The Bulldogs, who farewelled their only premiership coach just 48 hours earlier with a memorial service at the same venue, displayed some Sutton-like qualities - namely hardness, selfless teamwork and play-on football - on their way to a 13.17 (95) to 8.9 (56) victory.
Watch match highlights from the Western Bulldogs' 38-point victory over Port Adelaide on the media player above or on the Club Mobile App.
The Power's defeat was compounded by several injuries. Star midfielder Hamish Hartlett suffered a torn right hamstring, which meant the visitors were one short on the bench for most of the second half after Jacob Surjan had earlier been subbed off with concussion.
Paul Stewart also hurt a left hamstring, while Jackson Trengove battled a dislocated finger.
The Match Review Panel is also likely to scrutinise a late bump by Port's Matt Thomas on Tom Liberatore, who was dazed and helped from the field, but returned soon after.
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The Dogs rebounded strongly from a pre-bye drubbing from the Swans at the SCG, and the only aspect missing from their game was accuracy, which kept the Power within striking distance for much of the match.
The Dogs dominated inside 50s (59-44) disposals (414-326), uncontested possession (260-192) and marks (122-72).
Skipper Matthew Boyd (34 touches, including 22 in the first half) was typically prolific and had superb midfield support from Mitch Wallis (29) and Daniel Cross (26), while Bob Murphy (32) and Easton Wood (20) were superb springboards from defence.
Click here to watch the best match videos from BulldogsTV.
Brian Lake had 20 kicks and 15 marks in another superb performance.
Young tall forward Ayce Cordy (two goals), who at one point left the field after a head clash with teammate Ryan Griffen, was a strong target in attack, while Tory Dickson (four) was a dangerous opportunist.
Port's best were Brad Ebert (23 touches) and Matthew Broadbent (26).
It was the Dogs' fifth win of the season, taking them a game clear of Port Adelaide with a game in hand.
It was also the Bulldogs' sixth successive win over the Power, which hasn’t beaten them since round 19, 2006.
It was a particularly sweet victory for Bulldogs coach Brendan McCartney, who, at the end of 2010, was knocked back for the Port Adelaide coaching job that went to Matthew Primus. Just weeks ago, McCartney said the rejection had made him more determined to become an AFL coach.
The Bulldogs started the game full of purpose. It was a goal apiece after six minutes before the Dogs fired the next eight scoring shots. The game could have effectively been over by quarter-time but they managed just 2.6.
There was a role reversal in the second term with the Power kicking three of the first four goals, including two to spearhead Jay Schultz, to slash the margin to four points. But they couldn't make further inroads as the Dogs kicked away in the final term.
The Bulldogs will be hopeful of another victory when they return to Etihad Stadium next Saturday to take on the Brisbane Lions. Meanwhile, the Power will have a bye.
WESTERN BULLDOGS 3.6 5.10 9.16 13.17 (95)
PORT ADELAIDE 1.0 4.4 7.6 8.9 (57)
GOALS
Western Bulldogs: Dickson 4, Cordy 2, Jones, Higgins, Roughead, Cooney, Giansiracusa, Dahlhaus, Griffen
Port Adelaide: Schulz 3, Brett Ebert 2, Moore, Broadbent, Brad Ebert
BEST
Western Bulldogs: Robert Murphy, Matthew Boyd, Daniel Giansiracusa, Daniel Cross, Brian Lake, Ryan Griffen, Tory Dickson, Easton Wood
Port Adelaide: Brad Ebert, Matthew Broadbent, Troy Chaplin, John McCarthy, Danyle Pearce
INJURIES
Western Bulldogs: TBC
Port Adelaide: Jacob Surjan (jaw), Hamish Hartlett (hamstring), Paul Stewart (hamstring), Jackson Trengove (dislocated finger)
SUBSTITUTES
Western Bulldogs: Tom Liberatore replaced in the fourth quarter by Clay Smith
Port Adelaide: Jacob Surjan replaced by Chad Wingard in the third quarter
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Nicholls, Findlay, Mollison
Official crowd: 16,036 at Etihad Stadium
The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the AFL or its clubs
The Dogs rebounded strongly from a pre-bye drubbing from the Swans at the SCG, and the only aspect missing from their game was accuracy, which kept the Power within striking distance for much of the match.
The Dogs dominated inside 50s (59-44) disposals (414-326), uncontested possession (260-192) and marks (122-72).
Skipper Matthew Boyd (34 touches, including 22 in the first half) was typically prolific and had superb midfield support from Mitch Wallis (29) and Daniel Cross (26), while Bob Murphy (32) and Easton Wood (20) were superb springboards from defence.
Click here to watch the best match videos from BulldogsTV.
Brian Lake had 20 kicks and 15 marks in another superb performance.
Young tall forward Ayce Cordy (two goals), who at one point left the field after a head clash with teammate Ryan Griffen, was a strong target in attack, while Tory Dickson (four) was a dangerous opportunist.
Port's best were Brad Ebert (23 touches) and Matthew Broadbent (26).
It was the Dogs' fifth win of the season, taking them a game clear of Port Adelaide with a game in hand.
It was also the Bulldogs' sixth successive win over the Power, which hasn’t beaten them since round 19, 2006.
It was a particularly sweet victory for Bulldogs coach Brendan McCartney, who, at the end of 2010, was knocked back for the Port Adelaide coaching job that went to Matthew Primus. Just weeks ago, McCartney said the rejection had made him more determined to become an AFL coach.
The Bulldogs started the game full of purpose. It was a goal apiece after six minutes before the Dogs fired the next eight scoring shots. The game could have effectively been over by quarter-time but they managed just 2.6.
There was a role reversal in the second term with the Power kicking three of the first four goals, including two to spearhead Jay Schultz, to slash the margin to four points. But they couldn't make further inroads as the Dogs kicked away in the final term.
The Bulldogs will be hopeful of another victory when they return to Etihad Stadium next Saturday to take on the Brisbane Lions. Meanwhile, the Power will have a bye.
WESTERN BULLDOGS 3.6 5.10 9.16 13.17 (95)
PORT ADELAIDE 1.0 4.4 7.6 8.9 (57)
GOALS
Western Bulldogs: Dickson 4, Cordy 2, Jones, Higgins, Roughead, Cooney, Giansiracusa, Dahlhaus, Griffen
Port Adelaide: Schulz 3, Brett Ebert 2, Moore, Broadbent, Brad Ebert
BEST
Western Bulldogs: Robert Murphy, Matthew Boyd, Daniel Giansiracusa, Daniel Cross, Brian Lake, Ryan Griffen, Tory Dickson, Easton Wood
Port Adelaide: Brad Ebert, Matthew Broadbent, Troy Chaplin, John McCarthy, Danyle Pearce
INJURIES
Western Bulldogs: TBC
Port Adelaide: Jacob Surjan (jaw), Hamish Hartlett (hamstring), Paul Stewart (hamstring), Jackson Trengove (dislocated finger)
SUBSTITUTES
Western Bulldogs: Tom Liberatore replaced in the fourth quarter by Clay Smith
Port Adelaide: Jacob Surjan replaced by Chad Wingard in the third quarter
Reports: Nil
Umpires: Nicholls, Findlay, Mollison
Official crowd: 16,036 at Etihad Stadium
The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the AFL or its clubs
