The Western Bulldogs have lost their third straight game on the eve of the 2021 finals in great-breaking fashion, by two points to Port Adelaide at Marvel Stadium.

In a much-improved performance from the previous fortnight, the Bulldogs led for all but five minutes of the game, conceding the last three goals of the match after they were 15 points ahead early in the final stanza.

A long shot at goal from Bailey Smith with only a few seconds left in the game was touched on the line, ending hopes of a late fightback.

The Bulldogs will now need to hope Brisbane is defeated by West Coast, or the Lions win by only a slim margin, for them to hold onto their spot in the top four.

The Dogs made the most of their chances in front of goals with 10 goals from 14 scoring shots, which kept the visitors at arm’s length at key stages of the game, despite Port dominating most of the key statistics.

The Bulldogs were shaded in clearances 35-28 and Inside 50s (51-43) and lost the contested possession count by six.

Tim English was the Dogs’ only multiple goalkicker as Lewis Young spent most of the game in the ruck, while Jack Macrae was the team’s best ball-winner with 29.

The Bulldogs started the game full of fire, booting the first four majors of the contest.

After an arm-wrestle in the second term the game opened up, with the teams trading momentum with runs of three goals each.

By the time they reached the final change, the Bulldogs held an 11-point advantage.

That lead extended when Adam Treloar booted the first of the last quarter, but it was to be the Dogs’ final goal of the game.

MATCH DETAILS
Western Bulldogs            4.1          5.3          9.3          10.4 (64)
Port Adelaide                    1.3          1.8          6.10        9.12 (66)

GOALS
Western Bulldogs:  English 2, Naughton, Bontempelli, Dunkley, Johannisen, Weightman, Vandermeer, Hunter, Treloar
Port Adelaide:  Rozee 2, Ladhams 2, Boak 2, Gray 2, Wines

BEST
Western Bulldogs: Macrae, Hunter, Daniel, Dale, B.Smith, Treloar
Port Adelaide: Boak, Wines, Gray, Lycett, Rozee, Amon

INJURIES
Western Bulldogs: Nil
Port Adelaide: Georgiades (hamstring)

SUBSTITUTES
Western Bulldogs: Schache (unused)
Port Adelaide: Mayes (replaced Georgiades)