The Port Adelaide Power have strengthened their case four a top four spot with a late win over the Western Bulldogs in Ballarat.
Port Adelaide overcame a slow start to beat the Bulldogs by 17 points 14.12.97 to 11.13.79.
The game was played in Ballarat for the first time in AFL history due to the Bulldogs agreement to play an annual home game at the ground over the next three years.
Bailey Dale added his name to the record books kicking the first goal as the Bulldogs started the first quarter strongly.
The first term was controlled on the scoreboard by the Bulldogs, however, the Power kept the game competitive, and stayed composed throughout.
The Bulldogs lost Jake Stringer early in the term with a hamstring injury and would not return.
Paddy Ryder kicked the Power’s first goal after a stoppage in play.
Matthew Suckling had the highlight of the term, kicking a long bomb from the boundary which went through for a goal, showcasing his well-known kicking power.
The term ended with the Bulldogs in front by seven points as Paddy Ryder got a goal late.
Port Adelaide started the quarter on a mini run kicking the first goal of the term and scoring another two behinds to take the lead for the first time in the game.
The game then evened up with both teams going goal for goal for the majority of the quarter, neither able to get a break from the opposition. The game had a few heated moments but nothing got out of hand.
The Dogs took a six-point lead into the third quarter. Jack McCrae was impressive for the Bulldogs throughout the half and Bailey Dale was impressive up forward after the loss of Stringer.
The third quarter was again an even contest throughout, when Dale kicked his third goal of the game it looked like the Bulldogs may be able to break away from the Power.
Again Port fought back strongly to take back the lead, after a goal to Travis Boak, however, the Bulldogs responded and took their biggest lead of the game with 14.
A late surge to Port saw them cut the lead back to seven and set it up for an entertaining fourth quarter.
Port Adelaide got the game back even early in the fourth quarter through a goal to Sam Gray and then the Bulldogs responded quickly kicking two goals including one to the struggling Tom Liberatore.
After Dale kicked his fourth goal of the game the Bulldogs would be held goalless for the remainder of the game as the Power poured on the defensive pressure and started to attack with ease.
Charlie Dixon almost single-handedly won the game for the Power kicking two goals after strong marks and setting up another easy goal for Chad Wingard.
A goal to Jared Polec late sealed the game for the Power.
Port now will hope they can hold onto the fourth spot after securing a top eight position no matter what happens next week.
The Bulldogs meanwhile will be watching the other games closely as they still have a chance to defend the premiership, but the loss now takes their destiny out of their own hands.
Port Adelaide will be up against the Suns next week while the Bulldogs take on the Hawks.
Paul W
Guest
Ah, ok. Thanks
Macca
Guest
Play the ball Mattyb and let’s talk footy,your comment was very disappointing.
Mattyb
Guest
Paul,I get a link sent to me each week with a replay of the VFL games. They tend to be very good quality. I follow the VFL side very closely and enjoy it. I also sometimes get highlights packages of individual players which I linked earlier in the season.
Mattyb
Guest
Oh look,Maccas here,any stats or stories from the Leader Newspaper?
Paul W
Guest
mattyb, how do you know so much of what happened in the VFL when both games were going around the same time.
Kurt
Guest
*double face palm*. Look Matty, bring it in tight and listen up. The reason people make.commemta directed at you is because you spend so much time criticising other teams and then go missing when your own team loses. Your obsession with Carlton is bordering on the pathological, which is the principle reason for the mockery. And you make up all sorts of outlandish stories when you get called out on your BS. Stop being a clown and I'll stop calling you out as a clown. Deal?
Macca
Guest
"Try and show some footy knowledge" if that isn't the pot calling the kettle black!!
Mattyb
Guest
Kurt,sounds like you tried to mimick me,stand up and be a man,make your own comments. Try and show some footy knowledge. You support a proud club,talk of how they might improve,the mistakes you think they might have made? Your club actually lost to the mighty blues? Football commentary isn't about personalities so I look forward to hearing some of your future comments. Play the ball Kurt and let's talk footy,your comment was very disappointing. More footy less sheriff and this website would rock.
