Port Adelaide have fought previous the Western Bulldogs to surge to their Tenth consecutive victory with an exhilarating 22-point win.
The Bulldogs saved Port accountable all night time and burst from a 19-point deficit at three-quarter-time to path by simply eight factors halfway by means of the fourth.
But Jason Horne-Francis kicked an exquisite steadying purpose to settle the Power’s nerves and assist ship a 16.11 (107) to 13.7 (85) win in entrance of 23,110 followers at Marvel Stadium.
The Bulldogs have been condemned to a third-straight defeat whereas skipper Marcus Bontempelli might come beneath scrutiny for a excessive bump on Port Adelaide’s Dan Houston early within the second quarter that drew a free kick.
Power gun Zak Butters starred with 31 disposals, 11 rating involvements and a purpose, Horne-Francis kicked two essential targets and had bursts of brilliance, whereas Charlie Dixon marked his return from damage with 4 targets.
Port large man Scott Lycett had the higher of in-form Bulldogs ruck Tim English, whereas Aliir Aliir largely saved Aaron Naughton quiet.
Tom Liberatore was all over the place for the Bulldogs, racking up 34 disposals, 21 contested possessions and 11 clearances, whereas Caleb Daniel (29 touches) and Bontempelli (31 touches, 9 clearances) have been additionally glorious.
Dixon opened the scoring inside the primary 20 seconds with a quick-thinking snap and monstered Josh Bruce, booting three targets for the time period.
The opening interval proved a see-sawing affair with a number of lead modifications and 10 targets between the 2 sides.
Bulldogs dynamo Cody Weightman exploded again into prime kind, booting three targets within the first quarter together with taking a spectacular mark over Kane Farrell.
But the Bulldogs have been once more tormented by inaccuracy as Port took an eight-point benefit at quarter-time.
In the second time period, the Bulldogs managed to decelerate Port’s ball motion and hold Ken Hinkley’s expenses to 2 targets whereas kicking three themselves.
Midway by means of the third quarter, the Power booted three consecutive targets to get the higher hand.
The Bulldogs got here out of the ultimate break fired up, Jack Macrae slicing the deficit to eight factors to arrange a busy end.
But after a magical burst from Butters despatched the Power inside-50, Horne-Francis pulled off an exquisite ground-ball pick-up, burst away and kicked actually to settle issues.
There was a late controversy when Weightman thought he had booted a fourth to return the deficit to eight however Oskar Baker was penalised for blocking out Ollie Wines on the purpose line.
Port rapidly took it down the opposite finish, with Sam Powell-Pepper nudging the lead out to twenty. They didn’t look again.
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
