The Blues were never challenged, but will regret their inaccurate kicking for goal in a season in which percentage may be critical in determining who makes the top eight.
Carlton doubled the Power's score, winning 18.24 (132) to 9.12 (66), in front of 29,696 fans. The Blues thrashed the visitors in contested ball, clearances and inside-50 entries, and should have won by more.
Their percentage is now just 1.35 behind that of the Brisbane Lions, who lost to Hawthorn in Launceston and have an increasingly tenuous grip on eighth place.
The Blues now face a season-defining clash with North Melbourne next week, while the season can't come too quickly for Port Adelaide.
The match was done and dusted by the last change when Carlton led by 56, but the Power needed to win back some respectability in the final quarter. And they came out of the blocks well, with goals to Damon White and Dean Brogan cutting the margin to 44 points.
Brad Fisher responded for the Blues, finally nailing a set shot after spraying them all day, before Brett Ebert goaled for the visitors. But then Carlton reasserted their dominance through Brendan Fevola, twice, Kade Simpson and Heath Scotland.
Fevola at times seemed disinterested, yet he finished with four goals, the last of which from a strong mark after typically tireless lead-up work from Chris Judd. Judd then popped some icing on the cake with a fine running goal, capping off an outstanding final term from the skipper.
Bryce Gibbs was outstanding for the Blues, winning a host of clearances and generally using the ball well, while Marc Murphy was equally prolific around the ground, with almost 30 disposals. Jarrad Waite dominated at centre half-back, while Andrew Walker proved damaging up forward with three goals.
For the Power, Kane Cornes did a reasonable job of curtailing Judd until the last term, David Rodan was always busy, Brogan controlled the hit-outs, and burly White contributed three goals.
Port Adelaide was more competitive on the scoreboard in the third term after trailing by 47 points at the main break, but Carlton was still in control all over the ground, almost doubling the Power's number of disposals for the quarter.
The Blues kicked four goals to three, to stretch their lead to 56 points at the last change, but it was a lacklustre affair highlighted by dreadful kicking for goal by both teams. Carlton had 12.22 at three-quarter time, with Fevola and Fisher the main offenders.
Simon Wiggins offered a couple of rare highlights during the third quarter with a fine mark in the centre followed by a courageous grab running with the flight of the ball, while for the Power, White managed two goals for the term and provided a decent marking option up forward.
Carlton let by 21 points at quarter time, and quickly stretched their lead to beyond six goals in the second quarter. First Gibbs goaled, then Fisher, who had missed two simple set shots earlier, snapped truly after some outstanding work from Judd, who ran down Rodan and won a free kick.
The margin had reached 37 points, but the Power got one back through Cornes after a good run from Daniel Motlop, who was otherwise having a very dirty day.
Fevola was looking a little out of sorts, but he kicked his first after accepting a handball from Murphy just outside 50.
A string of behinds to Carlton followed and highlighted how much the Blues were in control, but a potential percentage-booster was being kicked away. Nick Stevens goaled at the 23-minute mark, but the Blues went to the main break with a wasteful 24 shots on goal to seven and a 47-point lead.
The Blues were totally dominant in the first term against a sluggish, indecisive Power outfit. Eleven scoring shots to five was a fair reflection of Carlton's ascendancy, but both sides were inaccurate, with the Blues managing 4.7 to Port Adelaide's 1.4.
Both teams lost key players before the match. The Blues were without goalsneak Eddie Betts, who was replaced with ruckman Shaun Hampson. The Power brought in first-gamer Ryan Williams, a 19-year-old midfielder/defender from Geelong Falcons, after losing Travis Boak.
CARLTON 4.7 8.16 12.22 18.24 (132)
PORT ADELAIDE 1.4 2.5 5.8 9.12 (66)
GOALS
Carlton: Fevola 4, Walker 3, Fisher 2, Kreuzer 2, Cloke, Gibbs, Grigg, Judd, Simpson, Stevens . Port Adelaide: White 3, Motlop 2, Brogan, K.Cornes, Salter, J.Westhoff
BEST
Carlton: Waite, Judd, Gibbs, Grigg, Murphy, Carrazzo, Walker. Port Adelaide: Brogan, K.Cornes, White, P.Burgoyne
INJURIES
Carlton: Betts (hamstring tightness) replaced in selected side by Hampson. Port Adelaide: Boak replaced in selected side by Williams
REPORTS
Nil.
Umpires: K.Nicholls, McInerney, Mollison
Official crowd: 29,696 at Telstra Dome
The views in this story are those of the author and not necessarily those of the clubs or the AFL.