Kurt
Guest
Matty, the reason it was a reply to your comment is because it was specifically directed you and your sad and tragic comments. Hope this clears things up.
Mattyb
Guest
Cheers Brendon and good commentary once again.
Mattyb
Guest
Burkey,I think Cloke will remain next year. I didn't approve of his recruitment but his back up has been important. The dogs have a poor forward line,and height across the field. Redpaths lack of discipline coupled with Boyds mental issues have made his inclusion worthwhile. I think Cloke will remain as backup to a slightly poorly structured side,Crameri is also another question,I'm of the belief he will play for the Melbourne Footbell Club next season. This means Cloke unfortunately should remain. He played OK on the weekend but isn't a shadow of the player who represented Collingwood.
Paul D
Roar Guru
Absolute crap from you as usual. Long-term the Dogs move to bring Ballarat into the fold and expand their reach is far more important than what-iffing about a game at Etihad. Mattyb is spot on, simply assuming the Dogs would have won in Docklands is a big leap of faith. This isn't selling a game to Cairns or Shanghai, this is a move to reach out to what should be Bulldogs adherents only an hours drive from Melbourne. Vitally important and you're demonstrating your usual one-pump chump intellectual sloppiness in rushing to brand it a failure.
Brendon the 1st
Guest
Good on us Matty, when the dogs get their forward line going next year they'll be back up there. Losing Stringer for you was enormous, that pushed the Bont forward and I felt Beveridge should have thrown him into the middle in the last given ports ascendancy at the stoppages in the last part of the game, but no Redpath or Boyd makes the decision understandable.
Sammy
Guest
Crows got a decent run of frees in 1 game. Go back and check the game vs geelong in adelaide..they may as well have had cat jumpers on.
Burkey
Guest
Matty what happens with Cloke next year? Seems he was a back up at Collingwood and now just a back up at Dogs?
Mattyb
Guest
Like I said,it's long term thinking and trying to survive in a market that's far to crowded in metropolitan Melbourne. Blaming this weeks loss for not making finals I also feel is slightly short sighted. The Dogs won't be playing finals because they havnt played well enough throughout the entire season. There are numerous one off games the Doggies could have won. I'm sure we might start seeing a home ground advantage in the long term.
Mattyb
Guest
Brendon,good comments and you obviously have me wrong,I don't 'go off' and am happy with all comments regarding the dogs,I don't consider myself an Internet sheriff but thanks for the mention. Agree with Boak,he played well,I though the dogs gave him to much open space and he capatalisd well. Dixon stood up and presented well,he was the difference in the final term. Agree with Gray and his kicking this season,I also felt his field kicking lacked penatration. He played well but to me showed signs of a player perhaps suffering OP. This can sometimes effect goal kicking also. I thought the umpiring was a bit iffy both ways,certainly wasn't a factor in the result. I think we're a better side than WC but Essendons best has been far superior to ours this year. Ports there now and anything can happen and I wish them well. I'm a big believer in the difference between playing sport and supporting it. As supporters making finals is great and a success,it's not all about premierships if your not actually playing.Port are having a successful season and the deeper they go the more weeks you get to cheer. All the best to Port and I'm sure they'll represent the club proudly.
truetigerfan
Guest
No doubting there are plenty of solid doggies fans around. Just an observation that he constantly seeks your approval like a juvenile dishlicker. As for the Scribbler you need to look a little closer!
Mattyb
Guest
Following PtS around tigersfan,how sweet that is. Plenty of solid doggies fans round here,not just me,and we are certainly not afraid to say the year was disappointing. I think we can bounce back next year as I've and others have explained.
anon
Roar Pro
The Bulldogs play their best footy at the Docklands and would have had a greater advantage over Port yesterday. We will never know if it was enough to change the result. I think there's at least a 50/50 chance it changed the result to be in favour of Western. Hard enough to win in the AFL without having your club throw away home ground advantage when playing an interstate side. Will cost them a finals spot by the look of it. If it costs them a spot in the finals (remember they won it from 7th last year), then the deal is already a failure for Western.