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)