The Western Bulldogs have made three changes to their side for Saturday night’s preliminary final against Port Adelaide at Adelaide Oval. 

Experienced ruck Stefan Martin will return, having last featured at AFL level in round 12.

Defender Zaine Cordy has been recalled, while last week’s activated medical sub, Jason Johannisen, has retained his spot in the side. 

Star midfielder Marcus Bontempelli has also proved his fitness, after twisting his knee in the dying minutes of the Bulldogs’ one-point win over Brisbane.

Making way from the semi-final team is Cody Weightman (concussion), Alex Keath (hamstring tightness) and Lewis Young.

Young has been named as an emergency, alongside Anthony Scott, Mitch Wallis and Ed Richards.

One of the four will be confirmed as the medical sub one hour before the bounce on Saturday night.

The match will be broadcast live on Channel 7 and Fox Footy, with the winner to advance to the 2012 Toyota AFL Grand Final on Saturday 25 September.

Second Preliminary Final

Port Adelaide v Western Bulldogs

Saturday 11 September, 7.40pm AEST (7.10pm ACST)

Adelaide Oval

B: Easton Wood, Ryan Gardner, Bailey Williams

HB: Caleb Daniel, Zaine Cordy, Bailey Dale

C: Bailey Smith, Josh Dunkley, Lachie Hunter

HF: Laith Vandermeer, Aaron Naughton, Adam Treloar

F: Josh Schache, Tim English, Mitch Hannan

R: Stef Martin, Jack Macrae, Marcus Bontempelli

Int: Jason Johannisen, Tom Liberatore, Taylor Duryea, Roarke Smith

Emer: Anthony Scott, Lewis Young, Mitch Wallis, Ed Richards

Ins: Stefan Martin, Zaine Cordy, Jason Johanissen (medi-sub)

Outs: Lewis Young (omitted), Cody Weightman (concussion), Alex Keath (hamstring tightness)

The Western Bulldogs’ remarkable 2021 Finals run has continued, winning their way to the Grand Final with an astonishing 71-point win over Port Adelaide.

The Bulldogs steamrolled their way into the Toyota AFL Grand Final with a breathtaking performance, sweeping aside another week of interruptions, extensive travel and quarantine restrictions to earn a shot at the Premiership.

They’ll meet Melbourne in the decider in Perth on September 25, for a chance to win their second flag in five years.

They saved their most dominant performance for penultimate weekend, capitalising on an incredible first half, where they built a 58-point lead.

They monstered the Power around the ball, moved the ball with conviction and found multiple avenues to goal.

They slammed on the first five goals of the game, and never looked back.

Mitch Hannan was instrumental in the early onslaught, kicking three first half goals as the Dogs went into the main break with 23 more contested possessions and nine more clearances than their opponents.

Bailey Smith’s red-hot form continued – he kicked two goals in the first quarter and finished with a game-high and career-high four, to go with 23 disposals.

The Power kicked the first two goals of the third term as they mounted a charge, but that was snuffed out by the determined Dogs, who kicked the last two majors of the term to make absolutely sure they would celebrate.

The win saw Luke Beveridge surpass the great Ted Whitten as the most successful Bulldogs coach in terms of games won, with 92.

The Dogs had winners all over the park, led by the midfield.  The ultra-consistent Jack Macrae finished with 36 disposals and six tackles, Adam Treloar silenced his doubters with 23 touches, nine tackles and five clearances, Marcus Bontempelli kicked two and had 10 inside 50s, and Josh Dunkley had 22 possessions and eight tackles.

Up forward Josh Schache played a tremendous role in not only negating the dangerous Aliir Aliir, but he also took six marks and having five shots at goal.

Zaine Cordy and Ryan Gardner held up in their key defensive posts, and the Dogs running half backs were influential.

The only sour point for the Bulldogs was Laitham Vandermeer being subbed out with hamstring tightness.

But the Dogs even turned that into a positive, with his replacement Anthony Scott kicking a goal with his first disposal.

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, Wines, Houston, Bonner, Marshall
Western Bulldogs:  B.Smith 4, Hannan 3, Naughton 2, Bontempelli 2, Vandermeer, Johannisen, R.Smith, Schache, Treloar, Scott

BEST    
Port Adelaide: Bonner, Wines, Houston, Lycett
Western Bulldogs: B.Smith, Macrae, Treloar, Bontempelli, Hunter, Liberatore, Naughton

INJURIES    
Port Adelaide: Marshall (hamstring)
Western Bulldogs: Vandermeer (hamstring tightness)     

SUBSTITUTES    
Port Adelaide: Sam Powell-Pepper (replaced Marshall)
Western Bulldogs: Anthony Scott (replaced Vandermeer)