Carlton coach Mick Malthouse admits the Blues remain very much a work in progress after they ground their way to an 18-point win over a disappointing Port Adelaide at Etihad Stadium on Sunday.

Carlton won a scrappy game 16.13 (109) to 14.7 (91), with captain Marc Murphy kicking three goals playing mostly as a forward in his 150th match, Jeff Garlett snaring four and Heath Scotland slotting two majors in his 250th game.

Carlton climbed to a 4-4 record while Port have lost three straight after starting the season with five wins.

The Blues had the Power at arm’s length all day after scoring the game’s first three goals but, despite being frequently gifted goals by terrible Port kicking, couldn’t land a killer blow themselves.

Carlton again lacked a big man who looked threatening in attack, with Jarrad Waite kicking one goal before being subbed off at the last change, while Matthew Kreuzer, who spent most of the day up forward, missed all three of his set shots – that inaccuracy keeping Port in the hunt.

Malthouse said Carlton should have won by more.

“We took a lot of marks in our forward 50 we didn’t capitalise on and we missed some very easy shots,” he said.

He said Waite took a lot of his marks too far out to score.

And he said the question remained of whether Kreuzer and fellow ruckman Robert Warnock could continue in the same side.

Warnock performed well in the hit-outs but contributed little else.

Malthouse also said Carlton wanted to be a side that made their opposition earn every goal, but allowed Port too many soft majors.

“So there’s a lot of work to be done but we’re enjoying it and I think we’re going in the right direction,” he said.

He said Waite was not injured.

Port Adelaide lost former skipper Domenic Cassisi to a hamstring injury.

And talented midfielder Hamish Hartlett is likely to face match review panel trouble over a third-term meltdown.

After having a kick smothered, an angry Hartlett remonstrated with teammates before he delivered a right arm jab to Murphy’s stomach, then followed up with a left arm to the head as the Carlton skipper crouched over in pain.

Power coach Ken Hinkley said his side’s concession of easy goals with some horror turnovers demonstrated a lack of poise in the face of Carlton pressure.

“Our composure showed up a bit, our ability to handle pressure from a mature side,” he said.

“We certainly didn’t handle that the way we need to but that’s a learning curve.”