PORT Adelaide continues to knock on the door of the top eight after toughing out an important win over the Western Bulldogs at home on Saturday night.
The Power had 12 individual goal kickers and stormed the gates of the Bulldogs defence in the final term with a dominant stoppage effort to run out a game-high lead of 40 points into time-on.
Banging home six goals in quick succession after three-quarter time, the Power’s goalfest resulted from an intense run from the centre bounce and confident play inside attacking 50.
But Port’s big finish - eventually a 38-point victory - was set up thanks to its gutsy effort in the opening three quarters, where its players overcame a premium space and slippery conditions to lead at every break.
There was a premium on real estate at the narrow Adelaide Oval, as both sides chased the ball in packs and numbers in a scrappy battle for most of the night.
Such was the congestion around the ball that neither side could find space to consistently run forward and score too often in the first half, instead the Power and Bulldogs volleyed against each other in small goal surges.
Port was particularly able to get important score chains going in the first two quarters - none more so than its run of three goals through Sam Gray, Wines and Stewart to manufacture a small, yet sizeable 16-point lead at half time.
The free-flowing shootout of the first half quickly descended into a dire battle in the third, with just three goals kicked for the quarter, and Port’s only coming from an unselfish squaring kick from Paul Stewart to set up Angus Monfries.
In response the Bulldogs kicked goals through Stringer and Dickson to shave the margin to 10 points at the final change.
But five consecutive goals in the meat of the final term delivered Port the win with ease, despite the final 38-point margin masking what had been an evenly-matched contest for much of the evening.
Port’s victory leaves it knocking on the door of the top eight in ninth place on the ladder, and set for a tantalising encounter with Geelong next Friday night under lights at the Oval.
SCOREBOARD
PORT ADELAIDE 5.1 9.3 10.4 16.4 (100)
WESTERN BULLDOGS 4.5 6.5 8.6 9.8 (62)
PORTADELAIDEFC.COM.AU’S BEST
Wingard, Wines, Westhoff, R. Gray, White, Impey, Lobbe
GOALS
Wingard 3, White, Schulz 2, Hartlett, Westhoff, S. Gray, Wines, Stewart, Monfries, Ebert, R. Gray, Boak
INJURIES
Aaron Young (cut above eye)
SUBSTITUTION
Aaron Young replaced Karl Amon at three-quarter time
CROWD
41,813 at the Adelaide Oval
