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Port Adelaide have clawed their way back into the AFL’s top four, prevailing over the Western Bulldogs by 44 points in a wet-weather slugfest in Ballarat.
» Click here to read the full match report
Final score
Western Bulldogs 5.4.34
Port Adelaide Power 11.12.78
The trajectory of Port Adelaide’s season hangs on the result of their clash with the Western Bulldogs at MARS Stadium in Ballarat. Join The Roar from 3:20pm AEST Sunday afternoon for live scores and blog of the encounter.
Disappointing loses in the last two weeks against Fremantle and GWS have put Port Adelaide’s season on the precipice.
Port Adelaide can fall outside of the eight with a loss to the Bulldogs, but a victory could propel them firmly into the eight and back into premiership contention.
Port Adelaide have sorely missed star ruckman Paddy Ryder over the past two weeks.
Not only has their clearance efficiency been incredibly lessened, but the temporary solutions have profoundly weakened other parts of their team.
Makeshift replacements; Charlie Dixon and Justin Westhoff have often left significant voids in the Power’s forward line. Highlighted by scores of 50 and 58 in the previous two weeks.
The mercurial ruckman has been named for the Power, but the cold and windy conditions in Ballarat may lend Port Adelaide to favour caution in the face of any decision.
In their riveting round 14 and 15 clashes against the Kangaroo’s and Geelong, the Bulldogs had appeared to have recaptured the forward half pressure that made them so damaging in 2016.
However, since half-time against Hawthorn in Round 16, the Bulldogs have been a shadow of the side they were just a matter of weeks ago.
The Bulldogs have struggled to find a damaging forward structure all year. Despite averaging 52 entries inside 50 per game, the Dogs are the third lowest scoring side in the competition.
For most of the season, Marcus Bontempelli has been forced forward, subsequently limiting their midfield proficiency.
If the Bulldogs are to win, Josh Schache and Josh Dunkley will need to be at their best.
Join The Roar for live scores and blog of the match between the Western Bulldogs and the Port Adelaide Power in Round 19 of the 2018 AFL Season at MARS Stadium on Sunday afternoon, starting from 3:20pm AEST.
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