WESTERN Bulldogs caretaker Paul Williams has strengthened his claim to be appointed as senior coach in 2012 by steering the Dogs to a crushing 60-point victory over Port Adelaide at AAMI Stadium.
The result snapped a four-game losing streak for the Bulldogs and extended Port's nightmare run to a club-record 10 consecutive defeats.
The game was played in front of the second-smallest AFL crowd recorded at the venue.
The Dogs ran circles around Port Adelaide from the outset, setting up the win with a blistering opening quarter. The visitors kicked 10 unanswered goals in their best first-quarter performance for the season to put the result beyond doubt by quarter-time.
Bulldog debutant Jason Tutt provided the early spark with three goals from his first three kicks in AFL footy, while livewire Nathan Djerrkura, tough-nut Callan Ward and skipper Matthew Boyd also bobbed up with two goals apiece during the first-quarter blitzkrieg.
Port could only muster one goal for the term, with a Daniel Stewart set shot after the siren giving the Power their only goal from their past three first quarters.
Impressive youngster John Butcher was one of only a few positives for Port Adelaide, booting six goals and providing a strong focal point up forward in just his second AFL game, despite being carried from the ground after a heavy knock in the third term.
Port's 21-year-old goalsneak Mitch Banner also equalled his career-best effort with three goals.
But it was to no avail, as the Bulldogs cruised to an 87-point advantage by three-quarter time to seal their eighth win of the season.
Barry Hall continued his rich vein of form on the eve of retirement, bagging another six goals to take his tally to 22 from his past four matches, while skipper Matthew Boyd also continued his stellar season for the Bulldogs with a game-high 39 possessions and a career-best three goals.
The next two
Port Adelaide: The Power travel to Etihad Stadium in round 23 to clash with a finals-bound Essendon before hosting Melbourne in the first-ever AFL game at Adelaide Oval to finish their 2011 campaign.
Western Bulldogs: Paul Williams' coaching credentials will be tested in the final two rounds of the season, starting with a tough assignment next week against Hawthorn at the MCG. The Bulldogs then clash with Fremantle at Etihad Stadium in round 24.
QUARTER BY QUARTER
FIRST QUARTER
Debutant Jason Tutt got the Western Bulldogs and his career off to a dream start, becoming only the seventh player in history to kick three goals with his first three kicks. Skipper Matthew Boyd and ex-Geelong forward Nathan Djerrkura joined the party, slotting two goals each and by the 10-minute mark of the quarter the match had a familiar feel about it for Port Adelaide. The Dogs piled on 10 unanswered goals before tall forward Daniel Stewart drew a Bronx cheer from the crowd and helped the battling Power avoid a goalless first quarter for a third straight week, slotting a goal from a mark on the siren.
Western Bulldogs by 57 points
SECOND QUARTER
Second gamer John Butcher breathed life into Port Adelaide and dismissed concerns over his goalkicking, slotting the opening two goals of the term. However, the comeback was short-lived. Barry Hall joined the list of multiple Dog goalkickers with two majors to take his tally for the day to three, while Boyd added another to secure a career-best return of three goals. The Power kicked 3.1 to record their best score in a quarter since the third term of the Showdown loss to Adelaide in round 19, but still lost the term.
Western Bulldogs by 74 points
THIRD QUARTER
With the intensity out of the game, Port Adelaide at least managed to limit the damage in the third term. Tutt continued his remarkable run on debut, slotting his fourth goal but Butcher was up to the challenge at the other end. The promising forward was collected heavily early in the quarter but recovered to kick two goals, including a floating shot from the impossible pocket at the Southern end to improve his total to four goals from four kicks.
Western Bulldogs by 87 points
FOURTH QUARTER
The Power didn't roll over in the final quarter. Butcher continued to inspire, kicking two goals to register six goals at a remarkable 100 per cent kicking efficiency, while Banner slotted his third. Hall matched Butcher's effort at the other end, kicking another two goals but goals to Banner, Dom Cassisi, Justin Westhoff and substitute David Rodan saw Port Adelaide win its first quarter of football in a month.
Western Bulldogs by 60 points
Port Adelaide 1.0 4.1 9.3 15.7 (97)
Western Bulldogs 10.3 15.9 22.12 24.13 (157)
GOALS
Port Adelaide: Butcher 6, Banner 3, Stewart, Motlop, Gray, Rodan, Westhoff, Cassisi
Western Bulldogs: Hall 6, Tutt 4, Boyd 3, Djerrkura, Grant, Giansiracusa, Ward 2, Griffen, Jones, Veszpremi
BEST
Port Adelaide: Butcher, Trengove, Banner, Lobbe
Western Bulldogs: Boyd, Tutt, Cross, Liberatore, Hall, Higgins, Djerrkura
INJURIES
Port Adelaide: Logan (cut eye)
Western Bulldogs: Luke Dalhaus (soreness) replaced in selected team by Jarrad Grant
SUBSTITUTES
Port Adelaide: Jay Schulz replaced by David Rodan in third quarter
Western Bulldogs: Christian Howard replaced by Patrick Veszpremi
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Matthew Leppard, Stefan Grun, Chris Kamolins
Official crowd: 14,169 at AAMI Stadium
