1. Top four beckons Bulldogs, but Power's out for Port
Courtesy of their eighth win from 10 games, the Dogs (12-6) have jumped into the top four. It might only be temporary, but with a run home against Melbourne, West Coast (away), North Melbourne and the Brisbane Lions (away), Luke Beveridge's men should at least be nipping at the heels of the other contenders for a qualifying final berth. Port's (8-10) bitterly disappointing campaign is all but done and dusted. The Power have been a shadow of the thrilling side they once were and the hard questions have got to be asked about just what has happened to last year's preliminary finalists?

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2. Who let the Dogs out? 
It seems odd to say now, but Port made a statement in the early stages of their 64-point beating. Ken Hinkley's men kicked the first three goals and it should've been four if not for a horribly sprayed shot by Justin Westhoff. That was the turning point. Such is the resilience and belief coursing through Luke Beveridge's side that a fightback always seemed inevitable - and it came in a blitzkrieg of nine unanswered majors. The Power could barely get their hands on the footy in the second term in particular as the Dogs booted 7.5 to 0.2, ran in waves and swarmed all over Port with 123 disposals to 56.


3. The Stringer Show
There are few players as watchable as Jake Stringer in full flight. In an era of structures, he plays on instinct – willing to commit an error for the chance to pull off the team-lifting and match-turning moments. The bullocking forward was again the spark who ignited the Dogs after a slow start against Port, booting three goals from five scoring shots either side of quarter-time. Stringer wound up with 4.4 despite battling ankle and arm injuries, and was possibly robbed on score review after a soccer from the goalsquare.

4. Dickson's hot streak goes cold
One player who might have enjoyed Tory Dickson dragging a set shot left in the second quarter is Hawthorn star Luke Breust. Dickson has taken Breust's mantle as the AFL's dead-eye this season and was on a hot streak of 21 goals without a behind, until Saturday. It means Breust's equal-record with Tony Lockett of 29 goals without a blemish – set last season – still stands. Dickson made up for it minutes later with a typically assured set shot though, and could be happy with his day's work. The sharpshooter collected 16 touches and bagged 3.2 to boost his tally to 37.10 before he was subbed out in the final term.

5. Don't blame the Chad
If Port Adelaide misses finals, then the finger can't be pointed at Chad Wingard. The small forward has been in magical touch trying to keep the Power's finals flame flickering. In the fast start against the Dogs, he had a hand in everything. Wingard marked strongly overhead to set up the first goal, hit a target with a 55m bullet off a step for the Power's second and then won the hard-ball to kick the third. That goal saw the 22-year-old equal his tally (43) from each of the past two seasons, which he went past in the third term. Although his run of eight games in a row booting at least three goals has come to an end, Chad can't do much more to earn a second All Australian guernsey.