Port Adelaide have claimed a 57-point win over the Western Bulldogs, whose AFL injury crisis has deepened with six players sustaining injuries on a horror night.
Captain Easton Wood and Brownlow Medal contender Jack Macrae suffered hamstring injuries, Lukas Webb broke his thumb, Tom Boyd dislocated a finger, Marcus Bontempelli hyperextended his knee and Toby McLean had his shoulder smashed in the opening seconds.
Wood and Macrae sat out the second half while the other four managed to play on in the Bulldogs’ 20.12 (132) to 11.9 (75) defeat at Adelaide Oval.
Macrae is in doubt for next Sunday’s clash with North Melbourne, Webb could miss up to three weeks and Wood, the most serious injury, will certainly be out even longer.
Ollie Wines (35 possessions, one goal) and Chad Wingard (30 possessions) were prolific, Robbie Gray (28 possessions, three goals) was particularly electric early and Tom Rockliff (25 disposals, three second-half goals) applied the finishing touches.
“We were pretty good over the course of the whole night bar the second quarter,” Port coach Ken Hinkley said.
“We were pretty dominant in some key stats that we like to look at, so it was a pleasing result.”
After conceding the opening behind, the Power kept the Bulldogs scoreless for the remainder of the term while piling on 5.5 unanswered themselves to hold sway by a commanding 34 points at quarter-time.
Jared Polec’s superb curling goal from the boundary at the 13-minute mark delighted the Power fans who at the time were affording No.13 Todd Marshall a minute-long round of applause.
The young forward was making his return to the side following the death of his father.
The Bulldogs saved face after the break, largely through first-round draft pick Ed Richards who slotted three second-quarter majors, all from free kicks – his maiden AFL goals – as a makeshift forward.
Richards’ exciting cameo helped slice the deficit to 19 points before Dixon goaled after the halftime siren on the back of Wood’s injury to bump Port’s advantage to 25 points.
Mitch Wallis marked and goaled in the opening minute of the third period which the Bulldogs started without Macrae.
Polec nailed his second boundary-hugging beauty from the same members wing towards the Cathedral End – this one even better than his first – to re-ignite the hosts who drew 38 points clear at three-quarter-time.
To their credit, the undermanned Bulldogs were valiant in the final period but the Power were never seriously threatened.
“We’re all disappointed with the first quarter,” Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge said.
“The plans we made, we didn’t execute.
“Other than the first quarter, with the injury toll, I was really proud of the way the players fought their way out of it.”
Slane
Guest
Weekdays aren't great for going to the footy. But they are awesome for televising the footy.
Paul D
Roar Guru
I love how every port/crows topic on this place features salty remarks from the fans of the other side. At least one interstate derby has some spice about it
Paul D
Roar Guru
I know right it shouldn’t be hard for people to comprehend that a side that was rubbish for 60 years is back to being rubbish again
Liam Salter
Roar Guru
I'd say a little of the first three. But, the weather was the biggest reason, given how treacherous it was on Thursday - particularly Thursday evening. It was brutally cold as well. The weather cleared up a little faster than expected, though, which was nice.
Cat
Roar Guru
Can you honestly say Port ever felt in danger of losing the game? It was over half way through the first quarter.
Leonard
Guest
Which of these factors is the main reason for this game drawing the Adelaide Oval's lowest AFL crowd (excluding the one-off 2011-R23 one) - number the [ ]s 1,2, 3 and 4 in order of importance: [ ] the very wet and cold wintry weather? [ ] WB's overall lack of crowd-drawing power + their 2018 lack of form? [ ] silly Gilly's decision to roster it on a Thursday night with adults having to get up and go to work and children having to get up and go to school? [ ] Port fans staying at home like they did in seasons 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012?
Pelican
Guest
Port had a bad year for injuries and Ryder out in 2016. Everyone has them. The Crows had a dream run last year and a horror show this year. Swings and roundabouts.
sammy
Guest
A garbage team down 2 of their best and most important players before half time and still only 3 goals down part way into the 3rd 1/4. Fatigued and the margin blew out
Cat
Roar Guru
Because the Bulldogs are a garbage team.
Sammy
Guest
And i wonder why that is then cat...durgh
Cat
Roar Guru
If, if, if. What happened, happened. The Dogs never had a chance.
Sammy
Guest
I call garbage on that. The dogs part way unto the 3rd 1/4 were only 3 goals down. Now add back in 2 extra rotations to them and drop 2 of ports best on rotations..
anon
Roar Pro
Can't they just do it for Bob?
IAP
Guest
I'll tell what's happened - half the team that played in 2016 isn't playing, and has been replaced by kids who have played no more than a dozen games. I don't know why this is so hard for so many people to comprehend.
Tom M
Guest
The game was over at quarter time, please those injuries had no impact on the result.
sammy
Guest
Port have been kissed on the proverbial with injuries this year..ie they have had virtually none and most teams they play is either ravaged at the time or cops injuries mid game. I wonder if it was the other way last night that instead of the dogs losing their best performing mid at half time in macrea, Eastern wood in the first half and Bontompelli later, if port lost Dixon, Gray and Polec whether the dogs might have got the win? Being down 2-3 players in rotations on a cold wet night doe not help
Tom M
Guest
Very poor performance by the dogs. Their effort in the first quarter was shocking. What has happened to this side? 2 Years ago their entire game was built around effort in and around the contest, but last night they got smashed. Outside of the Bont, there isn't a lot left on this list, dark times ahead.
IAP
Guest
Very hard to win after a first quarter like that. The dogs fought it out though, which is a positive sign; they've been giving up all year. Some positive signs in a what was a dismal night overall. Some big outs next week. Could be a very ugly few weeks.