Port Adelaide star Robbie Gray’s kick after the siren secured a stunning three-point win for the AFL ladder leaders over Carlton on Sunday.
Gray marked 40m from goal near the Gabba boundary line in the dying seconds and calmly slotted his set shot to secure the 9.10 (64) to 9.7 (61) victory.
His intervention got the Power out of jail after a series of late misses looked like they would prove costly in an entertaining contest.
Charlie Dixon, Todd Marshall and Gray all sprayed shots at goal until the latter stepped up to produce the goods.
The result came at a cost as Ryan Burton (quadriceps) and Daniel Motlop (ankle) failed to see out the match because of injuries suffered early in the last quarter.
Forward Dixon gave Carlton defender Liam Jones trouble all day as Port’s main target in attack but was wasteful in kicking 3.4 for the match.
Travis Boak and Darcy Byrne-Jones starred through the middle and ruckman Peter Ladhams was busy around the ground in a competitive battle with Marc Pittonet.
Carlton veteran Eddie Betts became the third player in AFL/VFL history to kick 300 goals at two separate clubs, joining Tony Lockett and Lance Franklin in achieving the feat.
But his only goal of the match during the second quarter was not enough to inspire the Blues to a win that would have lifted them back into the top eight.
Harry McKay kicked three goals for the second straight week in another strong showing for Carlton, and Jacob Weitering was a rock in defence.
Young gun Sam Walsh also impressed with 16 disposals and two goals, as well as taking a courageous mark going back with the flight in defence.
Port kicked three goals from four forward entries in a scintillating early burst before Betts’ big pack mark helped ignite the Blues, who kicked the next four majors from four entries to hit the front.
Carlton were at their most dangerous on the rebound when they were able to move the ball at speed.
It was a close battle from then on and both sides had chances to win until Gray’s moment of magic settled the contest.
