THE WESTERN Bulldogs have survived an almighty challenge from Port Adelaide, holding their nerve to finish three-point victors in what was a classic, see-sawing battle at Adelaide Oval.
Aaron Young took a diving mark deep in the Power's pocket and snapped truly to reduce the margin to three points with 17 seconds on the clock, but the siren beat the home side with the Dogs holding on for the 15.10 (100) to 14.13 (97) victory.
A brilliant three-goal burst by the Dogs to start the final term meant the Power were forced onto the back foot and, while they attacked relentlessly, the Bulldogs had the answers.
Marcus Bontempelli was again brilliant with 30 disposals and two goals – including the sealer – while Mitch Wallis (27 disposals, six inside 50s) and Matthew Boyd (27, seven rebound 50s) were also important.
Jack Redpath booted four goals including a crucial major from a strong contested mark in the frenetic final term.
Robbie Gray finished with 32 possessions and a goal for Port, Ollie Wines (26, seven tackles) was great on the inside and Jasper Pittard (27 possessions, eight rebound 50s) continued his terrific year.
The Bulldogs sprung into action early, registering 15 touches and a goal before the Power had a dispoal.
Just as the Bulldogs' combination of midfield control and ruthless efficiency in attack spelt early warning signs, the Power lifted.
The home side's ferocity at the contest was intense and with Bulldog midfielder Luke Dahlhaus failing to return to the field after quarter-time with a knee injury, the Power began to own possession through the second term.
They managed 10 of the first 11 inside 50s in the second quarter, yet their failure to convert that dominance into scoreboard pressure left the door open for the Dogs and they stole the lead late in the quarter with Tory Dickson's second goal.
Refreshed from the main break, both sides continued the game's unrelenting intensity and traded blows. A classy finish from the boundary line by Tom Liberatore wrested the lead back for the Bulldogs before back-to-back clutch snaps from Chad Winged did the same for Port.
But it was the Power who finished the term the strongest with eight of the last nine inside 50s – the eighth resulting in an after-the-siren goal to Dougal Howard.
Staring down the barrel of what had appeared an unlikely defeat, the Bulldogs barked.
Kept quiet for most of the day, Jake Stringer snapped the final term's first goal and after Mitch Honeychurch added another, Stringer again pounced, this time bombing his third goal home from inside the centre square.
Redpath's fourth for the day seemed to give the Dogs the breathing space they needed – only for Ebert to mark heroically at the other end and keep his side in it.
Then it was Bontempelli's turn. The budding superstar took a strong diving mark and converted to give his side the buffer it needed to handle Young's last-ditch effort.
PORT ADELAIDE 4.3 6.7 11.9 14.13 (97)
WESTERN BULLDOGS 6.1 7.3 10.6 15.10 (100)
GOALS
Port Adelaide: Wingard, Dixon, Neade, Young 2, Impey, Howard, Wines, Gray, Boak, Ebert
Western Bulldogs: Redpath 4, Stringer 3, Dickson, Bontempelli 2, Liberatore, Honeychurch, Dahlhaus, Biggs
BEST
Port Adelaide: R.Gray, Wines, Pittard, Polec, Neade, Young
Western Bulldogs: Bontempelli, Honeychurch, Daniel, Macrae, Boyd, Morris
INJURIES
Port Adelaide: Nil
Western Bulldogs: Dahlhaus (knee)
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Meredith, Fisher, Pannell
Official crowd: 40,096
