PORT ADELAIDE has suffered its first home defeat of the season, going down by 19 points to the Western Bulldogs.

In a game billed as Port’s biggest test of the season against an in-form Bulldogs outfit, the Dogs proved too strong, 16.6 (96) to 12.5 (77).

Port started promisingly with Orazio Fantasia goaling within 90 seconds after marking on the lead inside 50. It was a strong build-up play involving direct play through the centre of the ground that would have pleased coach Ken Hinkley.

But Hinkley would have been left squirming in his seat at what came next in the first term with the Dogs piling on the pressure and the next five goals.

Mitch Georgiades’ goal line mark and goal stopped the rot but a late snapped major to Marcus Bontempelli had the visitors in front by 25 points at the first change.

The Dogs were dominating at the clearances leading 16-5 at quarter time and had 21-8 inside 50s. The margin could have been far greater but they hit the post twice and had one out on the full.

Hinkley might have been a bit more comfortable with what he saw in the second term as Port’s midfield went to work to close the gap in some of those key statistics.

In the opening 12 minutes, the home side piled on five unanswered goals to take the lead, starting with a 60-metre bomb by Hamish Hartlett which got the crowd involved.

The crowd was again on its feet when the umpires awarded Bomtempelli a controversial free kick inside 50 for what appeared a generous push in the back.

The Bulldogs’ skipper duly converted the goal to put his side back in front before Power midfielder Sam Powell-Pepper booted a goal to steal it back.

A late goal to Jason Johannisen made it five lead changes for the quarter and Georgiades’ shot after the siren fell short to leave Port trailing by a point at the main break.

Port activated medical substitute Martin Frederick at half time with Tom Clurey substituted out with a jaw injury suffered in a clash of heads.

As it was in the first two terms, the scoring was all at the northern end of Adelaide Oval in the third term with the Bulldogs booting four goals to one in a dominant quarter.

Aaron Naughton and Josh Bruce were in the thick of it for the visitors with Naughton grabing a mark of the year contender and booting his third major as the Dogs stretched their advantage to 26 points.

Georgiades’ second after a pinpoint pass onto his chest by Travis Boak brought the deficit back to 19 points at the final change and Port had the opening two goals of the last term to bring it back to just eight points.

Charlie Dixon started to impose himself with two strong marks and goals but two late majors to the visitors put the result beyond doubt.

SCOREBOARD

PORT ADELAIDE            2.1     8.1        9.4     12.5   (77)             

WESTERN BULLDOGS  6.2      8.2         12.5   15.6  (96)              

Goals

Fantasia, Georgiades, Dixon 2, Hartlett, Amon, Drew, Wines, Powell-Pepper, Gray

Best

Aliir, Wines, Ladhams, Boak, Jonas, Byrne-Jones