Carlton has snapped their three-game losing streak with a thumping nine-goal win over a hapless Port Adelaide outfit on Saturday afternoon.

The Blues were red-hot from the get-go at Marvel Stadium, kicking their highest first half score in over two years to finish with 18.10 (118) over the Power’s 9.10 (64).

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MATCH CENTRE: Carlton v Port Adelaide live scores, stats and updates

The final margin wasn’t entirely indicative of how dominant the Blues were either, given Port kicked the final three goals of the game in late succession.

Leading the charge up forward for Michael Voss’ side was star Harry McKay, who kicked an equal career-high seven goals — four of which came before half time.

In his first game back since Round 13, former No.1 draft pick Sam Walsh wasted no time in picking up where he left off to accumulated 28 disposals, nine score involvements and two goal assists from just 66% game time.

“How good is it to have Sam Walsh back playing football?” three-time premiership player Cameron Mooney told Fox Footy’s coverage at three-quarter time.

“He’s just walked straight back in … he’s been absolutely incredible. This is clearly one of the pillars that they’ve missed this year — his ability to win the ball, his ability to gut-run from (the) defence to forward line is as good as anyone in the competition.

“With him not in the side, it just put so much more pressure of Patrick Cripps.”

Port’s loss is more than just a sour blow for outgoing coach Ken Hinkley, who now looks all but certain to finish in the lowest ladder position ever in his 13-year tenure at Alberton.

And just to add that extra bit of salt into the Power wound, rebounding defender Josh Sin was subbed out in the second term with a corked calf.

Carlton goalkickers: McKay 7, Cripps, Williams, Evans, F.Young 2, O’Keeffe, Moir, De Koning

Port Adelaide goalkickers: Whitlock 3, Boak, Georgiades, Lord, Richards, Moraes, Byrne-Jones

THE 3-2-1…

3. BLUES BAND BACK TOGETHER TO INFLICT MIDFIELD MAULING

It’s been 10 rounds since Patrick Cripps, Sam Walsh and George Hewett last lined up alongside each other in the middle of the ground, and on Saturday afternoon, it was clear as to how good the trio can be together when fully fit.

Combining for 90 disposals and 21 clearances, Walsh’s return from injury left the Power midfield for dead — who despite missing Jason Horne-Francis, simply had no excuse for their poor showing.

So great was the hosts’ dominance at one stage, that Hewett amassed seven of his 11 clearances in the second stanza to help the Blues to their highest first-half score in over two years.

“You look at the clearance numbers, and it’s been an absolute belting — and as we know, this is where the game is won and lost,” Cameron Mooney said at half time.

“This is where you start your attack from. 16 to 3 centre bounce clearances, I mean the game’s already lost then and there.

“It’s just an absolute smashing … this is where it starts. Seven goals to one from clearances (at half time).”

Brad Johnson added: “They have absolutely dominated Port Adelaide, especially around clearance.”

Usual Port Adelaide suspects Connor Rozee and Zak Butters were notable, without being exceptional as their side lost the eventual clearance count 31-41 — significantly better than what it once was.

In the first quarter alone, Michael Voss’ side were +30 for points from clearance, +22 for contested possession, +12 at clearance and registered eight inside 50s more than the Power.

2. ‘MIGHT BE MY DAY!’ MCKAY BAGS 406-DAY BEST AMID RIOT

In the absence of partner-in-crime Charlie Curnow, Harry McKay took the reins up forward with full force on Saturday afternoon to bag his equal-best haul across his 139-game AFL career.

Not since Round 17 last year against GWS has McKay kicked more than four majors in a match, but the 27-year-old did more than just surpass that with a monstrous seven goals to tower over Port Adelaide’s depleted defence.

Missing the in-form Esava Ratugolea, Miles Bergman and Ryan Burton in defence, all responsibility for the star Blue rest on the shoulders of Aliir Aliir, who was his direct opponent for the clash.

But when the Power veteran rolled his ankle in the opening stanza, McKay made the most of the Blues’ midfield blitz.

“When Aliir went off with an ankle injury, he thought: ‘This might be my day!’” Cameron Mooney told Fox Footy.

“He’s having a bit of a day out.”

Western Bulldogs great Brad Johnson added: “His eyes are lighting up this afternoon because of the amount of ball and flow coming his way.”

McKay finished with 21 disposals, six marks and a goal assist to go with his massive haul.

1. ‘HORRIBLE’ POWER LEAVE THEMSELVES WITH ONE MORE SHOT FOR KEN

The noise around Port Adelaide’s coaching handover between Ken Hinkley and Josh Carr is oh so close to coming to a close.

The much-loved Hinkley now has one last game left at the helm for his club of 13 years, as they host Gold Coast at Adelaide Oval next Friday night.

Unfortunately this season, the Power’s enormous injury list has prevented them from getting the absolute best out of themselves, but some areas of their game on Saturday afternoon extended beyond just the medical room.

“(They just need to) start winning some clearances, start winning the contested ball around the stoppages and get the ball going your way,” Cameron Mooney said of Port at half time.

“Their forward line has worked okay when the ball’s come in nicely — it just hasn’t been in there at all.

“You don’t want to end the season on a horrible note … this is a horrible way to finish a year that hasn’t been a good year to begin with.”

In a rare shining light from the match, three-gamer Jack Whitlock kicked three goals, while Mitch Georgiades became the first Power player in a decade to kick more than 53 goals in a home-and-away season.

Georgiades joins the likes of Warren Tredrea, Jay Schulz, Daniel Motlop and Scott Cummings to kick just a number in one year for the club.

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