PORT ADELAIDE’s 2021 season has ended with a disappointing 71 point loss to the Western Bulldogs.
For the second year in a row, Port has fallen short of making a grand final at the final hurdle, as a dominant Bulldogs outfit won 17.14 (116) to 6.9 (45)
The Dogs started on fire with the first four goals of the match, matching the narrative of the Round 23 game between the sides.
But the tale was very different to that game at Marvel Stadium from there with Port Adelaide unable to mount any meaningful comeback and the visiting side continuing on its merry way.
Skipper Marcus Bontempelli booted a fifth for his side inside 15 minutes to leave the Adelaide Oval crowd shellshocked.
Vice-captain Ollie Wines broke the deadlock with a snapped goal after finding space around a forward stoppage and Scott Lycett tried to lift his side with a massive tackle inside defensive 50.
Port finally had the ball in its possession for a period but didn’t make the most of it with Charlie Dixon and Robbie Gray each missing opportunities on goal as Bailey Smith made them pay at the other end with his second goal of the evening.
The Dogs’ 7.2 (44) was the best first quarter by any visiting team at the Adelaide Oval and that club’s second best first quarter score in a final.
A 37-point quarter time margin was stretched out to 58 at the main break as the Dogs’ dominance of the clearance and contested possession count mounted.
The home side showed some improvement in the second term, enjoying some territory dominance for large periods.
Dixon missed a difficult long shot in the first minute but Dan Houston – in his 100th AFL game – goaled to spare his blushes after a 50-metre penalty.
But it was again all the Dogs from there with five of the next six goals. Riley Bonner’s long effort after marking and playing on just outside 50 the only highlight as Port narrowly avoided its worst half-time score in a final.
Dixon got Port going early in the second half with a mark and goal from a tight angle.
Port would have nine of the first eleven inside 50s of the third quarter and when Todd Marshall booted consecutive goals, it appeared the margin was back to 40 points and momentum had swung.
Except Marshall’s second goal was overturned with replays showing the faintest of fingertips by the man on the mark.
That call appeared to take the wind out of Port’s sail and the Bulldogs slowly ground away, limiting the scoreboard damage and booting two late goals of their own to keep the difference at 58 points as the sides changed ends for the last time.
Riley Bonner was a shining light on an otherwise dark night for Port, providing much needed run and gaining valuable territory plus looking assured in the high-pressure environment.
Port’s medical sub Sam Powell-Pepper was called into play at three quarter time as Marshall went off with a hamstring injury and it was his opposite sub Anthony Scott who got the first goal of the last quarter with a grubby kick as some showers spread across Adelaide Oval.
Connor Rozee provided a highlight with a towering mark before Dixon added a late goal to add some respectability to the score line but two at the other end for Bailey Smith to make it four for him for the night put the exclamation mark on the result.
Just as it was last season in the six-point loss to Richmond at the same stage, the result was heartbreaking and will make for a long summer for Ken Hinkley and his men.
SCOREBOARD
PORT ADELAIDE 1.1 3.4 5.8 6.9 (45)
WESTERN BULLDOGS 7.2 12.8 14.12 17.14 (116)
Goals
Dixon 2, Bonner, Houston, Marshall, Wines
Best
Wines, Bonner, Boak, Houston, Rozee
