Saturday’s only AFL Round 23 match is between Port Adelaide Power and Carlton Blues. The opening bounce is set to commence at 4:40pm local time with the game to be played at AAMI STADIUM. The home team Port Adelaide Power are the favourites for the match. View our preview and teams for the game between Port Adelaide Power and Carlton Blues.

Round: Round 23 4:10 PM August 31, 2013
Stadium: AAMI Stadium
Weather: 22° Mostly sunny.

Featured Bookmakers:

Port Adelaide Power $1.70 vs Carlton Blues $2.14 at Sportsbet Australia get a $250 FREE BET on this match

Port Adelaide Power $1.72 vs Carlton Blues $2.12 at Luxbet Australia get a $500 FREE BET on this match

Odds Comparison by AFL Odds:

Port Adelaide Power	1.70	1.72	1.72	1.72	1.70	1.75
Carlton Blues	2.14	2.12	2.12	2.12	2.14	2.03

Preview:

Seventh placed Port are two wins in advance of their opponents, who have not been elevated to inside the top eight with punishment handed down to Essendon during the week.

Ironically, Essendon defeated Carlton last week 82 – 76 in a game that was there for the taking for the Blues but poor kicking (9.21) meant they were always within Essendon’s reach throughout the match.

Had their conversion rate been better, the market for this game would be a lot different however it was Carlton’s third loss in the past month and in each of those games they’ve had their opportunity to secure a win.

In short, Carlton has been disappointing of late.

Port felt the full force of an in-form Fremantle when travelling to Perth last week and were dealt a 134 – 60 hiding.

Prior to last week, Port had registered three narrow wins from four games with each victory coming over teams outside of the eight. Port need to find better form then they are currently displaying if the wish to survive past the first week of the finals.

Carton won when the two sides last met back in round 8 this year, 109 – 91. It was their sixth win over Port in the past seven matches between the two sides and whilst it is hard to tip either side with confidence at the moment, as the market would suggest, Carlton’s should be able to create more opportunities – if they can capitalise on them!

Teams:

Port Adelaide Power:
Backs: O’Shea Hombsch Logan
Half-backs: Broadbent Trengove Jonas
Centres: Brad Ebert Boak Cornes
Half-forwards: Gray Westhoff Cassisi
Forwards: Wingard Schulz Monfries
Followers: Lobbe Moore Wines
Interchange: Stevenson Pittard Colquhoun Young
Emergencies: Neade Renouf Heath
In: Tom Logan, Lewis Stevenson, Jack Hombsch, Domenic Cassisi
Out: Alipate Carlile (back), Jake Neade (omitted), Campbell Heath (omitted), Kane Mitchell (back)

Carlton Blues:
Backs: Scotland Jamison Henderson
Half-backs: Tuohy McInnes Gibbs
Centres: Yarran Robinson Simpson
Half-forwards: Curnow Walker Bell
Forwards: Garlett Casboult Kreuzer
Followers: Warnock Betts Murphy
Interchange: Armfield Ellard Menzel Waite
Emergencies: Duigan Joseph Lucas
In: David Ellard, Andrew Walker, Matthew Kreuzer, Jeff Garlett
Out: Nick Duigan (omitted), Nick Graham (omitted), Brock McLean (quad), Aaron Joseph (omitted)

Port’s Stewart pressing for AFL recall

Port Adelaide utility Paul Stewart is pressing for a shock AFL recall, just a month after breaking an arm.

The Power initially believed Stewart’s season was over when he broke two bones in his left forearm in round 19.

But after missing just three games, Stewart is bidding to play against Carlton on Saturday – Port’s last minor-round game before the club’s first finals campaign since 2007.

Ex-captain Dom Cassisi also wants to return from a hamstring ailment while young defender Jack Hombsch is rated an outside chance to come back from a fractured cheekbone.

“To have those guys challenging for spots is great and it’s going to make training a whole lot more competitive,” Port captain Travis Boak told reporters on Wednesday.

“It’s a great thing to have leading into finals.

“Obviously Stewy has done great, hopefully only missing a couple of games, and Hombschy as well.

“Those guys are quality players and we need them in our side. Hopefully they can get back in and play some good footy.”

Port are guaranteed to finish no lower than seventh and an away elimination final looms. But first, they meet a Carlton side playing for their season on Saturday.

If the Blues win, they will make the finals. But if they lose, their fate rests with other results.

Boak said the high stakes for Carlton ensured a desperate match on Saturday, with Port wanting a win to take momentum into the finals.

“This week is very important for us. We are going to treat it as a big game … we know we have got to go in with good form and momentum,” he said.

“And obviously it’s the last game at AAMI (Stadium) as well so there is a lot to play for.”

AFL games will move to a redeveloped Adelaide Oval next season.