Carlton struggled to get going at Adelaide Oval on Thursday night, with the Blues thrashed by 50 points by Port Adelaide.
It was a tough night for the visitors who only managed to score one goal before half-time, eventually going down 16.14 (110) to 8.12 (60) in front of a crowd of 30,381.
In contrast, Port Adelaide had no difficulty scoring, with star forward Mitch Georgiades having a night to remember with five goals, placing him third in the race for the Coleman Medal behind Geelong's Jeremy Cameron and Greater Western Sydney's Jesse Hogan.
Port Adelaide's forwards were given plenty of supply from their dominant midfield, in particular Zak Butters (30 disposals and nine inside 50s) and Miles Bergman (25 disposals, two goals).
The defeat makes it two disappointing losses in a row for the Blues, who fell to North Melbourne five days ago. The loss won't quell the scrutiny on Blues coach Michael Voss, with Carlton now almost certain to miss finals in 2025.
In further bad news for the Blues, influential defender Adam Saad was subbed out of the match with concussion following a collision with Port ruck Dante Visentini in the second quarter.
What started as a high-pressure game quickly unravelled when Port began to pile on goals, the first coming through Darcy Byrne-Jones followed moments later by Kane Farrell, who blasted one from long range outside 50.
Georgiades caused headaches for the Blues defenders, kicking two goals in the first term on Jacob Weitering, while at the other end, Carlton's main avenue to goal, Charlie Curnow, kicked two behinds.
As the Power continued to extend their lead and without a goal on the board, a frustrated Voss left the coaches box and headed down to the bench in an attempt to get a response from his team.
There was finally relief for Carlton fans when Lewis Young broke the run of eight Port Adelaide goals with his side's first with less than two minutes remaining in the half.
Port came out after the break with the same intensity and desperation ithad in the first half kicking the first three goals, one through Power games record holder Travis Boak, much to the delight of the home fans.
Goalsneak Willie Rioli, who hadn't touched the ball in the first half, started to have influence on the game with two goals with his first three disposals as Port Adelaide's lead extended to a game-high 68 points.
Frustrations started to boil over for Carlton players as scuffles broke out across the ground.
Carlton saved some face with three of the last four goals of the game, with Orazio Fantasia and Sam Docherty hitting the scoreboard after battling hard all night.
PORT ADELAIDE 5.4 8.10 13.11 16.14 (110)
CARLTON 0.3 1.6 4.9 8.12 (60)
GOALS
Port Adelaide: Georgiades 5, Rioli 3, Byrne-Jones 2, Bergman 2, Farrell, Jones, Boak, Visentini
Carlton: Fantasia 2, L.Young, Motlop, Williams, Hollands, Docherty, Cripps
BEST
Port Adelaide: Georgiades, Rozee, Butters, Bergman, Ratugolea
Carlton: Hewett, De Koning, Docherty, Haynes, Fantasia, Motlop
INJURIES
Port Adelaide: Nil
Carlton: Adam Saad (concussion)
SUBSTITUTES
Port Adelaide: Logan Evans (replaced Jason Horne-Francis in the fourth quarter)
Carlton: Flynn Young (replaced Adam Saad in the third quarter)
Crowd: 30,381 at Adelaide Oval
