While the forecasted thunderstorm had largely cleared up by the first bounce, it was still a grim night for the Dogs in Adelaide on Thursday, with the Power running out 57-point winners in front of 26, 137 fans at Adelaide Oval.
The Dogs’ night was further soured by what looked to be hamstring injuries to both Easton Wood and Jack Macrae.
The Dogs dominated possession early but a succession of miscued kicks out of the back half saw the ball regularly sail straight back over their heads, giving Port the early advantage.
It felt like the floodgates could burst at any minute, and burst they did, the Power piling on five straight, mopping up the Bulldogs turnovers, and promptly marching it back up the ground, taking a 34 point lead into the first change.
Three goals from Ed Richards and ten second quarter disposals from Marcus Bontempelli gave Dogs’ fans a glimmer of hope, but the Power would eventually kick away, adding 12 goals in the second half to slam the door shut.
Hayden Crozier played his best game in Bulldogs colours collecting 21 touches, taking eight marks, while Bontempelli toiled all night, finishing with 23 disposals, including 16 contested, ten clearances, and two goals.
Western Bulldogs 0.1 4.5 8.7 11.9 (75)
Port Adelaide 5.5 8.6 14.9 20.12 (132)
Disposals: Dahlhaus 24, Bontempelli 23, Crozier, Williams 21, Hunter 18
Goals: Richards 3, Wallis, Bontempelli 2, Lipinski, Gowers, Schache, McLean
Best: Crozier, Bontempelli, Williams, Richards, Cordy
