Western Bulldogs 2.0 4.0 5.4 5.4.34 Port Adelaide 2.2 4.4 7.6 11.12.78
Goals
Western Bulldogs: Trengove 2, Wallis, Greene, Schache
Port Adelaide: Dixon 5, Watts, Westhoff, Motlop, Wingard, Gray, Farrell
Alex Docherty's Best
Western Bulldogs: Macrae, Trengove, Dunkley, Hunter, Crozier, Naughton
Port Adelaide: Dixon, Ebert, Wingard, Polec, Wines, Boak, Rockliff
After two weeks of poor results, the Port Adelaide Power are back on the winners' list as they handed out a 44-point walloping of the Western Bulldogs. In what I could only describe as appalling conditions at Ballarat's Mars Stadium. The win means that not only Port have now won both encounters at Ballarat, following their win over the Bulldogs last year, and also they have held onto a spot in the top-four at the end of round 19.
For the Western Bulldogs it has been nothing out of the ordinary. After what was a great opening half which saw the Dogs trail by just four points at half-time, Port started flexing their muscles and began to overpower the Dogs in what had been a scrappy game all day long. It rained, it was very windy and it was so damn cold – typical winter Ballarat conditions and some would even say it was traditional winter football weather. But I will say that unless Mars Stadium gets more lighting – keep the games at a early timeslot.
After Mitch Wallis goaled in the opening minute of footy, the rains opened up and it became a real dogfight afterwards. Perhaps the Dogs should've had the lead at quarter time, but sloppy defending in the final seconds led to a Justin Westhoff goal on the siren to give the Power a two-point advantage at the quarter-time break, a margin that would double at half-time with another even second quarter.
There weren't too many highlights in the first half, but one huge positive was the signs of Bulldog forward Fergus Greene. For a forward, conditions like what was witnessed yesterday are going to very difficult to score multiple goals, but he took a couple of impressive grabs and he did manage to snag his first AFL goal. Given that goals are hard to come by for this team, he certainly looks to be a keeper, going into the long-run.
Then once again, it unravelled at the seams with another poor second-half. What in the hell is with this damn club and second halves? They just don't seem to turn up enough or turn up at all. Since round nine, the Bulldogs have kicked three goals or less in the second half six times, including the one yesterday – they booted 1.4 and all of those scores came in the third term. The sole goal came from an impressive Josh Schache mark at about 20 metres out.
Despite some missed opportunites at goal late in the third quarter, that was about it for the Bulldogs. The proverbial cue was in the rack in the fourth quarter as Port ran riot, kicking 4.6 to nothing to run out comfortable 44-point winners. If this game was played under the roof of Etihad Stadium, then it could've easily have been much worse. This was actually the first time since Port arrived in the AFL in 1997 that the Bulldogs were held scoreless in a quarter by the Power – that's how bad things have progressed for the Western Bulldogs.
It is pretty clear that experience is an issue because their were a lot of young kids out running around in the red, white and blue yesterday. But this problem of second-half fadeouts stem more from just inexperience and youth. Jason Johannisen barely saw it – just the nine disposals. Mitch Honeychurch has been in the system now for six seasons – just had nine disposals. I know Marcus Adams can play a lot better than just nine disposals and Ed Richards and Brad Lynch – I know they are very inexperienced boys – but they are both way better than five and six disposals respectively.
Less than two years ago this side won a damn premiership, and don't get me wrong, it was a wonderful sight to see and a moment that fans should cherish forever, but where has that consistency gone? It's not just a youth problem or an injury problem or an inexperience problem. This side has turned up to play in a lot of first halves this year, but have disappeared when they've come back from the rooms for the second halves.
In terms of who played well for the Bulldogs, there weren't many, but I thought Jackson Trengove played his best game for the club since arriving at the end of last year. Ironically against his old-side, Trengove had 22 disposals, 10 clearances and kicked his first two goals in the red, white and blue. He played predominantly as a ruckman and looked pretty good against Paddy Ryder, recording 28 hitouts to Ryder's 33.
Jack Macrae was prolific once again, and I think I'm ready to call this one out and say he will win this year's club best and fairest. He's been super consistent all year long, even with a few weeks out with injury, he came back in and played like he never left. He recorded 36 disposals, 12 clearances and five inside 50s. Lachie Hunter (35 disposals, five rebound 50s, four clearances and four tackles) was also prolific, whilst Josh Dunkley had another great game (27 disposals, 12 tackles, six inside 50s and six clearances).
Aaron Naughton had perhaps one of his best games this year and could perhaps get a look in to a Rising Star nomination, but had 20 disposals, four marks, four rebound 50s and four tackles in a good effort. Hayden Crozier (22 disposals, four marks and four inside 50s) and Toby McLean (21 disposals and seven tackles) also tried hard for the Bulldogs.
However, for all their efforts, the Western Bulldogs' defenders had no answers for big Charlie Dixon, who bagged five goals in what was pretty bad conditions for a big forward. Had we played on a drier ground, he could've had much more than just that. Five goals from 14 disposals and five marks is a pretty impressive strike rate, and was definitely the difference in the end. Not even a man as big as Marcus Adams was a match for him, that was how dominant he was.
There were a lot of other contributors, Brad Ebert (20 disposals, 11 tackles, six marks, five inside 50s and four clearances) was outstanding, Jared Polec (32 disposals, six clearances and six inside 50s) showed why North Melbourne have been very keen on his services, Ollie Wines thrived in the conditions (26 disposals, seven tackles and four clearances and Chad Wingard (25 disposals, six clearances, six tackles, five inside 50s and one goal) was also terrific.
So with that game now done and out of the way, a very important game looms ahead of the Western Bulldogs next week as they take on a fellow struggler in the St. Kilda Football Club in what will be a game that will definitely shape up the order in this year's AFL Draft. As it stands, the Bulldogs are currently half a game ahead of the Saints and a loss next week will drop them from 14th to 15th, which means the Dogs would then currently hold the fourth pick in this year's alleged “Superdraft.”
Next week is going to get very interesting indeed.