Match

Port Adelaide vs Western Bulldogs

Commentary / 15 May 2021

Pre Game

00:00
From the nine-minute mark of the second term until the 17-minute mark of the final term in Round 8, the Bulldogs won the clearance count 16 - 0.

Quarter 1

00:00
Q1 is now underway.
01:48
SCORE GOAL - Power (Orazio Fantasia)
02:49
The Power kick the first goal of the match via a defensive 50 intercept. The Power average 18 points per game from defensive 50 chains, ranked third in the competition.
05:42
The Bulldogs have the first five clearances of the match, but are only gaining an average of 28 metres per clearance chain. The AFL average is 45 metres per clearance chain.
09:14
SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Josh Bruce)
10:07
The Bulldogs answer with their first goal of the game by virtue of a forward half intercept chain. They average 32 points per game from forward half intercepts this season, ranked fourth.
11:48
SCORE BEHIND - Bulldogs (Cody Weightman)
15:26
The Bulldogs lead the clearances nine to two. They are ranked No.1 in the AFL in clearance differential, averaging nine more clearances per game than their opposition.
16:49
SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Lachlan McNeil)
19:00
SCORE BEHIND - Bulldogs (Anthony Scott)
19:39
Both of the Bulldogs behinds have hit the post, with Weightman hitting the right post and Scott hitting the left.
20:01
SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Cody Weightman)
20:38
All three Bulldogs goals have come via midifeld intercept possessions. In total, the Bulldogs have won six midfield intercept possessions, resulting in four inside 50s and three goals.
21:47
The Bulldogs lead the inside 50 count by nine and have enjoyed 63 per cent time in forward half.
22:49
SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Cody Weightman)
25:06
SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Aaron Naughton)
25:38
The Bulldogs are dominating territory. They are leading the clearances by 10, kicking 2.2.14 to nil from stoppage chains. The dominance in stoppages has led to an advantage of 11 in inside 50s and a four goal lead on the scoreboard.
27:15
SCORE GOAL - Power (Mitch Georgiades)
28:29
SCORE BEHIND - Power (Mitch Georgiades)
29:02
Bulldogs Interchange - Easton Wood and is possibly out for the game.
31:00
SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Marcus Bontempelli)
31:33
All of the Bulldogs score of 6.2.38 has been launched from the midfield. Three goals have come via stoppage chains and three have come via intercept chains.
32:09
In his return to the Bulldogs side, Cody Weightman had an impact forward of centre. The young Bulldog had four disposals, three coming via contested marks and two goals. All four of Weightman's disposals were part of a scoring chain.

Quarter 2

00:00
Q2 is now underway.
01:24
The Power lost the contested possession count by 17 in the opening quarter, its worst result in any quarter this season.
02:34
SCORE GOAL - Power (Hamish Hartlett)
05:40
SCORE GOAL - Power (Karl Amon)
05:54
The Power kick the opening two goals of the second quarter to peg back the deficit. Both goals have come via forward half chains. In the opening quarter, both of Port Adelaide's goals came via defensive half chains, such was the Bulldogs territorial dominance.
06:54
SCORE GOAL - Power (Orazio Fantasia)
07:34
The Power now have the first three goals of the second quarter. They have won four of the first five clearances of the term, with two of their three goals coming via stoppage chain.
10:18
SCORE GOAL - Power (Willem Drew)
10:39
The Power have used the ball much better by foot, kicking at an efficiency of 75 per cent, compared to a lowly 30 per cent from the Bulldogs. Port Adelaide's pressure rating is at 208, compared to 178 from the Bulldogs.
12:00
SCORE GOAL - Power (Ollie Wines)
12:14
It has been an irresistible start to the second quarter for Port Adelaide with five unanswered goals from just five inside 50s. Three goals have come via stoppages and two goals have come via intercepts. Four goals have come from forward half chains with the other coming from a centre bounce.
15:02
Power Interchange - Tom Clurey and is possibly out for the game.
16:45
SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Marcus Bontempelli)
19:43
SCORE GOAL - Power (Sam Powell-Pepper)
20:20
After being smashed by 17 and 11 in contested possession and clearances in the opening quarter, the Power have responded, leading these respective areas by seven each in the second term.
28:37
Port Adelaide leads the tackle count by five this quarter. Willem Drew has provided a lot of pressure around the contest with five tackles for the quarter.
29:45
SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Jason Johannisen)
34:18
Willem Drew finished with seven second quarter tackles, the equal-most laid by any player in a quarter this season. Hugh Greenwood and Will Snelling have both also laid seven tackles in a quarter this season.

