Round 9 – Port Adelaide v Western Bulldogs: Doggies chew off Port’s flag fancy tag

 

It was simply not a day for teams hosting the opposition. Firstly, the mighty Yeppoon Swans.

 

Hurts to say it but the 2015-2020 AFL Capricornia premiers were every bit of that against my BITS Saints. The Swans swept to a 140-14 win at the picturesque BITS Oval on a majestically beautiful sunny Saturday. Late autumn and winter up here is simply sensational.

 

Small wins. That’s what coach Rick Bean took away from the heavy loss. The Saints did boot the first goal and were up and about with intensity and the seven U17 players representing the BITS Saints guernsey did their bit. But big hits and fair bumps by the big Bendigo D9 ruckman Jamie Garner set the tone that the Yeppoon side is marching to a seventh straight flag.

 

There is much optimism at the Saints I, and many others feel. That’s because the U13-U17 teams have magnificently talented players who have the smarts and foot skills to lead the BITS club to another dynasty, much like the Swans are in the midst now.

 

And hopefully much like during the BITS golden era of the 2010s. Now onto the biggest league in the land….

 

Port Adelaide’s much vaunted credentials as a top-4 side took a Western Bulldogs hit to the tune of 19 points at Adelaide Oval on Saturday night. Aaron Naughton starred for the Doggies with 4 goals including a Mark of the Year contender when he soared on top of Port captain Tom Jonas. Western Bulldogs won 15.6 (96) to 12.5 (77).

 

Naughton’s resultant goal proved telling and swayed the game well in the visitors’ favour because moments earlier the Power’s Todd Marshall decided to be too unselfish after a great juggling mark. His wayward kick failed to hit either Ollie Wines or Charlie Dixon and the Western Bulldogs whisked the ball away, leading up to the Naughton hanger.

 

The Bulldogs’ midfield brigade of the brilliant Marcus Bontempelli, Tom Liberatore, Adam Treloar and Bailey Smith sliced through the middle of the ground to help set up a handy quarter-time lead. Cody Weightman was a nuisance all game and his three goals were pivotal in the win.

 

Weightman sealed the game after Port had booted the opening two goals of the final quarter, via Dixon, with a snap over his head while facing away from the goals. For the Power, Wines endured an enthralling battle with Bontempelli and was Port’s best player.

 

Mitch Georgiades had his moments with two goals and midfielder Travis Boak and winger Karl Amon both used the ball well and got plenty of it again. The jaw injury to defensive pillar Tom Clurey is a concern and he was subbed out before half-time.

 

Port face a struggling Collingwood this Sunday at the MCG in a tricky crunch game if the Power are to be a top 4 contender.

 

 

PORT ADELAIDE 2.1 8.2 9.4 12.5 (77)

WESTERN BULLDOGS 6.2 8.1 12.5 15.6 (96)

 

GOALS  

Port Adelaide: Fantasia 2, Georgiades 2, Dixon 2, Hartlett, Amon, Drew, Wines, Powell-Pepper, Gray

Western Bulldogs: Naughton 4, Weightman 3, Bontempelli 2, Bruce 2, Johannisen 2, McNeil, Hannan

 

BEST

Port Adelaide: Wines, Fantasia, Georgiades, Boak, Amon

Western Bulldogs: Bontempelli, Naughton, Liberatore, Daniel, Weightman

 

INJURIES

Port Adelaide: Clurey (jaw)

Western Bulldogs: Wood (hamstring)

 

SUBSTITUTES

Port Adelaide: Martin Frederick (replaced Clurey)

Western Bulldogs: Hayden Crozier (replaced Wood)

 

 

The Tigers (Covid) Almanac 2020 will be published in 2021. It will have all the usual features – a game by game account of the Tigers season – and will also include some of the best Almanac writing from the Covid winter.  Pre-order HERE

 

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