Port make statement in heated clash as Dogs dealt cruel double blow: 3-2-1
Port Adelaide has blitzed Western Bulldogs by 48 points in a statement win at Adelaide Oval to climb into the top four.
Mitch Georgiades booted a career-best five goals and Connor Rozee and Zak Butters combined for 69 disposals in the dominant 15.12 (102) to 8.6 (54) victory to see Ken Hinkley’s side renew its claims as a contender.
The Power claimed their 10th win of the season and leapfrogged Fremantle, if only momentarily, to sit fourth on the ladder, while the Bulldogs were denied the chance to move into the top eight.
It came in a spicy clash where Georgiades and Tom Liberatore could come under MRO scrutiny, while Aaron Naughton was subbed out with concussion in a big blow to the Dogs.
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The 3-2-1 ...
3. POWER MAKES BIG STATEMENT
Should the Power be considered a bona fide flag contender once again?
Ken Hinkley’s men produced one of its strongest performances for the season in dismantling the Western Bulldogs in a comprehensive performance, while getting a percentage booster along with it.
And so just two weeks after some were questioning if Port could slip out of the top eight, it’s suddenly back in the top four, if only momentarily, to dramatically shift the trajectory of its season just like that.
Connor Rozee (18 disposals, five clearances, three score involvements) and Zak Butters (14 touches, four score involvements) got the Power off to a hot start en route to a five-goal opening term, with the home side never looking back from that point.
“It’s too easy at the moment, there’s no pressure, they’ve been able to play their own game and their handball game is out of control,” Kangaroos legend David King said on Fox Footy at half-time.
“The Port Adelaide midfield is dominating and making the Dogs chase.”
Meanwhile Mitch Georgiades booted a career-best five goals in a dominant showing up forward and Jason Hone-Francis added three majors of his own.
“They’ve dominated from the opening siren,” Brownlow medallist Gerard Healy said on Fox Footy.
“The first quarter was (Rozee, Butters and (Ollie) Wines … in the second quarter it was so even - everybody gave a major contribution.
“Port Adelaide is doing everything they would like.”
Adelaide great Mark Ricciuto noted it was Port’s best performance since its win in Geelong in Round 9 and “a big confidence booster.”
David King noted “it endorses it’s OK to cry” in reference to Ken Hinkley’s emotional reaction to last week’s narrow win over St Kilda after the Port coach came under considerable pressure, even booed by his fans.
“He’s got high hopes for this group and loves this group. Thinks they can go real deep in September again,” King said.
Ricciuto added: “He was under enormous pressure and some people can have a crack at him for it, but it shows how much pressure he was under in this town.”
2. PORT STAR’S AFL PLEA IN HEATED CLASH AS INCIDENTS SET TO BE PROBED
It was a spicy clash with several scuffles and incidents set to be probed by the MRO including Zak Butters publicly suggesting some “off ball” exchanges should be looked at by the AFL.
Butters and Tom Liberatore went at it during the game, while the star Power midfielder was seen having a heated conversation with Ken Hinkley when he came to the bench in the second term.
He clarified at half-time it was in relation to some incidents behind the play he wasn’t happy with.
“About a bit of stuff off ball, I’ll let the AFL look at that,” Butters told Fox Footy.
It added an extra layer of fascination to a heated match, with Butters one of Port’s best players before being subbed out of the game in the fourth term for precautionary reasons.
Given Butters’ history of fines this season – having copped three financial reprimands in 2024 – Fox Footy pundits believes it shapes as a disciplinary experience for the superstar.
“He’s been dishing it out for a little while. Sometimes when it comes back your way, you’ve got to be able to handle it,” Roos legend David King said.
“I think that’s what Ken would be talking about.”
Brownlow medallist Gerard Healy added: “I don’t think there’s any issue the AFL are going to address, but clearly there’s an issue Ken Hinkley and Butters need to address..
“He’s been fined three or four times for minor strikes. (Hinkley is) basically saying: ‘Pull your head in, just go and play football’.”