Quarter 3

00:00
Q3 is now underway.
00:21
SCORE BEHIND - Power (Sam Powell-Pepper)
03:51
SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Aaron Naughton)
05:08
SCORE BEHIND - Bulldogs (Rushed)
06:28
SCORE BEHIND - Power (Todd Marshall)
08:13
Port Adelaide has outscored the Bulldogs 4.0.24 to 0.1.1 from ball up clearances. The Bulldogs, however, have outscored the Power 3.1.19 to nil from throw-in clearances.
11:23
SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Josh Bruce)
12:00
Bailey Dale leads all comers with seven intercept possessions tonight. Two of Dale's intercepts have launched goals for the Bulldogs. Caleb Daniel and Hayden Crozier have also launched two goals apiece from their six and five intercept possessions respectively.
13:11
The Bulldogs have outscored the Power 6.0.36 to 3.1.19 from intercept possessions. Five of these six goals have come via midfield intercepts.
14:43
SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Aaron Naughton)
15:07
Power Interchange - Mitch Georgiades off due to an injury.
16:25
The Bulldogs have got back on top in the clearances, leading eight to four in the third quarter. Bailey Smith has four clearances for the term.
17:48
SCORE BEHIND - Bulldogs (Cody Weightman)
20:06
SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Mitch Hannan)
20:37
The Bulldogs lead uncontested possession by 19 for the quarter and 59 for the match. Jack Macrae has 14 uncontested possessions for the match and has 21 disposals. He has amassed 30 or more disposals in every match this season.
21:59
SCORE GOAL - Power (Mitch Georgiades)
24:13
SCORE BEHIND - Bulldogs (Adam Treloar)
25:38
SCORE BEHIND - Power (Orazio Fantasia)
25:59
As has become customary, Caleb Daniel's ball use of half back has been exquisite. The diminutive Bulldog has 19 disposals at 100 per cent efficiency tonight.
27:29
Tom Liberatore has been as industrious as ever at the coal face. The Bulldog midfielder has 20 disposals, with 15 coming via a contested possession, seven more contested possessions than any other player on the ground. He also has nine clearances, three more than any other player.
30:37
Despite Port Adelaide recording three more inside 50s in the third quarter, it was the Bulldogs who were more efficient, generating a score from 54 per cent of their forward 50 entries compared to the Power who generated a score from just 25 per cent of their entries.

Quarter 4

00:00
Q4 is now underway.
01:19
SCORE BEHIND - Bulldogs (Rushed)
03:08
Both sides have generated inside 50s from chains launched from the attacking midfield at an impressive rate. The Bulldogs have generated 24 inside 50s from 26 attacking midfield chains, a strike rate of 92 per cent. The Power have generated 19 inside 50s from 23 attacking midfield chains, a strike rate of 83 per cent. The AFL average strike rate is 78 per cent.
07:20
Power Interchange - Mitch Georgiades off due to an injury.
08:10
SCORE GOAL - Power (Robbie Gray)
08:18
The Bulldogs have won all six games this season when they have won the contested possession count. The Power have also won all six games this season when they have won the contested possession count. The Bulldogs currently lead the contested possession count by five.
10:02
SCORE GOAL - Power (Charlie Dixon)
10:53
The Bulldogs have won all seven games when they have won the inside 50 count this season. They currently lead this area by five.
12:01
SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Jason Johannisen)
15:24
The Power are giving it everything in the last quarter. They lead the contested possession count by nine for the term and are using the ball better by foot, going at a kicking efficiency of 77 per cent, compared to the Bulldogs 53 per cent. Contested possessions are now even for the match.
21:37
Jack Macrae continues his streak of 30 or more disposals this season. Prior to tonight, Macrae had averaged 34.8 disposals per game, ranked No.1 in the AFL and now has 30 disposals for the ninth game in a row this season.
24:45
SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Cody Weightman)
25:09
Cody Weightman kicks what looks to be the sealer with a wonderful snap over his head from the goal square. The young Bulldog has kicked a career-best three goals tonight, to go with 11 tackles, six contested possessions and five tackles.
26:23
SCORE GOAL - Bulldogs (Aaron Naughton)
26:34
The Bulldogs have comprehensively won the turnover battle, kicking 10.2.62 from 72 intercepts, compared to just 4.2.26 from 67 intercepts from the Power.
30:09
SCORE BEHIND - Power (Steven Motlop)
30:14
The Bulldogs win the match and the contested possession battle by 12. They have now won all seven games in which they have won the contested possession count. The Power have lost all three games in which they have lost the contested possession count. Tom Liberatore was enormous with 20 contested possessions, along with 27 disposals and 12 clearances.