williams booted three goals each.

Port's Mitch Georgiades scored four majors and Jason Horne-Francis (22 disposals, one goal, 10 clearances) and Ollie Wines (26 disposals) had promising patches.

But the Power were collectively overwhelmed by Carlton's brilliant last term, which followed a tight initial three quarters.

Scores were locked at 3.2 apiece at quarter-time and the second period 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 50 metre 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 term to trail by three points at halftime.

Both sides logged three goals in the third quarter with Carlton up by seven points at three-quarter-time, 8.10 to 7.9.

Cripps then took centre stage: 20 seconds into the last stanza, he snapped a goal. Two minutes later, he added another and the Blues were on their way to victory.

Australian Associated Press