Among the other incidents set to face MRO scrutiny were Tom Liberatore’s dangerous tackle on Connor Rozee, plus Mitch Georgiades – amid a career-best five goal performance – striking off the ball.
“It’s disappointing because they’ve been waiting for this guy to put in this sort of performance. Then when he stamps it, you can’t have him missing games on the back of one moment like that,” King said of Georgiades.
“Their forward line functioned well today.”
1. DOGS DEALT DOUBLE CONCUSSION BLOW AHEAD OF HORROR STRETCH
The now 8-8 Bulldogs didn’t just lose the four points and percentage, but two players – Aaron Naughton and James O’Donnell – to concussion.
James O’Donnell
Naughton was subbed out of the game in the second term after an innocuous incident ahead of the ball, where he appeared to get caught by a stray swinging arm by Brandon Zerk-Thatcher while jostling for position.
Meanwhile O’Donnell also exited the game with concussion after a collision with Todd Marshall in the third quarter.
It leaves the Dogs’ key position stocks, which were without Liam Jones against Port, extra thin ahead of next week’s crucial clash with Carlton.
Luke Beveridge’s ninth-placed side, which has been so impressive in restoring its season and finals hopes at large, suddenly faces a big challenge to maintain that amid its tough upcoming fixture.
After next week’s clash with the Blues (Marvel Stadium), the Dogs face Geelong (GHMBA Stadium), Sydney (SCG) and Melbourne (Marvel Stadium) in a gruelling run that will test them and then some.
“Here’s the challenge for the Dogs – and it’s a significant challenge and season defining,” Brownlow medallist Gerard Healy said of the Dogs’ upcoming fixture.
Kangaroos legend David King added: “No easy games in footy, but they are some tough ones. You don’t get to select your opponents.
“But to go on the road is tough, they’re going to have to do it the hard way. You know what, that’s probably the Western Bulldogs way.”
AS IT HAPPENED
There were no late changes, with Logan Evans (Port Adelaide) and Joel Freijah (Western Bulldogs) named the starting subs.
Luke Beveridge pulled an early surprise, putting Sam Darcy in the ruck over Tim English to face off against ex-Bulldog Jordon Sweet.
The Power stacked on two early goals through Mitch Georgiades to get the early jump at home.
Ken Hinkley’s side controlled the first term, with the game played in its front half amid severe pressure on the ball.
“They’re all over the Dogs at the moment, they can’t find an easy exit,” Roos legend David King said on Fox Footy. “Ken Hinkley would be rapt with this, this is exactly how they want the game to look.”
Darcy Byrne-Jones made it three in a row in the ideal start for the Power.
The Power led 5.2 (32) to 0.2 (2) at quarter-time.
Tom Liberatore could come under fire for a dangerous tackle on Connor Rozee, who along with Zak Butters ran riot in the first term.
Mitch Georgiades could similarly face scrutiny for striking behind the play.
Meanwhile Aaron Naughton was subbed out of the game in the second term due to concussion in a big blow to the Dogs.
The Port avalanche continued in the second term, kicking three of the first four goals to take ascendancy in a spicy clash with several scuffles around the field.
Ken Hinkley’s side kicked 10 goals in the first half in a big statement, leading 10.5 (65) to 3.3 (21) at half-time.
Tim English kicked the first goal of the second half to keep the Dogs alive.
While Brownlow medallist Gerard Healy noted it’d been such an “even performance” from the Power, Jason Horne-Francis owned the third term.
The former No. 1 draft pick kicked consecutive goals and missed a third that would’ve brought up a career-best four majors as Port stayed in total control.
Port led 12.8 (80) to 4.4 (28) at the last change.
Georgiades continued his hot form in the fourth term, kicking his outright career-high fifth goal in a big performance from the young forward.
Meanwhile Joel Freijah kicked his first career goal in the final term to give Dogs fans something to cheer about in an otherwise tough day.
Lachie McNeil kicked the last goal of the game to bring it back to a more respectable scoreline, but it was ultimatley Port’s day to celebrate a thumping win.
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