The Western Bulldogs have set up a mouth-watering Grand Final with Melbourne in a fortnight’s time after they too proved a class above, smashing Port Adelaide by 71 points on Saturday night.
Port Adelaide were never in the contest as Luke Beveridge proved his team is never without a chance, despite being written off multiple times in 2021.
They say preliminary final week is the greatest weekend of football.
While that may not be true this year, Saturday night gave us another incredible preliminary final performance, the second night in a row the contest has been too hot to handle.
Beveridge’s men followed the lead set by Melbourne on Friday night as they thumped their opposition, running all over Port Adelaide from the opening siren.
When the Dogs kicked the first five goals, Ken Hinkley’s men only needed to replicate a Round 23 style comeback.
Down by 36-points at quarter time, something special was needed.
But come half time, Port players were shell shocked heading into the rooms, their 58-point deficit bigger than any four-quarter loss they’ve faced this season.
After working so hard to confirm themselves as Premiership material, the Power threw it all away in 60 minutes of football.
There’s no doubt the Dogs were fantastic throughout the first half, but to lose the contested possession count by 23 in a quarter takes more than one team’s brilliance.
Port Adelaide great Kane Cornes said he was “blown away” by what he’d seen.
"I'm just blown away. What Melbourne did last night was unbelievable, I didn't think I'd see it again tonight,” he told AFL Nation.
The Ken Hinkley rev-up at half time clearly had some effect, Port winning all major stats for the first 10 minutes of the third quarter.
However, it was to no avail.
The Dogs broke even in the third quarter before kicking on in the fourth to record the huge win, all the damage done in the first half.
Beveridge’s big forward flew at everything and his team proved they can cover any players who may or may not be injured.
Here’s everything you need to know!
An AstroNaught back in full flight:
Aaron Naughton was the best player on the ground in the first quarter, his attack on the football second to none. It’s long been thought that if given a run and jump at the footy he’s among the most dangerous in the competition, the 21-year old proving that and more by monstering Trent McKenzine on numerous occasions.
He finished with 2.2, but it was his aerial influence that was most impressive. Naughton had six contested marks, four more than any other player on the ground to own the skies above Adelaide Oval.
What injured Dogs?:
Plenty of attention was on the Bulldogs and their injuries heading into the clash, captain Marcus Bontempelli particularly under the microscope. Alex Keath was out with hamstring tightness and with Cody Weightman already lost due to concussion from last week the Dogs were meant to be the wounded walking on Saturday night.
However, that never came close to eventuating. They were slick and fast early on, Bontempelli a key part of it as he glided through traffic as well as ever. He finished with 20 disposals and two goals, and Keath’s influence was well covered by Zaine Cordy, who held Charlie Dixon to two goals and minimal influence around the ground.
Mitch Hannan also picked up the slack left by Weightman’s absence, working hard all night to be among the Dogs’ best with 3.2 and five marks.
What’s next?
Despite improving off last year’s semi final exit at the hands of Richmond, Port Adelaide have unfortunately been unable to shed the ‘pretenders’ tag that’s haunted them for the past few years.
It wasn’t just the loss, but the way they lost that will reinforce the idea the belief in many that the Power aren’t premiership material.
The Dogs haven’t been to the last week in September since 2016, the 25th of September marking the biggest game of this year. Melbourne beat Geelong a similar way to how the Dogs beat Port Adelaide, and it will be intriguing to see who takes the first backward step in the big dance.
FULL SCORE
Port Adelaide: 1.1, 3.4, 5.8, 6.9 (45)
Western Bulldogs: 7.2, 12.8, 14.12, 17.14. (116)
GOALS
Port Adelaide: Dixon 2, Bonner, Wines, Houston, Marshall
Western Bulldogs: B. Smith 4, Hannan 3, Naughton 2, Bontempelli 2, Schache, Johannisen, R. Smith, Vandermeer, Treloar, Scott
BEST
Port Adelaide: Bonner, Wines, Lycett, Houston, Boak
Western Bulldogs: Macrae, Hannan, Smith, Naughton, Bontempelli
INJURIES
Port Adelaide: Nil
Western Bulldogs: Vandermeer (hamstring tightness)
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